Celebrating heritage and community at Alconbury Weald
Midday to 5pm on Saturday, 12 September 2026 in The Club and on Watch Office Green.
Part of England’s largest festival on history and culture, Alconbury Weald’s annual Heritage Open Day gives residents and visitors an opportunity to explore the development’s fascinating past.
This year’s event will include an exhibition on Alconbury Weald’s military heritage, with artefacts from some of the World War II and Cold War buildings. There will also be a talk from the Airfield Research Group at 3pm and pre-booked tours of the Cold War Avionics Building.
A Hurricane flypast is also scheduled in the afternoon at 2:30pm (weather conditions permitting), in a fitting salute to the role Alconbury Airfield played in the Second World War.
Alconbury Weald Community Association’s Family Fun Day will run alongside the Heritage Open Day with food trucks, candyfloss and ice creams, as well as Pimms and scones with jam and cream. There will be sports and games, face painting, hair braiding, Wildlife Wonders and a police car experience. Live music will be played throughout, with performances from The Weald Thing, Brad Ariss and more.
The Watch Office Bar & Kitchen – located inside the refurbished Grade 2 listed World War II Watch Office building – also pays tribute to Alconbury Weald’s military past. Visitors enjoying their food and drink in the former Nissan Hut can admire the striking mural that depicts British and American aircraft crew members and features a Bristol Blenheim and a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress overhead.
“Alconbury Weald has an amazing heritage dating back to early Bronze Age settlers and it’s a privilege to be able to share some of it at our Heritage Open Days. This year, we’re focusing on its more recent military past and the role Alconbury Airfield played in World War II and the Cold War.
“The Community Association’s Family Fun Day running alongside ensures a great mix of culture and entertainment for residents and visitors, with lots for all ages and interests to enjoy.”
The event is free to attend and all sessions, apart from the fully booked tours of the Avionics Building, are available on a drop-in basis.
Whilst residents will be able to walk, cycle or scoot to the event, visitors can catch the AW1 or 904 to/from The Boulevard bus stop. Free car parking is also available behind The Incubators (please follow signage on the day). You can find out about ways to get to Alconbury Weald sustainably at www.alconbury-weald.co.uk/travel.
