The doors of Bradford’s City Hall will be thrown open to the public as part of the Lord Mayor’s Diamond Jubilee Heritage Open Day.

Visitors will be able to explore the Grade I-listed building, view the civic silver collection, and enjoy a tour of its many rooms.

These include the Lord Mayor’s rooms, Council chamber, former law courts, and banqueting hall.

The free event will be held on Saturday, September 8, from 10am until 4pm, as part of the national Heritage Open Day weekend. This is designed to celebrate the country’s architecture and culture by offering free access to places that are usually closed to the public or normally charge for admission.

This year it takes place from Thursday, September 6, to Sunday September 9, with a number of different venues in the district already signed up to take part.

In City Hall a number of special events will be laid on for visitors to enjoy, including Court re-enactments from 1952 by local magistrates. These popular sessions will be held in the former law courts at 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 2.30pm. The Lord Mayor, Councillor Dale Smith , will take part in the 11.30am session. All the cases are real and the re-enactments are based on original records.

There will also be a number of exhibitions including Little Diamonds Of Bradford – a selection of work created by local school children to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee – and a collection of royal memorabilia that has been loaned by local resident Judith Watkinson.

Visitors will also be able to watch footage of the Queen’s Coronation and wedding, and view The Lord Mayor’s scrapbook from 1952 to find out what Alderman John Shee did during his civic year.

Former Bradford archivist Tish Lawson will give a talk entitled From Town Hall To Royal Residence: The Visit Of The Shah Of Persia To Bradford in 1889 at noon and 2pm. Loraine Radcliffe, Bradford Council’s civic affairs manager, will also give a talk called Royal Reminiscences – during which she will relive royal visits and explain what goes into planning a visit for the Queen – at 11am and 1pm. The banqueting hall will be transformed into a jubilee street party-style cafe for refreshments and a children’s picture trail, quiz and create a crown competition will be held throughout the day. People can also buy tickets in the Diamond Jubilee Raffle, with all proceeds going to the Lord Mayor’s Appeal.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Smith, said: “This is a great chance for visitors to see inside this wonderful building, to find out more about our history, and to relive a part of Bradford's history in the Victorian Law Courts.

“I would encourage as many people as possible to take advantage of this opportunity to celebrate our wonderful heritage.”