Out & About

Aylett Nurseries

Autumn Festival

26th Aug - 10th Sept 10am - 4pm

Enjoy the Celebration Garden and Dahlia Field ablaze with seasonal colour.

World’s Biggest Coffee Morning

29th Sept 9am - 12 noon

Goodwill coffee morning, funds from all hot drinks will be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Aylett Nurseries, St Albans AL2 1DH www.aylettnurseries.co.uk

Open Wednesdays until 27th Sept 10.30am - 4pm

Includes a free guided tour. £7.50

Luton Hoo Walled Garden LU1 4LF www.lutonhooestate.co.uk

St Albans Museum + Gallery

Exhibition: Time for Tea until 5th Nov

Exploring the fascinating journey of tea from leaf to cup with activities, talks and creative workshops. Echoes from the Future until 8th Oct free Artists present work inspired by the Museums' Collections.

Guided Tour: Mayors, Magistrates & Museums

15th Sept 2.30pm

Discover the functions and features of the spaces within the Museum. From the glittering galas and balls in the Assembly Room to the Cells where prisoners were held, come and discover the hidden stories of this local landmark. Free, please book St Peter’s Street AL1 3DH www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk

Mill Green Museum

1st Sept on the hour 10am - 4pm

Learn about the history of the Mill and the River Lea. Mill Green Museum & Working Mill, Hatfield AL9 5PD www.millgreenmuseum.co.uk

Forest Family Fun Day 2nd Sept 10am - 4pm

With stalls, rides, animal encounters, a nature trail, appearances from children’s favourites, Bluey and Bingo and much more. Child £3.50, adult £2.50, The Forest Centre, Millennium Country Park, Bedford MK43 0PR www.marstonvale.org

Redbourn Classics Motor Show & Fete

2nd Sept 12 noon - 5pm

With over 300 classic vehicles, including vintage cars, vans, motorbikes and tractors, live music, street food, a licensed bar, children's funfair and a miniature railway. Suggested donation £3, child free, all donations go to supporting local charities.

Redbourn Common AL3 7BU www.redbournclassics.co.uk

Hitchin Foodfest

2nd Sept 12pm - 6pm & 3rd Sept 10am - 4pm

As well as local eateries promoting gastronomic delights, with street food and drink, local produce and foodie activities.

Hitchin Market Place, Town Centre SG5 1DR www.hitchinherts.com

Hatfield House

Corona Sunsets Festival

2nd Sept 12.30pm - 10.30 pm

More than a music festival, there’ll also be live art installations and culinary experiences to encourage you to connect with nature.

Fiat Abarth Club Hertfordshire

3rd Sept 11am - 2pm

The Club will be displaying their collection of cars, visiting the vehicles is free but tickets are required to access the grounds. Please book

The Enfield & District Veteran Vehicle Society

10th Sept 11am - 2pm

In 1961 the group set up a trust to raise funds and in 1985 bought a disused pumping station and converted it into a Museum of Transport. The Society are displaying some of their magnificent vehicles.

Firework Champions

16th Sept 4pm - 10pm

Three firework companies will compete against each other with 10 minute displays choreographed to music, followed by a huge finale display. Vote by text for your favourite team.

Chamber Music Festival: A Family Affair

28th Sept - 1st Oct 12 noon - 10pm

Exploring repertoires which highlight the importance of relations between composers, as well as celebrating family connections between artists.

Hatfield House AL9 5HX www.hatfield-house.co.uk

Grand Autumn Show

9th Sept from 2.15pm

Organised by Redbourn in Bloom Horticultural Society, with plants, produce and preserves. Presentation of trophies 4.30pm

Redbourn Village Hall, High Street AL3 7LW www.redbourninbloom.org.uk

Tour: Woodland Wildlife Safari

9th Sept 6pm - 9.30pm

Explore the 170-acre site and discover its hidden wonders. Designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, after dark tours have seen deer, badgers, foxes and owls. £25, please book, age 14+

Royal Gunpowder Mills, Waltham Abbey EN9 1JY www.royalgunpowdermills.com

Herts Open Studios 9th Sept - 1st Oct

With hundreds of artists working in many different media, all sharing their creative talents with visitors, there’s something to appeal to everyone’s taste. Follow the yellow signs across the county to visit venues, studios, pop-ups, galleries, shops, theatres, museums and much more. You'll see finished and 'in progress' artwork; be able to chat to artists and find out more about the tools and techniques they use. www.hvaf.org.uk

Out of Town

Chilli Fest

1st & 3rdSept 10am-5pm & 2nd Sept 10am-8pm

The festival will bring you local artisan producers and some of the nation’s best independent traders who are all passionate about chilli. Also enjoy live music, children’s activities and a walk around the gardens. Waddesdon HP18 0JH www.waddesdon.org.uk

Shuttleworth

Bedfordshire Vintage Air Show 3rd Sept 9.30am

Celebrate Shuttleworth's long connection with vintage agricultural equipment, steam engines, aircraft and vehicles and see the inspiring machines that helped shape the course of history. £35

ModelAir - Festival of Flight

16th & 17th Sept 9am free

With model flying, traders and children’s activities.

Autumn Market 30th Sept 10am free

Biggleswade SG18 9DT www.shuttleworth.org

Knebworth House

DogFest 9th & 10th Sept

The ultimate dog’s day out; try your hand (or paw) at a variety of activities, enter the Fun Dog Show or take part in the Big Dog Walk.

Petrolheadonism Live 16th & 17th Sept

Bringing together over 1,000 cars, including some of the world’s most exclusive supercars, classics, Americana, highly-modified vehicles and much more.

Knebworth House, Stevenage SG1 2AX www.knebworthhouse.com

RAF London

Spitfire Family Run 17th Sept 9.15am £5

This 1k run is perfect for all the family. Runners will receive a medal. Under 8’s must be accompanied. Spitfire 10K 17th Sept 10am £25

Complete this unique course around the edge of the historic Aerodrome. Runners will receive a Spitfire 10K race medal on completion.

RAF London NW9 5LL www.rafmuseum.org.uk

Bletchley Park

Talk: Meet The Author: Alan Turing's Manchester 19th Sept 6.30pm online

Jonathan Swinton talks about his book in which he explores the complexity of the city Turing encountered in 1948. The book is a richly illustrated account of the lives lived, and of one cut tragically short. www.bletchleypark.org.uk

Tring Natural History Museum

Rothschild Library Extinct Bird Tour

21st Sept 10.30am & 11.30am

Take the rare opportunity to look inside the inspiring Victorian Rothschild Library containing books dating back to the 1600s. £10

Akeman Street, Tring HP23 6AP www.nhm.ac.uk

Night of Legends 21st - 23rd Sept 6pm

The grounds of Wrest Park will come to life with medieval myths and legends with stories of doomed lovers, witches’ curses and mounted knights! From £14 Wrest Park, Silsoe MK45 4HR www.english-heritage.org.uk

Wolf Weekend 30th Sept & 1st Oct

Enjoy unique wolf-themed photo-ops while raising funds and awareness for them and their rapidly decreasing wild habitats. Included with admission Paradise Wildlife Park EN10 7QA www.pwpark.com

Traditional Harvest Festival

30th Sept & 1st Oct

Visit the Bodger’s Area, the fire kiln, saw pit, straw plaiting and the blacksmith. £14, child £8, U4’s free Chiltern Open Air Museum, Bucks HP8 4AB www.coam.org.uk

Bicycle

Heritage Open Days

This year’s theme is 'Creativity Unwrapped' celebrating the history of creativity, from the famous to the 'familiar only to locals'.

Rothamsted Manor Harpenden AL5 2BG

9th Sept 10am, 11.30am & 1pm

This Grade I listed Manor House, rarely open to the public is set in the beautiful grounds of Rothamsted Research estate. Enjoy self-guided tours of the Manor House and garden, science activities, the discovery room and cream teas in the library. Free, please book www.rothamstedenterprises.com

Ayot St Peter’s Church Welwyn AL6 9BG

9th Sept 10am- 5pm

A complete and beautifully preserved Victorian Arts and Crafts church of 1875 which will be decorated with flowers and produce for the Harvest Festival, taking place the following day at 11.15am.

Tours: Bute Mills Bute Street, Luton LU1 2EY

9th Sept 2pm & 3pm

This Edwardian steam mill underwent a transformation in 2015 to become an award-winning youth centre. See both the signs of its previous life and the current creative interior. Please book

St Albans South Signal Box

Ridgmont Road AL1 3AF

9th & 10th Sept 10am - 5pm

Visit the largest preserved Midland Railway signal box in the UK and one of the few that's open to the public and next to a main line railway. There will be signalling demonstrations, a video of the restoration and railway-related exhibits. In the garden you can operate working signals and a point; see lit oil lamps, a telegraph 'pole route' and the garden railway. Free, donations welcome

Panshanger Park B1000, Hertford SG14 2NA

Talk: Chalk Streams & Geology

9th & 10th Sept 11am

The River Mimram is a chalk stream that flows through the centre of Panshanger Park. Join volunteer Jane as she talks about these habitats, the wildlife dependent on them and the geology that forms them.

Open Weekend 9th & 10th Sept 10am- 4pm

Explore areas of the Park not usually open.

Heritage Walk

9th & 10th Sept 10.30am & 1.30pm

Find out more about the history of the Park.

Ramble Around Panshanger Park

10th Sept 10.30am

Enjoy a 5 mile walk around the Park.

Smallford Station & Hatfield & St Albans

Railway Smallford AL4 0HB

10th Sept 10am - 4pm

Guided walk 12 noon & 2pm

This 150-year-old Grade 2 listed building served the Hatfield and St Albans Railway. The original track-bed is now The Alban Way, a foot- and cycle-path between Hatfield and St Albans.

Hertford Castle Castle Street SG14 1HR

10th Sept 12 noon - 4pm

The castle grounds will be transformed to include interactive medieval encampments on the main lawn, fire breathing, falconry flying displays, storytelling and re-enactment battle scenes.

Luton Hoo Walled Garden LU1 4LF

13th Sept 11am - 3pm free www.lutonhooestate.co.uk

Visit this historic Capability Brown designed Walled Garden with it’s rich and diverse history.

St Albans Cemetery Hatfield Road AL1 4LU

13th Sept 11am

Take a tour of the cemetery, and see 147 First World War burials, 93 of them forming a war graves plot. Some of the 79 Second World War graves form a separate plot. Please book

St Helen’s Church Wheathampstead AL4 8AA

16th Sept 9.30am - 12 noon

17th Sept 11.30am - 3pm www.wheathamspteadheritage.org.uk

History tours, crafts and activities.

St Albans Clock Tower

Market Place, St Albans AL3 5DR

16th & 17th Sept 10.30am - 5pm

Step back in time with a visit to the only medieval town belfry in England, marvel at the great bell, Gabriel and enjoy the rooftop view.

Piccotts End: Pre-Reformation Wall Paintings Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AU

16th & 17th Sept 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm & 3pm

A rare opportunity to see these unique early wall paintings in a Grade I listed 16th century Hall House recently featured on Celebrity Antiques Roadtrip.

St Albans School Abbey Gateway AL3 4HB

17th Sept 11am - 4pm

The Abbey Gateway is one of the oldest Ancient monuments in the city, dating from 1365. Since 1871, it has been the home of St Albans School.

Please book

Codicote Village Museum High Street SG4 8UB

17th Sept 2pm - 5pm www.heritageopendays.org.uk

Village museum in a restored Edwardian Club House, with children's corner and tours of the village and parish.