Guided tours during the Rushmoor Heritage Festival

Princes Hall backstage tours

Saturday 7 September

Explore the magic behind the curtain. This unique experience offers a rare glimpse behind the scenes of your local theatre, allowing you to discover the hidden workings and fascinating history that make Princes Hall a beloved cultural landmark.

Tour Highlights:

• Behind-the-scenes access - walk through areas usually off-limits to the public, including the stage and technical booths
• Historical insights - learn about the rich history of Princes Hall, from its construction to its role in the community over the decades, and the many famous faces that have trodden the boards
• Technical marvels - see the equipment and technology that bring performances to life, from lighting rigs to sound systems

Whether you're a theatre enthusiast, history buff, or just curious about what goes on behind the curtain, our backstage tours will offer an unforgettable experience. Come and celebrate the heritage of the Princes Hall during Rushmoor's Heritage Festival!

Don't miss this chance to step into the spotlight and discover the magic of theatre from a whole new perspective!

Cost: Free
Further information: for times, tickets and more information, visit the Princes Hall website
Organiser: Princes Hall

Man-carrying centrifuge tours 

Saturday 7 and Friday 13 September, Farnborough

The Farnborough Centrifuge played a key role in aviation medicine research during its 64 year life (1955 - 2019). This is an opportunity to see this unique and impressive example of 1950s British engineering (Grade II listed).

Visitors will be able to see the man-carrying centrifuge capable of 30 revolutions per minute (equivalent to 9G) for manned experiments plus, to a limited extent, other parts, including the 'art deco' style staircase (unusual feature for a 1950s Government building) along with a look into the plant machinery room.

Cost: Free
Further information: For times, costs, tickets and more information, visit the Heritage Open Days website
Organiser: FAST Museum

Farnborough aviation cycle tour 

Sunday 8th September, Farnborough

Unlock your bike and join the FAST Museum’s historians for a unique cycle tour of Farnborough’s aviation landmarks. Pedal through iconic sites and listen to tales of pioneering individuals and innovations.

The tour starts at the FAST Museum and ends at the Swan Pub.

Time: Meet at 2pm. Tour ends at 4.30pm
Location: Farnborough
Cost: £5
Tickets: Book your place through the online cycle tour sign up form 
Organiser: Rushmoor Borough Council, FAST MUseum and Ride Rushmoor

 

Discovering Aldershot Lido – from royal hunting ground to Olympic venue

Sunday 8 September, Aldershot

Hear the story of Aldershot Lido. Local historian Keith Bean walks you through history from Aldershot Park in 1154, opening as the bathing pool in 1930, its part in the 1948 Olympic Games to our lido today. When local historian Keith Bean started looking into the history of the lido, he had no idea that the journey would take him back nearly a 1000 years. The story involves two Kings, a Queen, the Olympic Games and a crystal bowl full of goldfish!

During this tour and interactive talk, follow the history of the lido from King Henry II's hunting lodge, to the Tichborne family's mansion, to an overgrown lake that was rescued by the council.

Opened in 1930 at a star-studded event, Aldershot Lido was reputed to be "the largest and finest open-air bathing pool in the country".

Join this guided tour with local historian Keith Bean and the Friends of Aldershot Lido to discover how an overgrown lake was transformed into the lido, becoming an Olympic venue in 1948 when it was the site of the Modern Pentathlon of that year's London Olympic Games.

Cost: Free
Further information: Tours take place at 3.15pm and 4.15pm.
Bookings: Visit the Places Leisure Aldershot Lido booking website
Organiser: Friends of Aldershot Lido

 

The Art of Aviation

Sunday 8 September and Sunday 15 September

Explore the National Aerospace Library’s photos, posters, blueprints, adverts and other imagery that document the advancement of the aeroplane and played a crucial role in inspiring public interest and enthusiasm for aviation.

The 1920s and 1930s had significant advancements in aircraft design, technology and the rapidly increasing culture of aviation. These were feats of engineering but also sources of profound artistic inspiration. The 1930s was a transformative decade for aviation. Recovering from the Great Depression, aeronautical innovation was considered a beacon of hope as it symbolised progress and the breaking of boundaries. It was an era that saw some iconic aircraft such as the Douglas DC-3, the Hindenburg airship and the Supermarine Spitfire which each represented significant milestones in aviation history. Join us to explore how these changes were beautifully illustrated in the advertising and other imagery of the period.

Visit the Library in Farnborough, the birthplace of British aviation. The normal tour lasts one hour and includes a presentation and time to browse the collection.

Cost: Free
Further information: for times, tickets and more information, visit the Heritage Open Days website
Organiser: The National Aerospace Library

 

Aldershot Town Football Club tour

Tuesday 10 September

Come to Aldershot Town Football Club for a free tour of the EBB Stadium. Their stadium has stood for almost 100 years but has changed so much across that time period.

The tour includes access to the club's main building which includes both the home and away changing rooms, the manager's office, and the tunnel. You'll also have full access to the club's three lounges, two of which are used for matchday hospitality, and the board room which shows off Aldershot Town FC's trophies from down the years.

On top of this, visitors will venture around the stadium and into each stand including the most famous and rowdy East Bank, and over to the Phoenix Lounge which sits underneath the oldest stand, the South Stand. The tour ends with a trip onto the pitch and into the dugouts so you can get an up close view of what it's like to be part of Aldershot Town FC on a matchday.

Children will visit the matchday fanzone, where they will have the opportunity to play some table tennis and take score some goals in the 'Beat the Goalie' contest.

Cost: Free
Further information: For times, tickets and more information, visit the Heritage Open Days website
Organiser: Aldershot Town Football Club

Tices Meadow tour: From farm to quarry to community nature reserve

Thursday 12 September, Aldershot

Join a 2.5 kilometre walking tour around the reserve, led by Mark Elsoffer and volunteers.

The Tices Meadow team will share the history of the site from prehistoric settlement to farming, quarrying and restoration to an award-winning nature reserve. More than 1500 species of wildlife have been recorded at the reserve including 200 species of bird.

The walk will follow the biodiversity trail taking through woodland, meadow, reed bed and river habitats. The tour guide will help you spot the resident wildlife. Binoculars will be available but bring your own if you have them.

Cost: Free
Further information: For times, tickets and more information, visit the Heritage Open Days website
Organiser: Tice's Meadow Bird Group

 

Before Wellesley - a walking tour 

Sunday 15 September

Join the Wellesley team for a guided walk around the fascinating Wellesley estate. Delve into the history of some of the fantastic listed buildings and the significant events of the past that led to Aldershot becoming affectionately known as "The home of the British Army".

You can have a chance to open the doors into a variety of the stunning listed buildings and hear stories of the amazing people who lived and served in Aldershot.

The tour has been written by local historian, Paul Vickers.

Cost: Free
Further information: Before Wellesley tour bookings.
Organiser: Grainger PLC

 

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About these events

Many activities are free and some require advance booking. The programme of activities will grow over the next few weeks. Please check back here regularly for more events.

Many of these events are not organised by ourselves, so please check each individual organiser's website for more information.

To see the full list of events, please visit our main Rushmoor Heritage Festival page.