11th November 2025
The Historic Buildings Parks & Gardens Event – 11th November 2025
Entrance to the event is free of charge. Pre-registration for the Historic Buildings, Parks & Gardens Event is now open, please click here to register.
Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Westminster, London, SW1P 3EE
Doors open at 9am
The Historic Buildings, Parks and Gardens Event (HBPGE) is held annually in parallel with the Historic Houses Annual General Meeting. The event has been running for over 35 years.
Free entry to the HBPGE is available to everyone in the historic buildings, landscape conservation and heritage sectors. Owners, guardians, volunteers, professionals management staff and advisers involved with historic buildings (private, commercial, industrial, Grade I listed buildings, cathedrals, churches, manor houses, windmills, historic town centres), parks, gardens and historic landscapes,. All are welcome.
The combination of the HBPGE exhibition with over 70 stands,
Historic Houses guest speakers, live demonstrations, short talks, an opportunity to meet experts and a freeSPAB advice surgery, means you can be assured of an interesting and rewarding day.
The 2025 Historic Houses National AGM marks the 52nd anniversary of the Association’s foundation.
Places matter
Britain’s historic houses are a magnet for tourists and an essential part of what makes this country special. But they also make a vital contribution to our economy and communities.
Everyone benefits
Our houses and gardens are hubs for whole communities, and always have been. They’re places to work, learn, exercise and relax, to feel better and to feel included, to enjoy peace and quiet or to meet others. There is something for everyone. Between them, our member houses and gardens welcome over 19 million visits each year, generating £1 billion in visitor spend and supporting over 12,000 FTE jobs in all corners of the UK. These special places are often cultural lynchpins for their local communities, bringing together opportunities for access to great art, architecture and craftsmanship with the creative industries, health and wellbeing activities, community groups and access to beauty, nature and open space.
Visitors will be able to listen to the address by Jason Lindsay, President of Historic Houses,* and guest speakers Baroness Twycross, DCMS* and Dr Anna Keay OBE, Director of The Landmark Trust*. Throughout the day there will also be a selection of short talks and live demonstrations given by experts about practical skills and conservation techniques at the HBPGE.
Please keep an eye on the website for updates on this years event.
*by kind permission of Historic Houses and subject to seating.
Look around the exhibition
The highly comprehensive exhibition consists of a wide variety of companies and organisations, providing, advice, solutions, guidance, support, information, and products & services for all aspects of the historic buildings, landscape conservation and heritage sectors.
Visitors have a superb opportunity to discuss current and future projects with experts and specialist suppliers. With everything on offer, from the traditional, to cutting edge technology, you can meet with professionals from all aspects of the historic buildings, landscape and heritage conservation sectors. These include historic buildings exteriors and their contents, historic landscapes, parks and gardens, both private and commercial.
Meet the experts
The SPAB will be running a free Advice Surgery. The Victorian Society, The Gardens Trust, The William Morris Society, Professional Gardeners Guild, and many specialist organisations, suppliers and professionals are on hand to help with all aspects of historic buildings, landscape and heritage conservation.
Live demonstrations programme
Held throughout the day, experts including SPAB Guardians, will demonstrate practical skills and conservation techniques.
To see the last year’s demos and short talks list click here.
(Please note timings may be subject to change)
We will be updating the details of timings, speakers and demos over the coming weeks so please check back regularly for the latest info.
The Demos and short talks will be on a wide range of subjects with more details to follow but will include:
Creating Stunning Plasterworks, Locker & Riley: Practical Demo. Artisans in plaster will take you through the story of originating and creating stunning plasterworks for any use or specification. From original design concept to installation,
Decorative Objects Conservation Fine Art Restoration: Preserving the Past: How Damp and Mould Threaten Art Collections in Historic Properties. Amy Walsh, Decorative Objects Conservator
9.00AM The Historic Buildings Parks & Gardens Event opens.
Featuring an All-day Exhibition of products and services with 75 exhibitors, as well as live practical demonstrations held throughout the day, where experts show practical skills, conservation techniques on a wide range of issues relating to the conservation of historic buildings including contents and historic landscapes.
9.45AM -11.30 Demos and short talks programme begins Demo Areas 1 & 2
Including demos by SPAB Guardians, Fine Art Restoration, Locker & Riley Artisans in Plaster, Harris Bugg Studio Landscape Design and many more.
11.00AM Historic Houses AGM (Historic House Members only), Churchill Auditorium
11.35AM Address by Jason Lindsay, Historic Houses President*, Churchill Auditorium
11.00PM Historic Houses Guest Speaker*, The Baroness Twycross, DCMS, Churchill Auditorium
12.30- -2.PM Demos and short talks programme begins Demo Areas 1 & 2
Including demos by SPAB Guardians, Fine Art Restoration, Locker & Riley Artisans in Plaster, Harris Bugg Studio Landscape Design and many more.
2.00PM live Q&A session with Historic House Director General, Ben Cowell*
2.15PM Historic Houses Awards *, Churchill Auditorium
The Restoration Award | Garden of the Year Award | Frances Garnham Award | Collections Award | Diversification Award
2.40PM Historic Houses Savills Lecture*, Dr Anna Keay OBE, Director of The Landmark Trust, Churchill Auditorium
3.15PM – 4.30PM Demos and short talks programme begins Demo Areas 1 & 2
Including demos by SPAB Guardians & short talk by SPAB Technical & Research Director, Douglas Kent, Fine Art Restoration, Locker & Riley Artisans in Plaster, Harris Bugg Studio Landscape Design and many more.
*By kind permission of Historic Houses and subject to seating availability
OPENING HOURS
Tuesday 11th November 2025, 9am – 5pm
VENUE
Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Westminster, London, SW1P 3EE
ADMISSION
Entrance to this major heritage conservation day is free of charge to everyone in the historic buildings, landscape conservation and heritage sectors. Owners, guardians, volunteers and professionals from all sectors are welcome.
Pre-registration for the Historic Buildings, Parks & Gardens Event is now open. Please click here to register.
The Historic Buildings, Parks and Gardens Event, which has been running for over 35 years is held in parallel with the Historic Houses Annual General Meeting.
For more information about the event please click here