Heritage Open Days is England's largest community led festival of history and culture, involving thousands of local volunteers and organisations. Every year in September it brings people together to celebrate their heritage, community and history. Stories are told, traditions explored, and histories brought to life. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – and it’s all FREE.

This year there are 301 fantastic events to showcase Milton Keynes’ distinctive and world class heritage, arts and culture - the most ever!

DOWNLOAD THE 2026 MK HODs BROCHURE.

Everyday Lives in Newport Pagnell

Newport Pagnell Library will be hosting an exhibition of information boards provided by Newport Pagnell Historical Society (NPHS) on the lives of everyday working people in Newport Pagnell during the 20th and 21st Centuries - highlighting pictures and written information on a few chosen workers. 

The exhibition will be shown on the following dates, with a volunteer from NPHS at the library to talk to visitors and highlight even more information and materials that are available at their museum, which is only a short walk from the library.

You’ll also find information about the history of the library in Newport Pagnell.

No booking is necessary - drop in to see the exhibition on:

• Saturday 12 September - 10am to 12.30pm
  with a Newport Pagnell Historical Society Volunteer available from 10.30 to 11.30am
• Saturday 19 September - 10am to 12.30pm
  with a Newport Pagnell Historical Society Volunteer available from 10.30 to 11.30am

• COMPUTER HELP SESSIONS WITH OUR IT BUDDIES
  • Sessions are held at several libraries and offer one-to-one help with your devices (phones, laptops, tablets) and online processes like setting up an email or shopping. Visit the Digital Help web page for full details.
• GAMES CLUB - (all ages) at Newport Pagnell Library - Friday 2.30-4.30pm (drop-in)
• GAMES CLUB - (all ages) at Olney Library - Tuesday 2.30-4.30pm (drop-in)
• GAMES CLUB - (all ages) at Stony Stratford Library - Thursday 3.45-4.45pm (drop-in)
• GAMES CLUB - (adults only) at Westcroft Library - Thursday 11am-1pm (drop-in)
• GARDENING CLUB - Stony Stratford Library (contact Stony Stratford Library for dates).
• KNIT AND NATTER sessions at various libraries
• LIBRARY COFFEE MORNINGS at Stony Stratford Library with FoSSL on the first and third Wednesdays each month 10-11am. Free to attend, just stop by for tea, coffee, homemade cake and conversation.
• LIBRARY READING GROUPS at various libraries
• SOCIAL SCRABBLE at Bletchley Library on Tuesdays 10.30-11.30am.

Please note that some activities are term time only.

• CODE CLUB (ages 9-13) at Central Library - Monday 4-5pm
• CRAFT CLUB (ages 4-8) at Olney Library - third Saturday each month 10.30-11.30am
• GAMES CLUB - (all ages) at Newport Pagnell Library - Friday 2.30-4.30pm (drop-in)
• GAMES CLUB - (all ages) at Olney Library - Tuesday 2.30-4.30pm (drop-in)
• GAMES CLUB - (all ages) at Stony Stratford Library - Thursday 3.45-4.45pm (drop-in)
• GAMES CLUB - (children only) at Wolverton Library - Thursday 3.30-4.30pm (drop-in)
• LEGO AND DUPLO CLUBS at various libraries
• READ AND PLAY sessions at Olney Library - Thursday 2.30-4.30pm
• STAY AND PLAY sessions at Bletchley Library - Tuesday 10.30-11.30am (term time only)
• STAY AND PLAY sessions at Central Library - Wednesday 1.30-2.30pm (term time only)
• STAY AND PLAY sessions at Newport Pagnell Library - Thursday 10.30-11.30am (term time only)
• STAY AND PLAY sessions at Kingston Library - Friday 10.30-11.30am (term time only)
• STONY MUSIC MAKERS at Stony Stratford Library - Wednesday 9.30-10.15am
• STORIES, SONGS AND RHYMES at various libraries

English conversation club is for anyone who would like to practise and improve their English as a second language, gain better skills for study or employment, or just get on in everyday life.

Sessions at Central Library

• Everyone is welcome to join us on the day and you don't need to register.
• Conversation club sessions are held at Central Library on Thursday mornings 11am-12pm.
• If you'd like to know more you can phone 01908 254050 or speak to library staff.

The library offers many resources to help those who speak other languages and are looking to learn English as a second language (ESOL). The library also provides a range of material to help you improve your basic language and reading skills.

Sessions between July 2026 and October 2026

During the refurbishment of Central Library, the first floor will be closed. The English Conversation Club sessions will continue between 11am and 12pm but with a few changes to the location within Central Library.

• 3 Sep – Community Learning classroom on the ground floor
• 10 Sep – Children’s Library on the ground floor
• 17 Sep – Children’s Library on the ground floor
• 24 Sep – Children’s Library on the ground floor
• 1 Oct – Children’s Library on the ground floor
• 8 Oct – Children’s Library on the ground floor (if the first floor remains closed)

We offer Family History support from our volunteers:

FIRST STEPS OR PROGRESSING

If you'd like help to start your family tree or to progress your research, our volunteers are here to help.

• at Wolverton Library on the last Wednesday of each month - 2pm to 4pm
• at Newport Pagnell Library on the first Tuesday of each month - 2pm to 4pm

Book your free session by emailing library.enquiries@milton-keynes.gov.uk or visiting the host Library.

EXPERT ADVICE

If you’re having difficulties with your research and need some advice, John will use his years of experience to help you at Central Library.

• Dates to be announced

Book your free 30-minute session by emailing library.enquiries@milton-keynes.gov.uk or calling 01908 254050.

Friends Groups work in partnership with us and closely with local library teams to help support and enhance libraries in our local communities.

They provide an important contribution to support and maintain awareness of a library in a local community.

Folio - Olney Library

Folio (The Friends of the Library in Olney) run a programme of talks which are held 7.30-8.30pm at The Olney Centre, Room 4 and they request that you arrive at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Refreshments are served after each talk.

• 7 September 2026 - The Hidden Key to Longevity & Dementia Prevention - Philippa Symes
• 5 October 2026 - The Exciting World of Tea - Mark Lawson and Giles Oakley, Two Spoons

Tickets are £6 in advance and can be booked online at Ticketsource or by phoning Ticketsource on 0333 666 3366.

If you are no longer able to attend or have any questions, please email olneyfoliofriends@gmail.com.

FoSSL - Stony Stratford Library

FoSSL (The Friends of Stony Stratford Library) run regular talks at the library and details for booking tickets for these events will be released closer to the time. If you'd like to join the mailing list to receive news and updates from FoSSL, email fosslmk@gmail.com.

• 14 September 2026 (1pm) - "Robert Hooke and his Willen Church - as if he didn't have enough to do!" - lunchtime talk by Jacky Scott. Please note that you should not arrive any earlier than 12.45 when the doors will open for this talk.

To book, visit the FOSSL website or visit/phone Stony Stratford Library 01908 562562.

Visit the FOSSL website for the latest news and information.

• Several libraries host Knit and Natter groups.
• Beginners and experts are all welcome.
• Admission is free.

• Free all-round fun with Lego/Duplo clubs at several of our libraries.
• We provide the bricks and you provide the imagination.
• Everyone regardless of age is invited to join the fun.
• Parents and carers are responsible for their child's safety.
• Parents and carers must remain with their children throughout the sessions.

Click on the session links to see the dates when clubs are running.

Tuesday

• 3.30-4.30pm at Wolverton Library
• 4-5pm at Central Library

Wednesday

• 3.30-4.30pm at Newport Pagnell Library

Thursday

• 3.30-4.30pm at Bletchley Library
• 3.30-4.30pm at Westcroft Library

Friday

• 3.30-4.30pm at Kingston Library
• 3.30-4.30pm at Olney Library
• 3.30-4.30pm at Stony Stratford Library
• 3.30-4.30pm at Woburn Sands Library

Saturday 

• 10am-12pm at Central Library
• 11am-12pm at Newport Pagnell Library
• 11am-12pm at Stony Stratford Library
• First Saturday of each month - 10.30-11.30am at Olney Library

You can subscribe to library newsletters to hear the latest news or follow us on our various social media pages.

• Facebook (MiltonKeynesLibraries)
• Instagram (MKLibraries)
• Pinterest (MKLibraries)
• YouTube (Milton Keynes Libraries)

Look Again is a guide to Central Milton Keynes’ unique modern heritage, art, architecture and design. Get off the beaten track and discover stories of how creativity is all around you.

Look Again was created by Milton Keynes City Council with the research and collections of the Archive partners. The trail is added to every month, helping to test stories and designs, and enabling everyone to explore our unique design heritage. Throughout the City Centre information panels and artwork plaques have been created with QR Codes that take people to the online information, with a handy Map to explore by area, theme or interest.

Help us expand the trail by giving feedback online - head to the LOOK AGAIN website.

Do you enjoy reading? Would you like to talk about what you have read? Would you like to share your views with an informal group? Then why not join a reading group.

• Several libraries hold storytime sessions.
• We also have many online stories, songs, poems and signed stories on our YouTube Channel.
• Be sure to browse our unlisted stories playlist.

We're excited to bring you the Summer Reading Challenge each year during the summer holidays.

We hope you'll consider joining our team here at the Milton Keynes Libraries. You'll find details of any current vacancies across our libraries on the library vacancies webpage.

• We welcome volunteers at nine of our libraries (excluding Woughton Library).
• There are many interesting opportunities for volunteers within the Milton Keynes libraries and there's bound to be something that suits you.
• Volunteers need to be at least 13 years old.