As part of English Heritage's Open Day programme across the UK, Sheffield City Hall will be opening its doors and welcoming in the general public on Saturday 11 September 2010.

Heritage Open Days celebrates England's fantastic architecture and culture by offering free access to properties that are usually closed to the public. Every year on four days in September, buildings of every age, style and function throw open their doors, ranging from castles to factories, town halls to barns, parish churches to Buddhist temples. It is a once-a-year chance to discover hidden architectural treasures and enjoy a wide range of tours, events and activities which bring to life local history and culture.

Designed by acclaimed architect, E.Vincent Harris, Sheffield City Hall originally opened its doors back in 1932 and since then has filmy established itself as one of the region's most distinguished entertainment and conference venues. The building has a rich and diverse legacy with many world artists having performed here, from iconic legends such as Jimmi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and The Beatles to modern day heroes such as Ricky Gervais and JLS.

For Sheffield City Hall's own Heritage Open Day, visitors will have the opportunity to explore areas of the City Hall that are normally off limits to the public such as the backstage corridors and dressing rooms, to treading the boards on the Oval Hall stage. For this, guided tours will be on offer at 11am and 1pm, visiting all areas of the building right down to the Grand Ballroom and providing little known facts along the way.

In addition to this, the City Hall's ornate foyer is set to be transformed into a Yorkshire themed café, offering a hearty selection of hot and cold snacks and refreshments from 10am through to 5pm. Normally, as an area that people merely pass through, visitors don't always notice the foyer's beautiful hand painted ceiling and exquisite stained glass windows, so it's hoped that this will encourage visitors to stop and admire the surroundings for a change, while an exhibition of forgotten City Hall memorabilia will also be on display throughout the day.

 To book a place on a guided tour, please contact the Box Office on 01142233701.