Castle Grove Masonic Hall
Explore the Heritage of Headingley In 1991 the Council of Europe and the European Commission set up European Heritage Days to raise appreciation for Europe’s rich and diverse cultural assets, and in 1994, England joined in. Our Heritage Open Days reflect the rich and diverse cultural heritage of England and its communities. They are held in September every year, when the doors are opened to historic monuments and buildings, especially those normally closed to the public. In Leeds, the events are co-ordinated by Leeds Civic Trust, and Headingley is again taking part, with twenty or so venues in and around Headingley. These are listed chronologically below, with links to detailed info, and there’s more information on Leeds, at https://leedscivictrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/HODS-booklet-2025-Final.pdf and nationally, at https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/
Friday, 12 September 2025: 10.30
George Corson - his life and times
The Meanwood Institute, 94 Green Lane, Leeds LS6 4LD
Peter Spedding is an historian with a special interest in 18th and 19th century characters. To celebrate this year's theme of architecture this opening talk will feature the life and work of Headingley architect George Corson.
Pre-booking required
Friday, 12 September 2025: Tours at 10.00, 11.30 and 13.00
Castle Grove Masonic Hall - Victorian architecture in Far Headingley
Castle Grove Masonic Hall, Moor Road, Leeds LS6 4BP
Join a guided tour of Castle Grove Masonic Hall, a magnificent villa in Far Headingley.
Pre-booking required
Saturday, 13 September 2025: 10.00-13.00
Headingley Methodist Church - If these stones could talk....
1-3 Chapel Street, Headingley, Leeds LS6 3HZ
....what stories they would tell about the people who built and worshipped in the church and how Headingley has changed over time. Enjoy our 180th anniversary; explore the church, hear our stories; view photos of local shops and share your memories.
Pre-booking not required
Saturday 13 September 2025: 10.30, Family Friendly Activity, 11.00, Screening 11:00
Sunday 14 September 2025: 11:00, Autism Friendly Screening, 11.00, Family Friendly Activity 11:00, 11.30, Screening
Hyde Park Picture House - 'Hyde and Seek' Family Friendly Screening: Hugo (U, 2011)
73 Brudenell Road, Leeds LS6 1JD
As part of Heritage Open Days, we are celebrating the history and power of film, with Martin Scorcese's loving postcard to the power of early cinema!
Pre-booking preferred
Saturday, 13 September 2025: 14.00-16.00
Sunday, 14 September 2025: 14.00-16.00
St Chad's Church, Far Headingley, Leeds
St Chad's Church, Otley Road, Leeds LS16 5JT
Fascinating Grade II church with interesting building, organ, stained glass windows and grounds
Pre-booking not required
Sunday, 14 September 2025: 14.30
A walk around the Headingley Hill and Hyde Park Conservation Areas
Hyde Park Pub, 2 Headingley Lane, Leeds LS6 2AS
Discover the fascinating character and history of the buildings, places and people who lived in Headingley Hill and Hyde Park in the company of Tony Ray, a retired Town Planner.
Pre-booking required
Monday, 15 September 2025: 14.00
Hinsley Hall, Headingley, Leeds
Hinsley Hall, 62 Headingley Lane, Leeds LS6 2BX
Guided Tour of Hinsley Hall & Grounds in Headingley.
Pre-booking required
Monday, 15 September 2025: 14.30
Hyde Park Picture House - Memory Matinee Screening (Heritage Open Day Special)
73 Brudenell Road, Leeds LS6 1JD
Rooted in the idea that a trip to the cinema is a powerful way to reconnect with memories, Memory Matinees provide a safe and inclusive way for audiences living with dementia to visit Hyde Park Picture House.
Pre-booking preferred
Monday, 15 September 2025: 10.00, 11.30
Spenfield: 'the finest surviving suite of Victorian domestic rooms in Leeds'
Spenfield Court, Otley Road, Leeds LS16 5BX
A rare opportunity to visit the communal areas of this magnificent grade 2* listed house in Far Headingley, including the exquisite Peacock Room.
Pre-booking required
The
Tuesday, 16 September 2025: 10.00
The Great Ginnel in Headingley
Hyde Park Pub, 2 Headingley Lane, Leeds LS6 2AS
Join Richard Tyler (who edits the HeadingleyLeeds.com website) for a journey through space and time, exploring the longest and oldest ginnel in Headingley.
Fully booked
Tuesday, 16 September 2025: 10.00 and 13.00
Hyde Park Picture House - Guided Cinema Tour
73 Brudenell Road, Leeds LS6 1JD
Join us for a guided tour around our glorious Grade II listed Picture House as we near our 111th anniversary to learn about our original heritage features and recent renovation in 2023.
Pre-booking required
Tuesday 16 September: 18:00 to 19:30
Wednesday 17 September: 14:00 to 15:30
Lost Landscapes of Headingley
Headingley Lane, Leeds LS6 1BL
A meander around the former grounds of the Leeds Zoological and Botanical Gardens, including the recently restored Bear Pit, an intriguing remnant of this Victorian visitor attraction.
Pre-booking required
Wednesday, 17 September 2025: 14.00
Growing up in Victorian Leeds: the story of Anna Elizabeth Bilbrough, Mrs Joseph Town
The Cornerstone Baptist Church (formerly South Parade Baptist Church), Kirkstall Lane, Leeds LS6 3LF
Catherine Wright's talk provides an introduction to her biography of her husband's great grandmother, touching on local, social and family history of Leeds at that time.
Pre-booking not required
Wednesday, 17 September 2025: 14.00
Hyde Park Picture House - 'Do you remember the old cinemas of Leeds?' Talk with Jane Ellis
73 Brudenell Road, Leeds LS6 1JD
A free talk from speaker Jane Ellis looking at the heyday of "going to the pictures" through the collected memories and pictures of local people.
Pre-booking preferred
Wednesday, 17 September 2025: 15.30 and 16.30
Hyde Park Picture House - Guided Projection Room Tours
73 Brudenell Road, Leeds LS6 1JD
A great opportunity to go behind the scenes of our Projection Room with one of our experienced projectionists.
Fully booked
Wednesday, 17 September 2025: 15.00-16.30 and 18.00-19.30
Sunday, 21 September 2025: 10.00-11.30 and 1200-13.30
Framed in Leeds
Left Bank, Cardigan Road, Leeds LS6 1LJ
‘Framed in Leeds’ is a self-led arts trail designed to inspire people of all ages and abilities to explore and creatively engage with the architecture of Hyde Park.
Pre-booking preferred
Saturday, 20 September 2025: 10.00-15.00
Sunday, 21 September 2025: 11.30-17.30
St Michael and All Angels’ Church Headingley - Open Day
St. Michaels Road, Leeds LS6 3AW
Come and discover the beautiful parish church of St Michael and All Angels’, Headingley. Our large Victorian church has a wealth of stained glass windows, the remains of the ancient Original Oak of Headingley, and Thompson mice to be found!
Pre-booking not required
Saturday, 20 September 2025: 11.00-16.00
Cuthbert Broderick designed oasis of calm, in the bustle of busy Headingley
9 Alma Road, Leeds LS6 2AH
View the Cuthbert Broderick designed Church House, in which most of the original features still remain in this Grade II listed building. Meander through the beautiful mature gardens. Take part in a 'scavenger hunt' of the house, church and gardens.
Pre-booking not required
Saturday, 20 September 2025: 09.30-12.00
Moorlands School
Fox Hill Drive, Weetwood Lane, Leeds LS16 5PF
Moorlands School was established in 1898 and in the 1960s moved to its current site - Fox Hill - which was built as the family home for William Tetley (son of the brewer Joshua) and designed by George Corson.
Pre-booking not required
Saturday, 20 September 2025: 15.00
Hyde Park Picture House - Architecture Talk with Page\Park
73 Brudenell Road, Leeds LS6 1JD
Join us for a special one-off Heritage Open Day talk with architecture Mark Johnston from Page\Park, to discuss our recent renovation project and our new chapter following our reopening in 2023.
Pre-booking preferred
Sunday, 21 September 2025: 14.30-16.00
Foxwood Steel Bandits at the Brudenell!
The Brudenell Social Club, 33 Queen's Road, Leeds LS6 1NY
Enjoy a live traditional all acoustic steelband playing songs from many genres.
Pre-booking not required
In addition, there’s plenty of heritage on view in and around Headingley, all the year round. And much of this heritage is explored on the HeadingleyLeeds website. All our Listed Buildings are illustrated. There’s information in the galleries for Historic Headingley and for Parks in the Past as well as Historic Places and Places Today, including the Stadium, the Zoo, the Headingley Campus, the Lodges, as well as historic travel, through ginnels and by omnibus and train. The Walks page suggests some interesting historic rambles in and around Headingley.
Richard Tyler
Editor, HeadingleyLeeds website
info@headingleyleeds.com
