Open House Festival

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Weekday Openings

Weekday openings and activities

Completed in 1929, 55 Broadway is an art-deco, Grade I listed 'cathedral to modernity' and London’s ‘first skyscraper’ - formerly, the Headquarters of Transport for London.

Charles Holden, 1927

Drop in

Ace Cafe London

restaurant/bar

Established in 1938, Ace Cafe London has become ‘the home’ for petrolheads and is known as the world’s most famous motor cafe, based on a shared passion for the rich traditions of motorcycles, cars and rock ’n’ roll.

Unknown, 1938

Guided tour

Andaz London Liverpool Street

hotel

Andaz London Liverpool Street, a concept by Hyatt, blends rich history dating back to the 1200s with modern decor and the vibrant energy of its London neighborhood. Step inside and join us for an open house tour led by our dedicated team!

Edward Middleton Barry, Charles Barry, Jr., 1884

Guided tour

Billingsgate Roman House & Baths

historical house, walk/tour, miscellaneous

Some of London's best Roman remains, comprising late 2C house with a 3C bath house built within its courtyard. First discovered in 1848.

Roman , 200

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Brent Museum

museum

We have been collecting objects about the history of Brent for over 50 years. Visitors can find out about an Eiffel tower in Wembley, why you might make a pilgrimage to Willesden and what the Victorian streets of Brent were really like.

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, 2015

Guided tour

Chiswick Town Hall

civic

Built initially as a vestry, later extended. Victorian and Edwardian interiors with rich tiles and stunning stained glass, one of the most beautiful Victorian interiors in London.

W J Trehearne, 1876

Walking tour

Crescent House

residence

Grade II* Crescent House, influenced by Corbusier’s Maisons Jaoul was the final part of Golden Lane Estate and forerunner to the Barbican. Inside, our homes are as relevant today as in 1962. Outside, future proofing awaits.

CHAMBERLAIN POWELL + BON, 1962

Drop in / Guided tour

Croydon Minster

religious, concert/performance space, civic

Medieval style church rebuilt by Sir George Gilbert Scott after 1867 fire. Tower & south porch are 15C. Large nave with open timber-work roof leads to chancel dominated by superb stained glass window & rich alabaster reredos.

Mediaeval/Sir George Gilbert Scott, 1870

Guided tour

Design District

community/cultural

Design District houses permanent and purpose-designed creative workspaces across a cluster of 14 gloriously eclectic buildings, designed by eight pioneering architects. Just one minute from North Greenwich station, the district is a thriving home for creative businesses.

Multiple architects, 2021

Drop in / Talk

Eames Fine Art

gallery

A great example of the rich evolution of London’s buildings; from noxious leather treatment warehouse complete with sloping floors, winch poles and loading platforms to a stylish hidden Art Collector’s Studio in the space of 150 years.

Drop in / Guided tour

Fitzrovia Chapel

community/cultural, gallery, concert/performance space, mixed use, institution/profession, art in the public realm, museum

Loughborough Pearson's red brick building is unimposing from the outside, but inside is a riot of Gothic Revival design. Golden mosaics reveal the character of the Grade II* listed chapel, built as part of the Middlesex Hospital.

J. L. Pearson, 1891

Guided tour

Longfield Hall

community/cultural

Longfield Hall was built by William Minet and completed in 1889. It was designed by architect George Hubbard. William Minet also built the library opposite the hall, St James the Apostle Church on Knatchbull Road and much of the housing which surrounds Myatt’s Fields Park. Sadly the original library building was destroyed by a bomb during the Second World War, while Longfield Hall was undamaged.

Drop in / Guided tour

National Portrait Gallery Architecture Late

gallery

Celebrating the NPG's architectural history and recent transformation by Jamie Fobert Architects, this architecture themed Late is designed to celebrate the building as a public space, highlighting the many connections to the built environment that the Gallery has – from contemporary design details that reference the local streetscape to the 400 portraits of architects in our collection.

Ewan Christian, 1896

St Thomas' Church attic (1703) once part of old St Thomas' Hospital, houses the hospital's Herb Garret and the oldest surviving operating theatre (1822) in Europe.

Thomas Cartwright, 1703

Drop in

Old Vestry Offices Enfield

offices

Tiny polygonal building originally for the beadle. Used as local police station until 1930s and then as offices. Grade II listed.

Unknown, 1829

Guided tour

Sarabande Foundation

Sarabande was set up by the late designer, Lee Alexander McQueen, who left the majority of his estate to support creative and visionary talent.

Drop in

St Bride's Church, Fleet Street

religious, museum

Wren designed building of 1675, interior lost in blitz of 1940, reopened 1957 with 'Wren inspired' interior

Christopher Wren , 1675

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St Nicholas Church

religious

Built in the Gothic style with dressed flint and stone dressings. There are monuments to Joseph Glover (1628), Lady Dorothy Brownlow (1699), William Earl Talbot (1782) and Isaac Littlebury (1740). The churchyard has 5 Grade II tombs.

Edwin Nash, 1864

Guided tour

Sun Rain Rooms

architectural practice, offices, residence

Set in a Grade II listed Georgian townhouse, Tonkin Liu's studio has been extended. Designed and built by the practice, an innovative timber roof and reflecting pool gathers the bouncing rain, to make it a good place to be on a bad day.

Tonkin Liu, 2017

Tour of our facilities. The tour will go through each section of our workshops, explaining each course and subject we teach in detail. Visitors will get a chance to view the workstations, tools, and projects our students undertake day to day at the college.

Drop in / Guided tour

The Gilbert & George Centre

gallery, art in the public realm, community/cultural, museum

The Gilbert & George Centre was originally established as a registered charity by the artist in 2009 with the objective to advance the education of the public in the arts, and generally to advance the arts, architecture, heritage and culture for the benefit of the public.

SIRS Architects, 2022

The Operations Support Group provide a service to the London Fire Brigade. At the Operations Support Centre, we track, trace, repair and maintain firefighting PPE and equipment in our many workshops. The OSC also houses a large warehouse and stores and delivers everyday items and specialist equipment for Fire Stations across London.

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The Photography Foundation (D2)

art studio, event, open site, offices, mixed use, miscellaneous, media

Come and see our light filled space, green exterior and find out more about what we do at The Photography Foundation! Browse our Trainee zines and meet our welcoming Staff Members.

Mole Architect, 2021

Guided tour

UCL Pathology Museum

museum

Based at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, the UCL Pathology Museum contains nearly 6,000 human pathology specimens relating to the study of disease and the history of medicine. Today, this important collection is used to facilitate teaching, research and public engagement in human health and disease, both at the museum and across University College London.

Llewellyn-Davies Weeks, 1968

Guided tour

Wardian: tour with Howells

mixed use

A guided tour of Wardian, two residential towers of 55 and 50 storeys. Wardian was inspired by the great explorer and innovator Dr Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward who was responsible for the creation of the Wardian Case, used to transport plants around the world at the height of the British Empire. The tour, led by Howells, will conclude with a complimentary drink in the rooftop sky lounge.

Howells, 2019

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West Wickham Library

library

Art Deco building designed in 1934 by Leslie Kemp and Tasker in International Moderne style. Now the temporary home of West Wickham Library.

Leslie H Kemp & Tasker, 1934