Historic and unusual buildings across England are currently opening their doors to the public free of charge as part of Heritage Open Days 2007.

Running until September 9th, the event features lots of sites that are not usually open to the public and those that charge admission are not doing so for the weekend.

Churches, museums, halls, stately homes, Manchester's Victoria Baths, follies, tunnels, medieval undercrofts, castles, Buddhist temples, tithe barns and factories are just some of the sites open to the public for free this weekend.

Celebrating the best of English architecture and culture, there will be gladiatorial displays and Roman guards at Chester Roman Amphitheatre, the Shah Jehan Mosque in Woking is holding guided tours and the ancient Church of St Martin-cum-Gregory in Micklegate, York, is throwing open its doors to visitors.

Organised by the Civic Trust and English Heritage, Heritage Open Days was established in 1994 as part of Europe Heritage Days and now attracts over one million people each year to historic sites and buildings, with thousands of volunteers overseeing the event.

Dr Simon Thurley, English Heritage chief executive, said: "This is a chance to explore not just country houses but the history and culture of everything from Buddhist temples and Masonic lodges to mines, farms, pubs and factories."