Heritage Open Days runs from 11 to 20 September 2026, and Kendal has enough events to build a full heritage day without driving around the county. The best approach is to reserve any small-capacity activity first, then add free drop-in buildings and central attractions around it.
This Kendal guide sits alongside Cumbria Guru''s county-wide Heritage Open Days guide, but focuses on practical timings, booking and walking between Kendal venues.
Kendal Heritage Open Days at a glance
| Event | Date / time | Booking |
|---|---|---|
| Guided tours of Kendal Parish Church | Sun 13: 1pm & 2pm; Sun 20: 1pm, 2pm & 3pm | Pre-booking preferred; very limited groups |
| Mayor''s Parlour History Talks | Mon 14: 2pm-4pm; Tue 15: 6pm-8pm; Thu 17: 10am-noon | Pre-booking required; maximum 12 |
| Kendal Unitarian Chapel | Fri 18 & Sat 19: 10am-3.30pm | No booking required |
| Stricklandgate House | Sat 19: 10am-3pm | No booking required |
| Mayor''s Parlour Historic Art talk | Sat 19: 2pm-4pm | Pre-booking required; maximum 12 |
Mayor''s Parlour History Talks at Kendal Town Hall
These are among the strongest special-access options because groups are capped at just 12 people.
The sessions take place at Kendal Town Hall, Highgate:
- Monday 14 September: 2pm-4pm
- Tuesday 15 September: 6pm-8pm
- Thursday 17 September: 10am-noon
Pre-booking is required and the published booking deadline is 13 September. Visitors are asked to assemble in the Town Hall foyer five minutes before the session.
The organisers ask wheelchair users and visitors bringing prams or pushchairs to mention this when booking so the room can be laid out appropriately.
Historic Art in the Mayor''s Parlour
A separate Mayor''s Parlour session on Saturday 19 September from 2pm to 4pm adds an art specialist discussing George Romney and his place in art history.
This session is also limited to 12 people and requires booking. Do not assume a booking for one Mayor''s Parlour session automatically covers another.
Kendal Parish Church guided tours
Kendal Parish Church is one of the widest parish churches in the country and has layers of history stretching back far beyond the present building, including an Anglian cross shaft dated to around AD 850.
Heritage Open Days tours are listed for:
- Sunday 13 September: 1pm and 2pm
- Sunday 20 September: 1pm, 2pm and 3pm
Groups are limited to around 15 people. Pre-booking is preferred. The national listing gives a booking-close date of 11 September, so last-minute visitors should not assume an online place remains available; contact the organiser or ask on site about any unused capacity.
Kendal Unitarian Chapel
The Unitarian Chapel on Branthwaite Brow opens from 10am to 3.30pm on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 September.
No advance booking is required. Guides will explain the chapel''s history and visitors can explore the gardens, including the Multi-faith Garden of Remembrance. The Victorian Schoolroom is undergoing repair and restoration, giving visitors a chance to see heritage work in progress.
The Heritage Open Days listing says the nearest parking is the Kendal multi-storey car park.
Stricklandgate House: heritage and future plans
Stricklandgate House opens on Saturday 19 September from 10am to 3pm as a drop-in event.
The Grade II listed Georgian building retains original features and has played several roles in Kendal''s history. The Trust will also explain plans supported by a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant to protect the building and develop its future.
Kendal Civic Society''s exhibition on Kendal history will be available, alongside displays about the project. No booking is required.
There is no visitor parking at the building. Wheelchair access is via the rear vestibule and an accessible toilet is available.
What should you book first?
- Mayor''s Parlour: book immediately because groups are only 12.
- Parish Church tours: check directly for any remaining space if you missed the published booking deadline.
- Drop-ins: use the Unitarian Chapel and Stricklandgate House to fill the gaps around fixed bookings.
Parking in Kendal
The Town Hall does not have visitor parking for the Mayor''s Parlour talks, and Stricklandgate House also tells visitors to use nearby public parking.
Choose one central car park and walk between the town-centre venues rather than moving the car for every stop. Check Cumbria Guru''s Kendal guide and car-park listings for current tariffs and stay limits.
Build a heritage day rather than chasing every event
A good Saturday 19 September plan could combine the 10am-3pm Stricklandgate House drop-in, the Unitarian Chapel, lunch in the town centre and a pre-booked 2pm Mayor''s Parlour Historic Art talk.
On Sunday 20 September, build the day around a Parish Church tour and add Kendal''s permanent museums, riverside and town-centre heritage.
Is Heritage Open Days free?
Heritage Open Days events are free to explore, but free does not always mean no booking. Small tours can require reservations, while parking, food and ordinary non-festival attraction charges remain separate.
Accessibility
Do not treat Kendal Heritage Open Days as one venue with one accessibility standard. Each historic building is different. Use the individual official listing, tell organisers about access needs when booking, and allow extra time between venues.
Official listings
Mayor''s Parlour History Talks
Mayor''s Parlour Historic Art
Kendal Parish Church tours
Kendal Unitarian Chapel
Stricklandgate House
Programme checked 11 September 2026. Small-capacity events can fill quickly, so check live availability before travel.
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