Heritage Open Day Festival 2026

Discover Southampton’s rich history. Enjoy free entry to the Stories Behind the Stones exhibition, explore the gallery, and follow fun family trails around the building. A perfect day out in the heart of the Old Town. Free access to the whole building as part of Heritage Open Days!God’s House Tower (GHT) is one of Southampton’s most extraordinary historic landmarks, with over 800 years of rich and often surprising history. First built in 1189 as a gateway to protect the town from sea raids, the structure evolved from a medieval stronghold to a grim 18th-century prison, and later, a bustling Victorian warehouse.Throughout the centuries, GHT has witnessed dramatic moments in Southampton’s past—from the devastating French raid of 1338 to the harsh realities of life inside God’s House Gaol, where prisoners endured grueling labour in cold, damp conditions. The building’s unique role as both protector and punisher reflects the shifting priorities of the town over time.In the 20th century, GHT became Southampton’s archaeology museum, before undergoing an ambitious restoration to transform it into the arts and heritage venue it is today. Every stone tells a story—of defence, punishment, resilience, and renewal.Visitors can explore these layered histories in a space where the line between legend and documented history often blurs, adding depth and intrigue to the experience.Main Gallery Exhibition
In the Main Gallery, discover While We Slumber by Kitt (AKA Lady Kitt), an exhibition commissioned by ‘a space’ arts for God’s House Tower. The exhibition begins with a simple question: what do we really share when we sleep in close proximity? Drawing on the familiar rituals of sleepovers – midnight feasts, whispered conversations, star-gazing, makeshift forts and sleeping bag stair toboggans – Kitt explores how social sleeping can deepen emotional connection and reshape our understanding of care, intimacy and belonging.Central to Kitt’s research is the idea of ‘emotional heritage’: the way feelings accumulate within buildings, and how they are shaped, shared, and passed on through the communities who inhabit them. At God’s House Tower, this inheritance is layered and complex. Through archival and site-based research, Kitt traces a history of communal slumber within the building – from incarceration in the 1700s and 1800s, to more recent events such as artist residencies and a 24 hour ukulele jam. While We Slumber invites audiences to consider (and experience) how social sleeping might alter our relationship to shared spaces and to one another.Cafe & Refreshments
Take a break in our café and enjoy a selection of freshly prepared coffee, tea and delicious baked goods, with a welcoming space to relax during your visit.