Open House Festival

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No booking needed!

There are lots of amazing places to discover during the festival, and the majority are open for drop-ins. Here’s a selection of buildings and spaces to get you started.

Drop in / Guided tour

12 Church Grove

miscellaneous

The first residents have moved into the capital’s biggest community-led self-build project, coordinated by the Rural Urban Synthesis Society (RUSS): 36 flats in two linked buildings, a new public riverside garden and shared community spaces. As a Community Land Trust, RUSS aims to create sustainable and permanently affordable homes in a community woven into the wider communities of Lewisham.

Shepheard Epstein Hunter , 2021

Drop in

141 Coldershaw Road, W13

housing

The home of Eric and Jessica Huntley , community activists and educators who founded the pioneering company Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications in 1968, lived and ran their bookshop from this semi detached property soon after. The house is a Black British cultural archivists dream; filled with books, arts and craft and correspondence from the 1960s to the present day.

-, 1957

Drop in

3D Printing at Design District

infrastructure/engineering

Step inside Champion 3D’s working 3D printing studio at Greenwich Peninsula’s Design District. Visitors can see FDM 3D printers in action, handle different printed materials, explore finished models and learn how digital designs become physical objects.

David Kohn Architects, 2022

Drop in / Talk

A House for Artists

residence, community/cultural, event

A House for Artists (AHFA) is an experiment in communal living and working, that seeks to embed artists very directly into the local community in a meaningful way. The model combines 12 rented flats, occupied by artists and their families/flatmates, with a ground floor community/work space. Each artist in the house volunteers their time to shape different strands of a growing public programme.

Apparata, 2020

Drop in

Argentine Ambassador's Residence

residence, embassy/high commission

During the Open House Festival people will have the unique opportunity to explore the historic mansion. Opening its doors on this special occasion, visitors will enjoy unprecedented access to the Argentine Ambassador's Residence in the UK and explore a glimpse of our culture through an art exposition of different Argentine artists.

Thomas Cubitt, 1851

Drop in

Baitul Futuh Mosque

religious

Guided tours of the largest purpose-built mosque in Western Europe accommodating 14,000 worshippers blending of Islamic and modern British architecture. Recent developments, involving reconstruction after a fire were completed and the magnificent new complex was opened on 4th March 2023.

Sutton Griffin Architects, 2003

Drop in

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

religious

Europe’s first traditional Hindu temple is a masterpiece of exquisite Indian craftsmanship. Using 5,000 tonnes of Italian and Indian marble and the finest Bulgarian limestone, it was hand-carved in India before being assembled in London.

C. B. Sompura, 1995

Join us for a walking tour of Broadwater Farm (BWF) Estate & see up close the first new council homes built on the estate in 50 yrs. The tour will also incl. a visit to the historic England‑listed BWF Mosaic currently being restored, as well as the recently improved BWF community centre. To be delivered in collaboration with BWF stakeholders inc. Residents’ Ass, Harmony Gardens & The Lordship Rec.

KCA, 2025

Modernist extension to Hackney's German Hospital, closed 1987 and converted into flats in 1999.

Burnet, Tait and Lorne, 1935

Drop in

Buzz Bingo Hall (former Granada Cinema)

entertainment, cinema, recreational

Exceptional example of the luxury cinema 'Picture Palace' of the 1930's with outstanding Gothic interior by Theodore Komisarjevsky and over 3,000-seats. The first and only Grade I listed cinema in the UK.

Cecil Massey and Theodore Komisarjevsky, 1931

Drop in

Central Gurdwara (Khalsa Jatha) London

religious, community/cultural

Central Gurdwara (Khalsa Jatha) London is the UK's oldest established Sikh Place of Worship. Originally founded in 1908 it has been at the current site since 1969 and has recently been refurbished into a modern Sikh place of worship.

Unknown

Drop in

Chelsea Physic Garden

garden

Part of the Chelsea Heritage Quarter, Chelsea Physic Garden was established in 1673, by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London. This four-acre green space in the heart of Chelsea is London's oldest botanical garden and home to over 4,500 medicinal, edible and useful plants.

, 1673

Drop in

City Hall

civic

The sustainable headquarters of the Mayor of London and London Assembly located in the Royal Docks, Newham. The docks are re-emerging as a commercial and cultural hub, and an exciting new waterfront.

Wilkinson Eyre Architects, 2012

Modern red brick building purpose-built to house the City of Westminster's historic records. Opportunity to visit the conservation studio and see treasures of the archives.

Tim Drewitt, 1995

Drop in / Guided tour

Crafts Council Gallery

gallery

Step inside the Grade II-listed Crafts Council Gallery, a unique venue for hire in the heart of London and the home to the Crafts Council, the UK’s national charity for craft. Handle objects from our collection, explore self-directed making through our Make First approach, browse our craft books, and meet the team as we re-establish the building as the national home for craft.

AOC Architecture Ltd, 1819

Drop in

Croydon Town Hall

civic

Croydon Town Hall will be opened for a limited number of guided tours, providing rare access to this unique Victorian-style, Grade II listed building. Croydon Town Hall was designed by local architect Charles Henman and opened in 1896.

Charles Henman, 1896

Drop in / Other / Talk

Culture House

community/cultural

Culture House is the first permanent exhibition space for Somali artefacts curated by the Somali community.

Freehaus Design, 1

Drop in / Guided tour

Eastbury Manor House

historical house, community/cultural, garden

One of the finest surviving Elizabethan red brick Manor houses- Grade I listed. Contains 17th Century wall-paintings, charming walled garden and a fine Tudor tower with original stairs. Many original features have been restored and layout remains mostly unchanged in over 400 years.

Richard Griffiths Architects, 2003

Drop in

East End Farm Cottage

residence

Three-bay timber-framed yeoman house built c1420 with list of previous owners dating back to 1429. Part wall painting of hunting scene on dining room wall (16C). Tudor upstairs window and a smoke room still intact. Entrance porch dates from 16C.

BSL guided tour / Drop in

English National Ballet

concert/performance space, education

English National Ballet bring world-class dance to the widest possible audience, and invite you into their home, the Mulryan Centre for Dance. Book a free tour to go behind the scenes, attend a Rehearsal Insight Session, see professional dancers take class and get up close to some beautiful ballet costumes created by our wardrobe department.

Howells, 2018

Drop in

Florentia Village

industrial

Ready to see an industrial estate that is anything but grey and boring? Developed by General Projects and designed by Turner Works, Florentia Village combines workshops, studios and light industrial space with shared courtyards and open walkways. Join architectural tours, browse a local makers market, and drop into open studios for creative talks and workshops.

Turner Works, 1970

Drop in

Foster + Partners

architectural practice

We're excited to open up our London campus. Foster + Partners is a global studio for sustainable architecture, urbanism, engineering and design, founded by Norman Foster in 1967. Hosted across several buildings, the public can explore the studio, take part in interactive exhibitions and workshops, and gain an insight into the wide range of disciplines and projects across the globe.

Foster + Partners, 1990

Drop in

Four Corners

community/cultural, institution/profession

Refurbished extended building, a centre for film and photography. Central courtyard integrated 'hub' allows light and air to filter through. Loft conversion to create studio and work space. Sustainable features include sedum roof.

JaK Studio, 2007

Drop in

Guildhall

civic, library

The City's seat of municipal government since 12C. Grade I listed, rare example of medieval civic architecture. Historic banqueting hall and a site of major moments in British history that is still used today.

John Croxton, 1440

Drop in / Guided tour

Hackney Empire

theatre

Hackney Empire is a grade II* listed building. The theatre was built as a music hall in 1901, designed by the architect Frank Matcham. It is now a variety theatre for the 21st century, serving the local community and beyond.

Frank Matcham, 1901

Drop in / Other

Herne Hill Velodrome

sport

Herne Hill Velodrome, opened in 1891, hosted track cycling events for the 1948 Olympics, is now home to a thriving grassroots cycling facility - hosting everything from Learn to Cycle to local and international racing events. HHV overcame the threat of closure in the early 2000s, and a new pavilion, designed by Mike Taylor of Hopkins Architects, opened in 2017.

Hopkins Architects, 2017

Drop in

International Maritime Organization

embassy/high commission

The International Maritime Organization is a specialized agency of the UN, responsible for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships. It is the only UN organization with headquarters in London.

Douglass Marriott Worby & Robinson, 1983

Grade I listed 1934 residential block of flats in Hampstead, designed by the Canadian modernist architect Wells Coates for clients Jack and Molly Pritchard. English Heritage blue plaque for Bauhaus masters Gropius, Breuer and Moholy-Nagy. Museum on site.

Wells Coates, 1934

Drop in

Lillington Gardens Estate

residence, walk/tour

Lillington Gardens in Pimlico, Westminster, was built from 1961 to 1971 by Darbourne & Darke. It set a new standard in high-density public housing with medium-rise structures and private gardens. Blending well with nearby Victorian surroundings, the modernist design won multiple awards and was praised by Nikolaus Pevsner as 'the most interesting recent housing in inner London'.

Darbourne and Darke, 1961

Drop in

London Centre for Book Arts

art studio

Based in what was once the heart of east London's print industry, the London Centre for Book Arts is an artist-run, open-access studio offering education programmes for the community and affordable access to resources for artists and designers. Visit for tours of the studio, demos and displays.

U-Build, 2025

Open Day: LFB's grade II listed Memorial Hall, part of the LFB's Art Deco Headquarters, opened in 1937. The hall is rarely seen by the public and contains stunning large memorials by Gilbert Bayes depicting episodes in the Fire Brigade's history and post-war memorials commemorating firefighters lost protecting London in the Second World War.

, 1937

A Grade 2 listed former Territorial Army Drill Hall featuring restored elements of the original 1882 design. It has a triple height central hall with the restored wrought iron balconies and roofing. Notable Neo-Georgian design brickwork. It is also unique in being the last ever military drill hall built in the UK.

Oliver Hill RIBA, 1952

Drop in

Marie's Wardrobe

residence

This renovation reworks a 20th-century London townhouse with a perforated plywood stair and extensive timber interventions that introduce light, structure, and continuity. Texts engraved into the stair and screen record the collaborative design dialogue. A cantilevered balcony connects the kitchen and garden with minimal structure and visual weight.

Tsuruta Architects, 2016

Grade II listed, built as a Welsh Charity School in 1738. A library with a focus on Marxism and Socialism since 1933. Lenin worked here 1902-03 and his office is preserved. Fresco by Jack Hastings in 1st floor. Late 15C tunnels.

Sir James Steere, 1738

Drop in / Talk

National Audit Office

offices, government

A Grade II listed building that is home to the NAO, the UK’s independent public spending watchdog. We support Parliament in holding government to account and help improve public services. First opened in 1939 by Imperial Airways, subsequently BOAC and then British Airways, as an airport terminal. The NAO acquired the building in 1984, with the official opening in November 1986 - 40 years ago!

Albert Lakeman, 1939

Drop in

Paekakariki Press

art studio

Paekakariki Press Ltd is a letterpress workshop containing equipment that can support the letterpress printing processes from casting type to binding a finished book printed on our Heidelberg Cylinder

Drop in

Park Royal Fire Station

industrial

Built in 1958 to the 'Middlesex' design, Park Royal Fire Station is a 2-storey fire station with appliance bays that can accommodate two fire appliances. It has a 4-storey drill tower in the yard and backs onto the Grand Union Canal.

Unknown, 1958

Drop in

Paxton Locher House

residence

A unique modern courtyard house making brilliant use of an off-street site on Clerkenwell Green. A retractable glass roof gives wonderful natural light all year round and opens the house to the sky in dry weather.

Paxton Locher Architects, 1995

Drop in

Preedy Glass

industrial

An industrial building originally built for maintaining railways with a modern rear extension now housing a modern glass processing company

Unknown, 1930

Drop in

Pullman Court

housing

Grade II* listed buildings, modern movement style with balcony walkways and period internal features.

Frederick Gibberd, 1936

Drop in / Guided tour

Rachwalsky House

residence

Grade II Modernist House designed by German emigre architect Rudolf Frankel for his sister and family in 1938. The house remains remarkably intact and retains the layout and original features which adhere to Modernist principles of the era. Guided tours at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00.

Rudolf Frankel, 1938

Drop in

Red House

historical house

The only house commissioned, created and lived in by William Morris, founder of the Arts and Crafts movement. Much original detail survives, decorated by the Pre-Raphaelites, and of extraordinary architectural and social significance.

William Morris and Philip Webb, 1860

Drop in / Workshop

Resonance FM Studios

community/cultural

Resonance FM is a pioneering, non-profit community radio station, with a studio at 7 Risborough Street, Southwark, London. Broadcasting 24/7 on 104.4 FM, DAB, and online, it offers over 100 weekly shows created by volunteer engineers and programme-makers. The station champions free expression and artistic diversity, providing a platform for local and international voices across arts & culture.

James Pooley Architecture, 2025

Drop in / Other

Romanian Cultural Institute

community/cultural, embassy/high commission

Situated in one of the largest and grandest 19th century squares in London, 1 Belgrave Square was acquired by Romania in 1936 and is now home to the Romanian Cultural Institute.

Thomas Cubitt, 1828

Drop in

Royal Courts of Justice

legal

Architect G.E Street's iconic masterpiece set in the heart of London and one of Victorian England's great public buildings. 13th Century Gothic style given a Victorian interpretation. Commissioned by Queen Victoria in 1870 's to build the home for Civil Justice for the United Kingdom. The cathedral-like Magnificent Great Hall leads off to Historic Oak Panelled Courtrooms.

G. E. Street, 1874

Drop in

Rufford Mews Apartment

housing

Home to RHS Chelsea Gold Medalists Mike McMahon and Jewlsy Mathews, this space showcases a decade of their handcrafted furniture and cabinetry. Their work, all made by their own hands, has received international acclaim featuring in BBC Gardeners' World (TV), The Modern House, The Observer, Dwell, Interior Design and IDEAT. Experience bespoke design in every meticulously crafted detail.

Mike McMahon Studio, 2022

Drop in

Scadbury Moated Manor

monument

See the archaeological excavations and Tudor foundations at Scadbury Moated Manor - which still has its moat around it.

Architect unknown, 1425

Drop in

Sinfonia Smith Square

event

A rare example of Thomas Archer's work and a masterpiece of English Baroque, originally dubbed Queen Anne's Footstool. A Grade I listed building, restored by Marshall Sisson after extensive bombing damage, now a busy concert hall.

Thomas Archer, 1714

Drop in

Six Columns

housing

Six Columns was selected as the RIBA 2024 House of the Year. The house was designed by the architect owner for their family within their existing neighbourhood, a leafy street in South London. The house is discrete and considerate of the setting, but not meek in character or detail. From a distance it sits comfortably alongside its neighbours, as you approach and enter its character is revealed.

31/44 Architects, 2024

Drop in

Southwark Integrated Waste Management Facility

industrial, infrastructure/engineering

Ever WONDERED what happens to your recycling? Southwark's FREE fun-filled, family-friendly Wonder Day is back on Saturday 12 September 2026, 10am - 4pm. Come along to our annual Wonder Day, to see our Integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF) sort recycling using the latest innovations and meet some of the amazing experts that work behind the scenes.

Thorpe Wheatley, 2012

Drop in

St Augustine's Tower

religious

Grade I listed, remaining tower of medieval parish church, with working late 16C clock. New exhibition of Hackney's history. Extensive views from roof. (Organised by Hackney Historic Buildings Trust).

Unknown, 1275

BSL guided tour / Drop in

St Bartholomew's Hospital

health

The Grade I listed North Wing at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in the City of London houses two of England’s most important interiors, the Great Hall, and the Hogarth Stair with its large paintings by William Hogarth. The hospital was designed by architect James Gibbs and construction of the North Wing was completed in 1732.

James Gibbs, 1732

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

Drop in / Talk

St Margaret Pattens Guild Church

religious

Take a guided tour of a beautiful example of a Wren church with unique features

Christopher Wren, 1687

Drop in

St Pancras Church & Crypt

religious

The church (1822 - Grade I listed) is an early and important example of Greek Revival architecture in London. Significant features include the caryatids and tower copied from models in Athens, and the atmospheric crypt.

William Inwood and Henry Inwood, 1822

Drop in

Suleymaniye Mosque

religious

6-storey building featuring a Western exterior and traditional Islamic interior, modelled on the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Has dome and minaret tower.

Networld Project Management, 1996

Drop in

Swakeleys Estate

historical house

A most important house in Ickenham, an outstanding example of Jacobean architecture built in the 1630s. Red brick construction laid in English bond on an H plan. Great Hall includes the 1655 Harrington Screen, 18C marble fireplace panelling.

Unknown, 1638

Drop in / Guided tour

Table Top Museums at The Art Workers’ Guild

institution/profession

1713 terraced house with 1914 hall at rear. Notable renovated Arts and Crafts interior. Newly refurbished glass vaulted courtyard. Portraits of Guild Masters since 1884.

Georgian, 1713

Explore the Generator House at RAF Uxbridge’s Battle of Britain Bunker. Normally off‑limits to the public, it houses the original 1930s standby generator that powered the underground Operations Room coordinating RAF Fighter Command in WWII. It offers a glimpse into wartime engineering, featuring preserved machinery, original fittings, and fascinating stories. Free admission, no booking required.

Drop in

The Great Barn

miscellaneous

Part of Manor Farm Heritage Site, The Great Barn is a Grade II listed building and one of the oldest timber framed buildings of its type. Usually closed only for private events, the building as offers a glimpse into the rural history of the local area and is a testament to local craft and engineering.

Architect unknown, 1280

The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple is one of the four Inns of Court, exclusively entitled to Call their members to the Bar of England and Wales. We provide support, education and accomodation to barristers at every stage of their careers. Middle Temple Hall, Bench apartments, and Middle Temple Library will be open to the public on Sunday 13 September from 12-4pm. Last entry is at 3.45pm.

Drop in

The Ismaili Centre

community/cultural

Part of an international family of Ismaili Centres, this is a religious, cultural and social space for the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims. The serenity of the entrance fountain to the roof garden reflects Muslim traditions in architecture and design.

Casson Conder Partnership, 1983

Drop in

The Royal Society

institution/profession, scientific, education, library

A spectacular Grade I listed building designed by famed architect John Nash. Built in 1831, these former townhouses have undergone refurbishments throughout their history. The building is now home to the UK's national science academy.

John Nash, Decimus Burton, 1831

Built in 1776 for the Duke of Manchester to designs by John Crunden, Hertford House today holds the Wallace Collection. Join us in the Eranda Research Library to explore how an 18th century home developed into a world class museum. Discover our display of architectural drawings and prints, alongside items from the archive.

Sir John Taylor, 1900

Drop in

Timothy Hatton Architects – The Foundry

architectural practice, gallery, garden, offices, mixed use

Tucked behind a busy road in W12, this former foundry is a multi-level development featuring an architects’ studio with courtyards and spaces for exhibitions and musical performances. The building's 15m brick chimney is a local landmark. This year we are excited to announce a commemorative exhibition showcasing the work of British artist Rosamonde Hatton (1952–2024).

Unknown, Originally the George Broad sculpture foundry , 1895

Drop in

Two Temple Place

historical house

Completed in 1895, Two Temple Place is a dazzling neo-Gothic gem on the Victoria Embankment, designed by gothic revivalist architect, John Loughborough Pearson, & commissioned by & built for William Waldorf Astor, as his estate office.

John Loughborough Pearson , 1895

A close of 13 self-built houses. Each is unique, built using methods developed by Walter Segal, who led the project in the mid 1980s. Houses have been extended and renovated. Sustainable features including solar electric, water & space heating.

Walter Segal, 1987

Drop in

Wesley's Chapel and House

historical house

A fine example of a largely unaltered modest Georgian house, built in 1778 for John Wesley as his London base. Wesley's Chapel is adjacent and was completed at the same time. The chapel was altered internally during Victorian times, when the men's marble toilet facilities and Thomas Crapper toilets were also added.

George Dance the Younger, 1779

Drop in / Guided tour

Wolves Lane Horticultural Centre

community/cultural

Ever explored an eco-building? Wolves Lane Horticulture centre is home to a thriving 3.5 acre contemporary community food growing space operating with a 1970s glasshouses alongside cutting-edge sustainable buildings designed by Studio Gil and Material Cultures.

Material Cultures + Studio Gill, 2024

Join us for an open tour exploring the architecture, use, and restoration of the WWII fighter pens and air raid shelters that were part of RAF Kenley's airfield defenses.

Air Ministry Works and Buildings, 1940

Drop in

York House

historical house

Mid-17C house, a scheduled ancient monument, with fine staircase and 18C additions.

Unknown, 1650