THE chance to tour the vast assembly hall of Cowley’s famous Mini Plant is just one of the highlights in this year’s Open Doors event.

Open Doors is staged each year by Oxford Preservation Trust and the University of Oxford. In the first week of September, curious visitors will be able to cross the thresholds of some of Oxford’s best known and little explored treasures, for free.

This year the event is celebrating Oxford’s rich industrial heritage, and the highlight for many will be the chance to tour the Mini Plant, which celebrates its 100th birthday next year. Rebecca Baxter, communications manager at the plant, said: “On the evenings of Thursday, September 6, and Friday, September 7, Mini Plant will be inviting people in for tours of its amazing assembly hall.”

She added: “By taking part in Oxford Open Doors for the first time, we’re hoping that people will take the opportunity to have a look inside the plant’s assembly hall and see how Minis are made. “Production technology has changed hugely over the years.

“We would also be thrilled if people would bring along photographs or mementoes of their time at the factory.”

Those with a taste for industrial history or new innovation will also have the chance to marvel at the Peggie, Oxford University ’s Eco-marathon car.

Open Doors kicks off on Wednesday, September 5, with a tour of our sister paper The Oxford Times around the newspaper’s premises in Osney Mead.

Many of the city’s places of worship are also taking part in Open Doors including the new Islamic Studies Centre in Marston Road.

Visitors will also have the chance to go behind the scenes at the Ashmolean Museum , and to ‘Meet the Military’ at Oxford Castle . Venues opening their doors for the first time this year include The Queen’s, Hertford and Trinity colleges.

Open Doors ‘favourites’ taking part again include the Playhouse Theatre, Carfax Tower, the Botanic Garden, Christ Church and the Said Business School.

Preservation trust director Debbie Dance said: “Oxford Open Doors is a wonderful and fun weekend, and each year we watch as it develop its own character with new and different events alongside the firm favourites.”

Open Doors will also feature a series of walks and these, along with all the venues taking part, are in the Open Doors 2012 brochure, which is free from local libraries, the Tourist Information Office and Oxford Castle Unlocked. lSome events are on for several days and some, including the Mini Plant tours, must be pre-booked owing to their limited capacity.

Booking will be available from August 20 to noon on September 5 via the website www.oxfordpreservation.org.uk/ oxfordopendoors or on 01865 251022.