A VARIED programme of unusual and fascinating places to visit is on offer in Scarborough as part of the annual Heritage Open Days festival.

The national Heritage Open Days scheme, which runs from tomorrow (Thursday) to September 11, aims to raise public awareness of the country’s architectural, built, historical and cultural heritage. Buildings that are either not usually open to the public, or that usually charge admission, will open for free.

In Scarborough, the Heritage Opens Days weekend is organised by Scarborough Museums Trust. Venues include (booking not required unless stated):

September 9 & 10, 11am to 3pm. Sir George Cayley’s workshop, Brompton-by-Sawdon: The 18th century workshop of the man who invented the concept of the aeroplane.

September 10 & 11, 10am-5pm. The Rotunda Museum: One of the first purpose-built museums in the world, opening in 1829. Now home to Gristhorpe Man, a unique Bronze Age skeleton.

September 10 and 11, 10am-5pm. Scarborough Art Gallery: An Italianate villa built in the late 1840s which houses Scarborough’s permanent art collection, including works by Atkinson Grimshaw, Robert Ernest Roe and John Armstrong.

September 8 and 9, guided tours at 1pm, booking required. Woodend: a Grade II listed building, home to the Sitwell family from 1870.

September 9 and 10, guided tours at 2pm, booking required. Londesborough Lodge: Built in the 1830s and in 1853 acquired by Lord Londesborough who entertained the future King Edward VII there. Now a community centre run by Buddhist charity Kagyu Samye Dzong.

September 8 to 11, 11am-4pm. Scarborough Maritime Heritage Centre: Founded in 2004, the centre documents the seafaring history of the town; now in a new home at 45 Eastborough.

September 10 and 11 , 10.30am, 11.30am, 2pm, 3pm. North Bay Railway: Tours of the engine shed with a free talks, guide book and return train ride for just £2.

September 10, 10.30am and 2pm. Booking required. Raincliffe Woods Archaeological Discoveries. This two-hour walk includes steep slopes and goes off-footpath.

September 10, 10am-4pm. Masonic Hall: Converted in 1884 from a private house, and still in use today as a Masonic meeting place. Includes a display on Freemasonry.

September 10, 10am-4pm. Trinity House: Scarborough’s Grade II listed Trinity House is one of only four in the country. This is a chance to see the historical courtyard and boardroom.

September 11, 10am, 1pm, 3pm. Booking required. Ayton Castle: A tour including rare access to the tower and undercroft.

September 8 and 9, 11am. Booking required. Scarborough Jail: A prison from 1866-1878, the interior is preserved as it would have been then. The tour includes the cells and old chapel and involves steep steps and uneven floors.

September 9, 10am-3pm. St Andrew’s Church: A Grade II listed church with a model of medieval Scarborough and a beautiful heritage chapel.

September 8, 9 and 11 , noon to 4pm. Castle-by-the-Sea: Home to Victorian artist John Atkinson Grimshaw from 1876 to 1879, includes hand-painted tiles designed by the artist himself.

September 8, 11am and 2pm; September 10, 11am. Booking required. B Bernard and Sons: A guided tour of one of Scarborough’s longest-standing funeral homes.

September 11, First World War graves guided walk at 11.30am; heritage tree walk at 12.30pm. Booking required. Dean Road Chapel: A refurbished chapel and "dead house", includes exhibitions of First World War-themed quilts.

September 8 and 9, 11am. Booking required. Hollywood Plaza: The former North Bay Picture House opened in 1918, but later became a garage before being reconverted to a cinema in the 1980s.

For more information, go to heritageopendays.org.uk