Lewes House opens to the public

The open days celebrate architecture and culture by allowing visitors either free access to properties that would normally charge an entrance fee - or entrance into property not normally open to the public.

A new attraction this year is Tadworth Court Mansion in Surrey.

Council building

Lewes House, in East Sussex, now home to Lewes District Council, is also opening.

The building dates back to the 1600s and was once the home of Edward Perry Warren, an American art connoisseur who commissioned the Rodin sculpture The Kiss.

The 17th Century country house was described by the architectural historian Sir Nikolaus Pevsner as one of the most elegant in the whole country.

In Kent, 130 buildings are opening to the public free of charge, including the Waterloo Tower, in Birchington.

Bill Startin, English Heritage regional director for the South East, said: "The open days provide a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the rich history of the South East. This year promises to attract a record number of people."