Free heritage conservation event opens registration for 2026

Historic HousesEvents
Written By Lynne Dickens

Northamptonshire Heritage Forum members are being invited to attend one of the UK's leading events dedicated to the care and conservation of historic buildings, parks and gardens – completely free of charge.

The garden fountain at Holdenby House

The garden fountain at Holdenby House in Northamptonshire

The Historic Buildings, Parks and Gardens Event (HBPGE) returns to the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster on Friday 13 November 2026, bringing together heritage professionals, volunteers, property owners, charities, conservation specialists and organisations from across the UK.

Held annually alongside the Historic Houses Annual General Meeting, the event has been running for more than 35 years and has become an important date in the heritage calendar. Admission is free, although advance registration is required.

Whether you're involved with a museum, historic house, church, archive, local history society, landscape, park or heritage project, the event offers an excellent opportunity to discover the latest conservation techniques, meet industry experts and learn from organisations working to protect our historic environment.

What can visitors expect?

The event combines a large exhibition with an extensive programme of talks, demonstrations and networking opportunities throughout the day.

Visitors will have the opportunity to:

  • Explore an exhibition featuring more than 70 specialist exhibitors offering products, services and expert advice for the care, repair, maintenance and restoration of historic buildings, interiors, landscapes, parks and gardens.

  • Watch live demonstrations showcasing traditional craft skills and practical conservation techniques.

  • Attend short talks from leading experts covering a range of heritage and conservation topics.

  • Meet specialists from organisations including the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), The Victorian Society, The Gardens Trust, The William Morris Society and the Professional Gardeners' Guild.

  • Take advantage of the free SPAB Advice Surgery, where visitors can discuss conservation challenges and receive practical guidance.

  • Listen to keynote presentations and guest speakers taking place as part of the Historic Houses programme (subject to availability).

The organisers will continue to announce additional speakers, demonstrations and activities over the coming months, so there will be plenty for both first-time visitors and returning delegates.

Kelmarsh Hall with tables and chairs set outside for visitors

Kelmarsh Hall in Northamptonshire

Why attend?

The Historic Buildings, Parks and Gardens Event is designed for everyone involved in the heritage sector, from volunteers and trustees to estate managers, conservation professionals, craftspeople and anyone responsible for caring for historic buildings or landscapes.

As well as discovering new products and services, the event provides valuable opportunities to exchange ideas, build professional contacts and gain practical knowledge that can be applied to heritage projects back home.

Register for your free place

The Historic Buildings, Parks and Gardens Event takes place from 9am to 5pm on Friday 13 November 2026 at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Westminster, London SW1P 3EE.

Attendance is free, but advance registration is essential.

For more information and to register your place, visit the Historic Buildings, Parks and Gardens Event website or go straight to their registration form.

Lynne Dickens

Lynne is currently a part-time freelance website designer and marketer. Formerly trading full-time as Spot On Creative is a Northants-based creative team who have the hard-earned skills, expertise and industry knowledge that only come from having worked for years in advertising. It was all managed by Lynne Dickens who has over 20 years’ experience in marketing communications, and ten years in website design and build, and creative team project management.

Lynne is also a qualified art historian and has some expertise in curating fine art exhibitions and producing all of the catalogues, posters and supporting material to create a successful event.

All the guys in the team have worked for one-man bands, SMEs and large blue-chip multinationals in just about every sector, field and industry. Collectively, we can come up with great ideas, superb design and copy, and exceptional photography for anything from websites to email campaigns, branding to brochures – and everything in between.

And the beauty of Spot On Creative is that we’re big in creativity, experience and knowledge, but small in overheads and invoices. So we’re a much more sensible and affordable option for you than a larger advertising agency or marketing company.

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