Ever fancied having a nose around someone's historic Regency home but thought it too rude to knock on the door?

Or maybe you always wanted to explore Brighton's old police cells but never knew how?

Over the course of three days this month a selection of public and private buildings will be opening their doors to the public.

Heritage Open Days 2009, held between September 10 and 13, will be Britain's largest free heritage event.

It was launched in Brighton yesterday by TV comedy star Griff Rhys Jones at a Regency House in Kensington Place owned by Craig Johnson.

Griff Rhys Jones said: “There is quite a range of different things on, particularly in Brighton.

“All around Britain there are places, many of which are closed to the public, which will throw open their doors for people to see how they work.

“It's a great day out to see great architecture.

“The house in Brighton was brilliant. Craig Johnson has done a very beautiful thing.

“He's got one of these little houses and he's spent years collecting little bits of regency stuff – it's like going into a museum.

“The whole idea appeals to our innate urge to get inside and poke about.

It’s what architecture is for, to experience and to explore interior space. I can't wait for this year's event.”

Dr Andy Brown, South East Regional Director of English Heritage, who is organising the open days, said: “Heritage Open Days provide visitors with the opportunity to explore places which, however familiar, are normally closed and therefore mysterious.

“They provide a chance not only to discover hidden history, but to meet the people who live or work there, and are passionate about their subject.

“They demonstrate that the great wealth of our culture and history is all around us, on every street and under our feet and that we can explore for ourselves. That is what makes them so popular with adults and children alike.”

The focus of this year's Heritage Open Days is the My House My Street initiative which had home owners from the North Laine area of Brighton researching the history of their home.

Many of the residents who took part in the scheme will be opening their doors for the open days.

Nick Tyson, co-ordinator of Brighton and Hove Open Door, said: “We have assembled the largest number of Heritage Open Days events for 2009 with 150 events to celebrate the city's central role.”

Across Sussex there are hundreds of places opening their doors, for full details visit

Some of the places that will be opened up later this month

Brighton Old Police Cells The Old Police Cells Museum is housed in the basement of Brighton Town Hall and offers visitors a unique insight into the history of policing in Sussex.

The Observatory Science Centre, Hailsham The buildings of The Observatory Science Centre, situated within the Herstmonceux Castle Estate, were once home to The Royal Greenwich Observatory.

37 Kensington Place, Brighton This small but perfectly proportioned early-Victorian property has been thoughtfully and sensitively furnished in Regency/William IV style and hung with a fine collection of Brighton prints.