Later this week properties across England will throw open their doors for free as part of the country’s annual celebration of local architecture, history and culture.

Supported nationally by English Heritage and run locally by an army of volunteers and community champions, Heritage Open Days takes place on people doorstops and is the country’s leading grassroots cultural event.

One million people are expected to take advantage of the four day event, exploring more than 4,000 properties of every style, period and function, many of which are normally closed to the public or usually charge an admission fee.

Participating properties in North West England include:

Barrow – Dalton Castle (Dalton-in-Furness)
Birkenhead – Birkenhead Park, Birkenhead Priory, Lady Lever Art Gallery
Blackpool – Blackpool Tower, Winter Gardens
Bolton – Bolton Steam Museum
Burnley – Gawthorpe Hall (Padiham), Queen Street Mill Textile Museum
Bury – Fusilier Museum, East Lancashire Railway, Peel Tower
Carlisle – High Head Sculpture Valley
Chester – Chester Racecourse, Grosvenor Museum, Little Moreton Hall (Congleton)
Kendal – Abbott Hall Art Gallery, Museum of Lakeland Life, Sizergh Castle
Lake District – Beatix Potter Gallery (Hawkshead), Blackwell (Windermere),
Liverpool – St George’s Hall, Cunard Building, Liver Building,
Macclesfield – Quarry Bank Mill
Manchester – Victoria Baths
Morecambe – Morecambe Town Hall
Oldham – Saddleworth Museum
Penrith – Acorn Bank
Preston – Samlesbury Hall
Rochdale – Healey Dell, Rochdale Pioneers Museum, Touchstones,
St Helens – World of Glass
Stockport – Hat Works, Staircase House, Air Raid Shelters, Bramall Hall
Warrington – Norton Priory (Runcorn)
Wigan – Museum of Wigan Life, Trencherfield Mill Engine

Hundreds of tourism professionals and businesses from around the county gathered at Rheged where the evening began with a drinks reception followed by a celebratory dinner. Host for the evening was Stuart Maconie, TV and radio presenter, who announced the winners and entertained the audience with a series of Cumbria related anecdotes.

Fifteen awards were presented on the night, recognising excellence in business, customer service and training and development.

Each category winner received a certificate and specially designed award, individually handcrafted by Jo Vincent of Jo Vincent Glass Designers.

The winners were:

• Taste of Cumbria Ward – The Cottage in the Wood, Whinlatter
• Guest Accommodation of the Year – Number 43, Arnside
• Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – The World of Beatrix Potter – Bowness
• Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – Lake District Coast Aquarium, Maryport
• Sustainable Tourism Award – Elder Grove, Ambleside
• Large Hotel of the Year – Armathwaite Hall Country House Hotel and Spa, Bassenthwaite
• Small Hotel of the Year – Overwater Hall, Keswick
• The Lady Inglewood Award for Training & Development – Roundthorn Country House, Penrith
• Tourism Experience of the Year – Cumbrian Heavy Horses, Millom
• Holiday Park of the Year – Skelwith Fold Caravan Park, Ambleside and Woodclose Park, Kirkby Lonsdale
• Tourism Event of the Year – Great North Swim, Windermere
• Business Tourism Award – North Lakes Hotel, Penrith
• The Sheila Hensman Award for Outstanding Customer Service – Alan Gillon, Learning and Access Officer, The Beacon, Whitehaven
• Self-catering Holiday of the Year – Tottergill Farm Cottages, Brampton
• Access for All Tourism Award – The Beacon, Whitehaven

An international market, arranged by Carlisle City Council in partnership with Market Place Europe Ltd, will include a variety of world-wide stall and will be open to the public, for an extended period, between this Thursday April 1 and Easter Monday, in the city centre pedestrianised shopping area.

Traders from as far afield as the USA, Thailand, China, India, Egypt, Russia, South Africa and even Peru will be joining European counterparts from France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Spain, Poland, Greece and Finland.

Highlights will include spicy flavours from Indian Chef Bansil who will be cooking up some of his spicy curries along with some of the best samosas you will ever taste. There will also be an opportunity to sample and buy some great Egyptian Foods and to finish off the World tour you can try some of the rare and exotic meats and burgers from South Africa including Crocodile, Impala, Wild Boar and Ostrich. From the Middle East there will be Baklava and Mid Eastern sweet cakes plus a great selection of dried fruits and nuts.

Other goods will include sausage and salamis from Germany, in addition to olives, cheeses and sun dried tomatoes from France. George the Greek – George from Pila in Thessaloniki will bring his unique Greek Deli where you can find some of the best Greek breads, taramasalata, humous, olives and stuffed vine leaves (dolmades).

Jimmy Beans will be back with a large selection of flavoured coffee beans, which he will grind to your liking and his large selection of different and exotic teas. There will also be an authentic Polish street café selling some great Polish beers and a German Bar.

For those with a sweet tooth there will be a traditional French Creperie and not to be out done Henri from Holland with their delicious Dutch waffles loaded with cream and all sorts of toppings. The ever popular Gingerbread House will also be attending with wonderful Belgian Chocolates, traditional sweets and designer Easter Cakes.

Green-fingered shoppers will not be disappointed, as the market will include the ‘Flying Dutchman’, Dick van de Wardt, one of the largest plant, flower and bulb specialists from Holland.

There will also be stalls selling jewellery, crafts, clothing, handbags, purses and some very unusual gifts from around the World. Entertainment will also be provided on the bandstand.

Activities have been arranged to coincide with National Science and Engineering Week (12th – 21st March) – themed on ‘Earth’.

• Science of Sound – Sunday 14 March – aimed at 6 to 12 year old children. Explore the science of chimes, percussive rhythms and drumming beats. There will also be the science of explosive chemicals, fire and loud bangs with a special guest appearance by Professor Pumpernickel. Two sessions will be held: 10am – 12noon and 1pm – 3pm. Places are limited to 30 children on each session, so booking is essential on 016977 3129.
• Come and Have a Go Day – Sunday 21 March – open to all ages and abilities. There’s the chance to join in with some conservation volunteering and explore the wildlife in the Country Park. The event will be held between 9.45am and 3.30pm. There will be a wide range of different activities on offer including bird and tree surveys, bird box building and ditch clearing. No need to book, all welcome (children need to accompanied by an adult). Telephone 016977 3129.

More events are planned to celebrate International Day of Biodiversity (Saturday 22 May) and Love Parks Week (24 July – 1 August).

This year’s Lakes Alive programme of events will run from 29 April to 5 September. It is Cumbria’s unique contribution to the Legacy Trust UK programme, which was set up to help build a lasting cultural and sporting legacy from the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

The mainly free shows will include modern circus, dramatic outdoor theatre, contemporary dance and exciting, fiery processions.

Lakes Alive is created and directed by Kendal Arts International with Manchester International Arts. Julie Tait, the director of Kendal Arts International, says: “Lakes Alive is an ambitious four–year Cumbria–wide programme. Last year we set ourselves the objective of making the county a centre of excellence for street arts and we are already well on the way to making that a reality.

“Over 75,000 attended the events in our first year and by 2012 we will have brought at least £4 million of new arts spending into the county. We’re very excited by this year’s programme. As well as the top UK acts, Lakes Alive in 2010 will feature work by outdoor arts companies from across the world including Spain, France, Holland, Germany, Austria, India and Australia.”

There will be a chance to get a taste of Lakes Alive ahead of the full season at the Welcoming the Light event in Carlisle on Saturday 13 March, as part of Illuminating Hadrian’s Wall. A fiery parade will be accompanied by street artists and musicians and led by the incredible Heliosphere balloon with a performer suspended beneath it performing aerial acrobatics.

The Lakes Alive season will formally open in the atmospheric ruins of Furness Abbey near Barrow from 29 April to 2 May, with evening performances of a new show created by critically-acclaimed South Asian Dance Company, Akademi. The show has been specially commissioned by Lakes Alive.

A series of events across the May half term holidays will start with a thrilling outdoor animation festival in Whitehaven showcasing the town’s historic harbour on 29 and 30 May, including a dramatic procession with fire, light and giant illuminated fish by Spanish artists Sarruga.

From 3 to 5 June We Built This City will give people a chance to take part in a public construction extravaganza in the centre of Carlisle. Using thousands of big cardboard boxes and the energy and ingenuity of kids and families, Polyglot Theatre from Australia will help build a magnificent city.

Accompanied by live music buildings will go up, be pulled down, be redesigned, extended, walked through and jumped on, and reconstructed. At the end of the day, everybody can have fun knocking down and squashing the whole city into a recyclable heap of cardboard rubble.

In the south of the county Barrow will welcome some of the best and most exciting modern circus acts from Britain and overseas from 4 to 6 June. Zircus Plus, a unique International Circus Festival, will put on an amazing show at several locations across the town.

On 23 and 24 July German group Theater Titanick, one of Europe’s leading outdoor performance companies, will stage a stunning, large-scale show involving illusion, fire, water, music and dance at Carlisle Castle.

From 28-30 July a number of Cumbrian woodlands will play host to an afternoon of shows that have been specially created for woods or with a woodland theme. Into the Woods at Grizedale, Whinlatter and Talkin Tarn will provide an afternoon of outdoor family adventure with a difference.

Also during the summer holidays (dates TBC), The Cabaret of Dr Caligari, a show created especially for Lakes Alive in 2009, will tour towns in West Cumbria providing an afternoon of cabaret with music, dancing, comedy and spectacle for a family audience. The chaotic Dr Caligari conjures oddities, eccentrics and acrobats out of thin air to entertain the audience, but once out of the box they refuse to disappear!

On Sunday 1 August in Penrith there will be a new international street festival featuring puppetry, strolling characters, comic creations and more from across the globe.

On 30 August highly respected French artists Commandos Percu will stage a dazzling extravaganza of sound, fire, light and colour at Maryport.

The season of events will culminate in Mintfest, one of the country’s largest street arts festivals, which takes place in Kendal at the gateway to the Lakes. Running from 2 to 5 September the festival will include a host of the very best street artists from across the world, including new work commissioned by the UK street arts consortium Without Walls.

Further details about all the shows will be available at www.lakesalive.org.

Lakes Alive is one of three annual programmes commissioned for WE PLAY, the Northwest cultural legacy programme for the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. WE PLAY is funded by Legacy Trust UK, an independent charity set up to help build a lasting cultural and sporting legacy from the 2012 Olympic Games. The project is led by the Arts Council England Northwest on behalf of a new regional partnership. Lakes Alive is sponsored by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and has also received funding from Arts Council England and the Northern Rock Foundation.

Moira Swinbank, the Chief Executive of Legacy Trust UK, says: “Legacy Trust UK is delighted to be funding Lakes Alive, which has already made a considerable impact on Cumbria’s cultural landscape and will continue to build a lasting cultural legacy for the area with the fantastic line-up for the 2010 programme.

Peter Mearns, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at the NWDA said: “Lakes Alive has fast become a much anticipated programme of world-class events, attracting visitors to Cumbria from far and wide. It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase the region to a wide audience and adds a whole new dimension to the visitor experience. 2010 promises to deliver another unique collection of events which will no doubt provide a great boost to the region’s visitor economy.”

The Lakes Alive season is also supported by a wide range of other organisations including every council in Cumbria, the Lake District National Park, Cumbria Tourism, Carlisle Renaissance, Carlisle Tourism Partnership, Barrow Regeneration, the Forestry Commission and companies including K Village.

Illuminating Hadrian’s Wall will be a spectacular line of light from coast to coast, along the length of Hadrian’s Wall, on Saturday 13th March 2010.

It will follow the route of the 84 mile long Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail and there will be around 500 individual points of light, placed at 250 metre intervals.

The first light will be illuminated at Wallsend in the North East, with the line of light then making its way along the Wall to Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria over the following hour.

Illuminating Hadrian’s Wall is an ambitious project led by Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd. It forms part of the world-class programme of festivals and events developed by culture10 in the North East of England and the Lakes Alive programme in Cumbria, presented by Kendal Arts International and Manchester International Arts.

Illuminating Hadrian’s Wall is also a flagship event of British Tourism Week 2010.

A report to Carlisle City Council’s Executive committee seeks approval for the proposed £2.37 million Roman Gateway Project to go on to next stage and seek funding from regional and European funding bodies. The combined scheme includes:

• A new Roman Gallery aims to create a contemporary world-class, must-see attraction at the western end of Hadrian’s Wall. The new 400m² space will use the existing Millennium gallery space and will include cutting-edge interactive technology to explore the concepts of frontiers, focusing on the Roman Empire, Carlisle, and Hadrian’s Wall. It will include five narrative themes: On the Edge of Europe’s Largest Empire; The Dynamic Frontier; Britain as an Imperial Province; Real Life in Roman Carlisle and The Living Wall; and
• A tourism trail that will complement the new gallery and link in with the Hadrian’s Wall path. This would include interpretative features that will illustrate the city’s strong association with its Roman heritage. Way-markers, art-work and features will be designed to reflect the materials and history of Hadrian’s Wall and its forts.

Leader of Carlisle City Council, Cllr Mike Mitchelson, said. ‘We need to build on our Roman heritage and Carlisle is one of the key gateways to Hadrian’s Wall. The plans will ensure that Tullie House is one of the region’s leading visitor attractions, with the new Roman Gateway Gallery at its core. It will give another reason for visitors to come to the city and will be a major boost to local tourism and economy.’

It is proposed that the City Council provides £260,000 towards the project. Capital funding bids to the North West Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and European Regional Development Funds (ERDF) will be sought for the remaining funding. Revenue funding bids will also be sought from the NWDA, ERDF and the Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd.

If the funding bids are agreed, the new Roman Gallery is planned to be open by spring 2011.

The free open air event promises to be a fabulous afternoon that will include live music and the chance to take part in a mass sing-a-long.

CBBC presenters Iain Stirling will join the Mayor of Carlisle to switch on the Christmas lights at 5.30pm. Iain is thrilled to be part of the event, he said:

The BIG Switch On will begin Carlisle’s countdown to Christmas. The programme will start at 3 pm with a reflective celebration for all who have been touched by the special work undertaken by Eden Valley Hospice. The Light Up A Life service will be a chance to remember loved ones, at the time of year when they are missed most. There will be a selection poignant readings and a scattering of popular Christmas carols backed by the ever popular Salvation Army Brass Band. At 3.30 pm the Light Up A Life Christmas tree will be lit by celebrity guest Anne Nolan.

From 3.30 pm the stage will feature non-stop entertainment, hosted by ITV Lookaround presenters Pam Royale and Ian Payne and CFM’s Robbie Dee.

First up is Carlisle Does kara-ABBA-Oke! With what is surely going to be the city’s biggest ever sing-along, a team of singers and dancers will lead the crowd through all of ABBA’s biggest hits, with the lyrics to each song being displayed for all to see on Eddie Stobart’s giant screen.

Next, Disco Diva Anne Nolan will be showing the crowd how to strut their stuff and proving that she’s still in the mood for dancing as she performs a fast moving foot stomping set of disco hits.

The whole show cast and presenters will watch on as CBBC star Iain Stirling and the Mayor of Carlisle trigger the lights at 5.30 pm. X Factor stars, Same Difference will perform the show’s finale.

The final preparations for Carlisle’s Christmas are well underway. A sparkling ten metre tall tree will be the city’s centrepiece and will include colourful decorations and lights. The feature is set to dazzle and delight and is yet another attraction to savour as part of Carlisle city centre’s overall illuminations.

The ghoulish event will include craft activities followed by a Forest Trail and story telling. Held between 1pm and 7pm, the trail will last around 40 minutes and will go through the woods (not on paths) where children will meet an assortment of Halloween characters and will be asked to solve a mission. The storyteller will be one of the characters on the trail.

Suitable for children aged under 10 years old, the refreshments will also be available in the Tea Room with Halloween themed food. Prizes will also be given out for children in the Best Fancy Dress Costumes.

Tickets cost £6 per child and £2 per adult. Children aged 2 years old and under get free entry. Places are limited and must be booked in advance.

Those taking part are advised to bring a torch if they are booked in for evening trails and also bring appropriate clothing in the event of wet or windy weather.

To pre-book a ticket telephone 01697 73129.

A ‘Love Carlisle Day’, to celebrate the launch of Carlisle Tourism Partnership, will be held as part of the build up to this year’s Fireshow, (Saturday, 7 November) and will include city centre activities between 10am and 5pm.

A cookery theatre and marquee will be the spectacular centre piece and will open between 10 am and 4.30 pm, children’s activities, events and competitions from 12 noon, and amazing street theatre has been organised from 2.30pm. A spectacular finale is planned at 5 pm.

The event will provide yet another reason to visit the Carlisle’s city centre and stick around for an explosive Fireshow event in Bitts Park. The annual Fireshow event attracts thousands of spectators each year and has been an established event for more than 20 years.

The ‘Love Carlisle’ theme will continue as part of the Fireshow and a 40-foot flaming heart will be the centre piece of the bonfire. The theme has been chosen as part of Carlisle’s bid to become UK City of Culture, which is being coordinated by Carlisle Renaissance, showcasing what we have to offer and the sorts of activities that could form part of a year-long programme of events in 2013. Local people are at the heart of the City of Culture bid and the ‘Love Carlisle’ theme and high quality event gives local people another chance to show off how much they love their city, and demonstrate that Carlisle packs a cultural punch.

The sparkling spectacular will take place on Saturday, 7 November and will be the 23rd Fireshow event staged by Carlisle City Council. More than 2,000 spectacular fireworks will ensure that the event goes with a ‘bang’.

Pre-entertainment, provided by Carlisle Leisure Limited, will start at 6.30pm and the bonfire lit at 7pm. The whole event is likely to last more than one hour. Admission is free, although collections will be made for the Mayor’s Charity Fund and Rotary Club Carlisle (South).

More than 35,000 people are expected to attend the City Council event, organised in conjunction with the Black Powder Monkeys. Carlisle Leisure Limited, Carlisle Renaissance and Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service are sponsoring the Fireshow event. Support is also received from Alexander Sawmills, Brampton Pallets, Brown’s Haulage, BSW Timber, Carlisle Scaffolding, Cumbria Waste Pallets, Crown Bevcan, Edmundson’s Electricals, G J Campbell, Premier Papers, Stobart’s, Story Construction and Wallace Oils.

The 2009 Northwest Tourism Awards ceremony was held at Blackpool Tower and organised by the Northwest Regional Development Agency.

18 winners received awards fro BBC presenter Ranvir Singh:

• Bed and Breakfast of the Year – The Ashton, Lancaster
• Large Hotel of the Year – The Lowry Hotel, Manchester
• Small Hotel of the Year – Gilpin Lodge Country House Hotel, Windermere
• Self Catering Holiday of the Year – Hall Hills, Dalston, near Carlisle
• Holiday Park of the Year – Castlerigg Hall Caravan and Camping Park, Keswick, Cumbria
• Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – Imperial War Museum North, Manchester
• Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – Arley Hall & Gardens, Northwich, Cheshire
• Taste of England’s Northwest – Low Sizergh Barn Farm Shop, Kendal, Cumbria
• Tourism Experience of the Year – Farmaggedon, near Ormskirk, Lancashire
• Tourism for All – Kerridge End Holiday Cottages, Macclesfield, Cheshire
• Tourism Event of the Year – Blackpool Illuminations
• Public Space Award – Pier Head Public Realm and Canal Link, Liverpool
• Tourist Information Centre of the Year – Wigan TIC
• Travel Journalist of the Year – Stephen McClarence, The Observer
• Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award – Nigel Haworth, Northcote, near Blackburn
• Excellence in Business Tourism – Arena and Convention Centre, Liverpool
• Excellence in Customer Service – Christina Dixon, Jurys Inn, Liverpool
• Sustainable Tourism Award – Arena and Convention Centre, Liverpool

Each will represent the North West in next year’s national tourism awards.

The event will be hosted by BBC presenter Ranvir Singh and is being organised by the Northwest Regional Development Agency.

The finalists are:

Large Hotel of the Year

Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, near Chester
Castle Green Hotel, Kendal, Cumbria
Preston Marriott Hotel, Preston, Lancashire
The Lowry Hotel, Manchester
Malmaison Liverpool, Liverpool

Small Hotel of the Year

Peckforton Castle, Tarporley, Cheshire
Gilpin Lodge Country House Hotel, Windermere, Cumbria
Mytton Fold Hotel and Golf Complex, Ribble Valley

Bed and Breakfast of the Year

Harrop Fold Farm, Macclesfield, Cheshire
Storrs Gate House, Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria
The Ashton, Lancaster, Lancashire
Brooklands Lodge, Sale, Greater Manchester
The Ambassador Townhouse, Southport, Merseyside

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year

Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire
Walby Farm Park, near Carlisle, Cumbria
Blackpool Tower and Circus, Blackpool
Imperial War Museum North, Manchester
Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year

Arley Hall & Gardens, Northwich, Cheshire
Wordsworth House and Garden, Cockermouth, Cumbria
Helmshore Mills Textile Museum, Helmshore, Lancashire
Museum of the Manchester Regiment, Manchester
Acorn Farm, Liverpool

Self Catering Holiday of the Year

Kerridge End Holiday Cottages, Macclesfield, Cheshire
Hall Hills, Dalston, near Carlisle, Cumbria
Clough Bottom Farm Cottages, near Clitheroe, Lancashire
Blue Rainbow Apartments, Manchester
Premier Apartments Liverpool, Liverpool

Holiday Park of the Year

Castlerigg Hall Caravan and Camping Park, Keswick, Cumbria
Sunset Park, Hambleton, near Blackpool

Business Tourism Award

Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, near Chester
Warwick Mill Business Village, near Carlisle, Cumbria
Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green, near Blackpool
The Lowry Hotel, Manchester
BT Convention Centre, Liverpool

Taste of England’s Northwest

Walk Mill, Chester
Low Sizergh Barn Farm Shop, Kendal, Cumbria
La Locanda Ristorante Italiano, Gisburn, Lancashire
The Modern, Urbis, Manchester
Delifonseca, Liverpool

Tourism Experience of the Year

Roman Tours, Chester
Silverband Falconry, Penrith, Cumbria
Farmaggedon, near Ormskirk, Lancashire
Costumed Performers, Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester
Art in the Age of Steam, National Museums Liverpool, Liverpool

Customer Service Award

Janet Bradshaw, Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire
Jennifer Taylor, The Archway Guest House, Windermere, Cumbria
Hannah Lee, The New Holly, near Preston
Mahendran Mayan, Renaissance Hotel, Manchester
Christina Dixon, Jurys Inn Hotel, Liverpool

Sustainable Tourism Award

Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, near Chester
Langdale Leisure Ltd, Ambleside, Cumbria
Malkin Tower Farm Holiday Cottages, Blacko, Lancashire
Radisson SAS Hotel Manchester Airport, Greater Manchester
Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool, Liverpool

Tourism for All Award

Kerridge End Holiday Cottages, Macclesfield, Cheshire
Ullswater Steamers, Glenridding, Cumbria
Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool
The Trafford Centre, Greater Manchester

Tourism Event

Nantwich Food and Drink Festival, Cheshire
Westmorland County Agricultural Show, Milnthorpe, Cumbria
Blackpool Illuminations, Blackpool
Manchester Pride, Manchester
Creamfields, Merseyside

Public Space Award

Cockermouth Market Place Regeneration Scheme, Cumbria
County Square Environmental Enhancement Scheme, Ulverston, Cumbria
Pier Head Public Realm and Canal Link, Liverpool

Tourist Information Centre of the Year

Congleton TIC, Cheshire
Coniston TIC, Cumbria
Cleveleys TIC, Lancashire
Wigan TIC, Greater Manchester
St Helens TIC, Merseyside

Travel Journalist of the Year

Chris Moss, Time Out
Craig Fleming, Blackpool Gazette
David Atkinson, Freelance
Paul Croughton, The Sunday Times
Stephen McClarence, The Observer

The event starts tomorrow and runs until Sunday September 13.

Hundreds of attractions and properties in the North West are taking part. For more details visit the official Heritage Open Days website.

Highlights include:

Barrow

Furness Abbey – Impressive remains of a Cistercian monastery.
Barrow Town Hall
Dalton Castle, Dalton-in-Furness – 14th century tower.

Birkenhead

Birkenhead Park – Grade I listed public space.
Birkenhead Priory – The oldest standing building in Merseyside.
Oxton Village
Port Sunlight Museum

Blackburn

Haworth Art Gallery, Accrington – Tudor-style Edwardian house in 9 acres of parkland. Home of Europe’s largest public collection of Tiffany Glass.

Blackpool

Blackpool Tower – Guided tour of the aquarium, circus, and ballroom.
Funny Girls – Opened as the biggest Odeon cinema outside London. Now one of Blackpool’s premier entertainment venues.
Marton Mere Local Nature Reserve – Nature reserve on the outskirts of Blackpool.
Stanley Park
Grand Theatre Blackpool – 1100-seat theatre designed by Frank Matcham in 1894.
Winter Gardens
Lytham Hall, Lytham St Annes – Grade I 18th century manor house in 80 acres of mature parkland.
The White Church, Lytham St Annes – Fairhaven United Reform Church.

Bolton

Bolton Steam Museum – Houses 25 steam engines that once drove the cotton mills of Northern England.
Hall i’th’ Wood – Tudor wooden-framed house.
Smithills Hall – Manor house.

Burnley

Burnley Football Club – Tour of Turf Moor, home of Burnley FC.
Oak Mount Hill Engine House – Cotton mill engine house dating from 1887 with recently restored steam engine.
Queen Street Mill Textile Museum
Rourke’s Forge – Watch blacksmiths at work.
Towneley Hall – Historic house, art gallery and museums, natural history centre, woodland walks and nature trails.
Gawthorpe Hall, Padiham

Bury

Bury Transport Museum
Fusiliers’ Museum – Tour of the new museum
East Lancashire Railway – Tour behind the scenes at the East Lancashire Railway, including a ride from Bolton Street station to Ramsbottom.
Peel Tower – Climb to the top of Bury’s famous landmark, built in 1852 in tribute to Bury-born Sir Robert Peel.

Carlisle

Carlisle Castle

Lake District

Beatrix Potter Gallery, Hawkshead – Home to original watercolours and sketches of Beatrix Potter.
Hill Top, Hawkshead – 17th century farmhouse where Beatrix Potter wrote many of her stories.
Townend, Windermere – 17th century stone and slate house.

Chester & Cheshire

Bear & Billet – One of the oldest pubs in Chester.
Chester Racecourse
Grosvenor Museum
Grosvenor Park
Little Moreton Hall, Congleton – Cheshire’s most iconic black and white house.
Beeston Castle, Tarporley – Former Royal Castle perched high on a rocky sandstone crag.

Kendal

Sizergh Castle

Lancaster

Lune Aqueduct – Canal cruise from Lancaster city centre to the Lune Aqueduct.

Liverpool

Britannia Adelphi
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral – Roman catholic cathedral.
Liverpool Town Hall
St George’s Hall – Grade I listed building opposite Lime Street station.
The Bluecoat – The oldest building in Liverpool city centre.

Macclesfield

Silk Museum
Quarry Bank Mill, Wilmslow – Former cotton mill.

Manchester

Manchester Town Hall
Monastery – Restored monastery in Gorton.
Victoria Baths

Morecambe

Morecambe Town Hall
Morecambe Winter Gardens

Oldham

Saddleworth Museum & Art Gallery

Penrith

Acorn Bank Garden & Watermill – Tours of the herb garden and Acorn Bank house.
Penrith & Eden Museum – Local history museum and Tourist Information Centre.

Preston

Museum of Lancashire – Museum in Preston’s Old Court House.
Samlesbury Hall – Historic house dating back to 1325.

Rochdale

Greater Manchester Fire Museum – Official museum of the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.
Healey Dell Nature Reserve – Guided walk.
Hollingworth Lake
Rochdale Pioneers Museum – The world’s first successfully operated co-operative store. Now a museum with restored historic shop.
Three Owls Bird Sanctuary – Wild bird hospital.
Touchstones – Arts and heritage centre with museum, art gallery, local studies library, tourist information, shop and café.

St Helens

Dream – Spectacular sculpture designed by world-renowned artist Jaume Plensa.
World of Glass – Explores the history of St Helens and its glass making heritage.

Stockport

Bramall Hall – One of Cheshire’s grandest black and white timber-framed Tudor manor houses.
Hat Works – The only museum in the UK dedicated to the hatting industry.
Lyme Park – Mansion house, gardens, and ancient deer park.
Staircase House
Stockport Air Raid Shelters – Underground labyrinth of tunnels built for shelter during World War II.

Warrington

Norton Priory, Runcorn – 38 acre site with excavated remains of the Augustinian Priory and woodland gardens.

Wigan

Trencherfield Mill – Restored steam engine.

The budget hotel chain is offering 50,000 rooms at only £12. The rate applies for stays between January 1 and April 1 2010. Rooms are also available from £19 (book 21 days ahead) and from £29 (book 7 days ahead).

To take advantage of this amazing offer, visit this page on their website.

The city centre’s festival of spectacular mouth-watering delights will include the return of the popular Continental Market throughout the five-day event and a Local Producers’ Market on Friday and Saturday (28 and 29 August).

The Continental Market, arranged by the Market Place Europe Ltd, will feature a host of traders from the far reaches of Europe and beyond. Goods will include charcuterie specialist meats, freshly baked pastries, a Spanish trader cooking authentic paella and beer merchants from Poland and Germany. “Aarons” will also attend selling a wide range of exotic and rare meats such as alligator, ostrich and springbok.

Green – fingered shoppers will not be disappointed, as the market will include the ‘Flying Dutchman’, Dick van de Wardt, one of the largest plant, flower and bulb specialists from Holland.

A variety of crafts stalls will also be on show, ranging from Asian jewellery to traditional Russian Dolls.

The Local Producers’ Market includes traders selling local produce such as Cumberland Sausage, Cumberland Mustard, preserves & pickles, cakes and truffles. Cumbria is full of such culinary masterpieces, from simple loaves from local bakeries to dishes in Michelin starred restaurants, real ale and damson gin. The programme will also include daily entertainment on the bandstand.

An ancient Proclamation will be recited at the Market Cross on Saturday, 29 August. A procession including The Mayor of Carlisle, Cllr William Graham, Sword and Mace Bearers and other Civic Dignitaries will make its way from St. Cuthbert’s Church to the Market Cross in the city centre. Once there, Carlisle City Council’s Deputy Chief Executive, Dr Jason Gooding, will recite an ancient Proclamation at 10am. The Proclamation will mark the official opening of the Carlisle Food Fair.

Each winner received a certificate and a specially designed award, handcrafted by Jonathan Stamper of the High Head Sculpture Valley.

The successful businesses were :

• The Sheila Hensman Award for Most Outstanding Customer Service – Jennifer Taylor, The Archway Guest House, Windermere
• Unsung Hero – David Rhodes, Graythwaite Manor Hotel, Grange-over-Sands
• The Lady Inglewood Award for Innovative People Management – Chris Carss, Rothay Garden, Grasmere
• Large Hotel of the Year – The Castle Green Hotel, Kendal
• Small Hotel of the Year – Gilpin Lodge Country House Hotel, Windermere
• Bed & Breakfast of the Year – Storrs Gate House, Bowness
• Self Catering Holiday of the Year – Hall Hills, Carlisle
• Holiday Park of the Year – Castlerigg Hall Caravan and Camping Park, Keswick
• Tourism Website of the Year – The Ambleside Salutation Hotel, Ambleside
• Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – Walby Farm Park, Crosby on Eden, Carlisle
• Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – Wordsworth House and Garden, Cockermouth
• Taste of Cumbria Award of the Year – Low Sizergh Barn Farm Shop, Kendal
• Tourism Experience Award – Silverband Falconry, Kirkby Stephen
• Sustainable Tourism Award – Langdale Leisure Ltd, Great Langdale
• Business Tourism Award – Warwick Mill Meeting Rooms, Carlisle

Visitors parking their cars at the popular Brampton beauty spot between 10 am and 6 pm will have to pay a flat charge of £1 from next month.