Open House Festival

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Balloted Buildings

A collection of some of our most popular buildings, providing the chance for visitors to win two tickets for a chosen time.

Guided tour

10 Downing Street

government

10 Downing Street has been the residence of British Prime Ministers since 1735. Behind its famous black door the most important decisions affecting Britain for the last 284 years have been taken.

William Kent, 1735

Guided tour

Abbey Mills Pumping Station

infrastructure/engineering

Abbey Mills pumping station 'A', built by engineer Joseph Bazalgette, Edmund Cooper and architect Charles Driver. Built between 1865 and 1868 it is described as the cathedral of sewage. Follow this link to book: https://bit.ly/abbeymills

Charles H. Driver and Joseph Bazalgette, 1900

Guided tour

BT Tower

offices

An enduring, distinctive feature of the London skyline for the last 54 years, this is a rare opportunity for members of the public to visit the famous revolving floor, 158m above the capital. After the flight the guests can watch a history of the BT Tower film in our auditorium.

Eric Bedford and G. R. Yeats, 1965

Guided tour

London Museum, West Smithfield

museum

Join us to find out more about our incredible journey to create a new museum for London. Apply to join a special tour of the General Market (currently in construction), or come along to meet the architects and take part in free family-friendly drop-in activities.

Sir Horace Jones (1883) and T P Bennett and Son (1963) New Museum of London scheme: Stanton Williams Architects Asif Khan Julian Harrap Architects, 1883

Guided tour

Oak Room, New River Head

historical house

Formerly boardroom of the 17C water house, the Oak Room is a fine late Renaissance room demonstrating the New River Company's wealth. Booking link: https://bit.ly/OakRooms

John Grene, 1693

The Alexandra Road Estate is a low-rise, high-density, mixed-use development designed by Neave Brown for Camden's Architects' Department.

Neave Brown, 1970

Guided tour

Trellick Tower

housing, residence

Goldfinger's 31-storey social housing tower is one of London's most remarkable high-rises. Monumental, with its free-standing service tower and triumphal boiler house, Trellick retains beautiful detailing and a rich use of materials.

Ernö Goldfinger, 1972

Guided tour

Winscombe Street 1960s terrace

housing, residence, garden

Terrace of five three-storey houses and a studio incorporating a sequence of communal and private spaces. Influential prototype for Camden social housing developments of the 1960s and 70s.

Neave Brown, 1965