IMAGINE being handed the keys to Scotland’s tallest listed building or being allowed to explore a 175 year old working leather factory for a day.

Well, imagine no more – Glasgow’s Doors Open Days gives people the chance to explore some of the most unusual and normally forbidden spaces in the city for a short time only.

The free festival, now in its 26th year, runs between September 14 and 20 and allows unique access to more than100 sites across the city, including Anniesland Court and Dalmarnock Leather works which are both opening their doors for the first time this year.

Anniesland Court is the tallest listed building in Scotland and at 22 storeys-high it offers stunning views across Glasgow – views normally reserved for residents only.

But this year, visitors will be allowed to climb to the upper levels of the tower block, which was designed and built by Jack Holmes and Partners in 1970 at a time when the Glasgow Corporation was putting up sky scraping tower blocks across the city to scan the Glasgow skyline from a whole new perspective.

The category A listed mega structure is considered one of the finest examples of these tower blocks still standing and being fully let, the tower is not normally open to the public.

Tours can be taken to the upper levels of the building and out onto some of the drying balconies.

Another unique venue taking part for the first time is the Andrew Muirhead & Sons Leather Works in Dalmarnock. The company is celebrating its 175th year by inviting the public in to see the leather works in action.

Moving from the banks of the Molendinar off Duke Street in 1870 to its current site in Dalmarnock, Andrew Muirhead & Sons has a long history in Glasgow’s East End.

The factory’s manager hopes that letting the public in for a day will help people understand the modern techniques used to create leather for major airlines and public buildings.

Colin Wade, Managing Director of Andrew Muirhead & Son Limited, said: “We are delighted to be taking part in this year’s Doors Open Day. We are also celebrating a key milestone in the businesses history; our 175th anniversary.

“We thought it would be rewarding to give back to the local community and Doors Open Day allows us to do this and showcase to the public how our high performance, low carbon leather is manufactured.”

Last year more than 60,000 people became tourists in their own city for a day and this year it is hoped that with the addition of 16 new sites visitor numbers will increase, as people celebrate the city they live in.

Other sites opening their doors for the first time this year include the Anchor Line, a former booking office for transatlantic sea travel; Cathcart Hebrew Cemetery, which houses Glasgow’s only Holocaust Museum and Woodside Library, a recently restored Edwardian baroque building.

This year 108 sites, tours, walks and exhibitions will make up the event along with photography workshops and competitions.

The first Doors Open event took place in Glasgow and Ayr in 1990 as part of the European City of Culture Celebrations and has grown every year since.

Organisers hope that fresh funding will help families take advantage of the opportunities the event offers to explore the city.

This year will feature the first ever Children’s programme, with over 40 events designed especially for kids, including treasure trails and the ‘Mazing Memory Museum - a straw bale maze in at the Riverside Museum, with a memory workshop at the centre.

Ruth Morris, Events and Development Coordinator, Glasgow Building Preservation Trust, said: “We have organised Glasgow Doors Open Day for a number of years and every year we are delighted with the different buildings and organisations that look to take part.

“This year we have a number of new and exciting buildings.

“We have also managed to secure funding from both Heritage Lottery Fund and Glasgow Life which has allowed us to organise and promote a children’s programme.

“This is the first year we have been able to do this and really want to get families exploring Glasgow and enjoying the City.”

For more information and to book tours visit www.glasgowdoorsopenday.com or call 0141 554 4411.