Open House Festival

Inbetween spaces - the Strand's public realm

art in the public realm, walk/tour

W.T. Stead Memorial, Nr. Temple Tube Station, WC2R 2PN

Have you ever wondered as you wandered what exactly led to a bench looking like that, why London's telephone boxes are red, what those green huts are, and why there are no public toilets anymore...? If the answer is 'YES!' then join us as we saunter around Temple and the Strand with these questions in mind, stopping to peek at parts of the city fabric that we often overlook – and learning about the designers and 'deciders' behind the scenes.

Getting there

Tube

Temple

Train

Charing Cross, Waterloo

Additional travel info

We will end by the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand.

Access

What you can expect

There are some steps on the route and the whole tour is outside, so please come prepared for the London weather!

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Activities

Fri 20 Sep

Walking tour

11:00–12:30

Walking Tour

How to book

Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.

About

Inbetween spaces: about the tour

The word 'strond' from which The Strand derives, meant beach or river's edge in Old English, highlighting how much this part of London has changed over time - now far from the river. This tour weaves together the conception of the public realm from the 19th century to the present day and invites the group to engage with elements of the fabric of London that help the city and its inhabitants live and breathe.

We will pause to evaluate historical and recent attempts to make the city a usable and enjoyable space, and consider the degree of success these efforts have had through objects we find on our way - from the iconic telephone boxes to some more unexpected objects of interest.

The route itself is relatively short - a testament to how much there is to stop at when you begin to look.

Nearby

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