13th November 2026
The Historic Buildings Parks & Gardens Event – 13th November 2026
Entrance to the event is free of charge. Pre-registration for the Historic Buildings, Parks & Gardens Event is now open, click here to register to attend.
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 free SPAB advice surgery, means you can be assured of an interesting and rewarding day.
The 2026 Historic Houses National AGM marks the 53rd 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 which will be announced in 2026*. 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 2025 demonstrations and short talks list click here.
Programme for 2026 (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.
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 Fellows, Locker & Riley Artisans in Plaster, Messenger BCR specialists in building conservation, short talks by Hugo Bugg, Co-founder of Harris Bugg Studio: From inheritance to resilience: a joined-up approach to historic gardens, a Heritage Potential Quiz and much more.
11.00AM Historic Houses AGM** (Historic House Members only), Churchill Auditorium
11.35AM Address by Jason Lindsay, Historic Houses President*, Churchill Auditorium
12.00PM Historic Houses Awards Ceremony*, Churchill Auditorium
The Restoration Award | Garden of the Year Award | Frances Garnham Award | Collections Award | Diversification Award
12.20-2.00PM Demos and short talks programme continues Demo Areas 1 & 2
Including demos by SPAB Guardians, Locker & Riley Artisans in Plaster, and many more.
2.00PM John Goodall & Clive Aslet, The Future of the Past *
2.30PM Jeremy Musson, The Country Houses Foundation *, Churchill Auditorium
2.40PM Historic Houses Savills Lecture*, Miranda Rock, Burghley House: Past, Present and Future, Churchill Auditorium
3.15PM – 4.30PM Demos and short talks programme continues Demo Areas 1 & 2
Including book signings, demos by SPAB Fellows, Locker & Riley Artisans in Plaster, Messenger BCR specialists in building conservation, short talks by SPAB Technical & Research Director, Douglas Kent, and much more.
*By kind permission of Historic Houses and subject to seating availability
** Historic Houses members ticket only
OPENING HOURS
Friday 13th November 2026, 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 open, click here to register for free.
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