Open House Festival

The Gaumont State Theatre

cinema

George Coles, Gaumont Theatres, 1936

197–199 Kilburn High Road,, NW6 7HW

The Gaumont State Theatre in Kilburn, London, reopened for a live concert on 6 November 2025 for the first time in almost 50 years. Now a church, the former 4,004-seat super cinema welcomed a near-capacity audience for a performance by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and guest singers.

Getting there

Tube

Kilburn, Kilburn Park

Train

Brondesbury Park

Bus

316

Additional travel info

Start and end at reception

Access

Facilities

Accessibility notes

There might be some areas wheel chair access is not available but we will do our best to make this tour friendly for all abilities

What you can expect

There might be some areas wheel chair access is not available but we will do our best to make this tour friendly for all abilities

Ian Trayner
Ian Trayner
Ian Trayner

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Drop in activities

Fri 18 Sep

12:00–19:00

Drop in

About

About

The Gaumont State Theatre is one of Britain’s finest surviving super cinemas and an important part of London’s entertainment and architectural heritage. Featuring the building in Open House 2026 would give visitors a rare opportunity to explore its remarkable interior, learn about its evolution from cinema to its present role as a church, and appreciate its renewed potential as a venue for live performance and community use.

Online presence

www.ruachcitychurch.org/hires

Nearby

Drop in

The Tin Tabernacle / Cambridge Hall

community/cultural

Constructed in 1863, Kilburn’s grade II corrugated Iron Church set about it’s new course in the 1950's when it’s interior was transformed to resemble naval training ship (TS) Bicester.

Unknown, 1863

Drop in

Triangle House

housing

Winner of the 2025 Camden Design Award for small projects and the 2024 'Don't Move Improve' award for best project under £100k. A self build 39m2 triangular micro home converted from a former mechanic's garage, creating a flexible and multifunctional home fit for living and working in. Come and see sliding beds, triangular sofas and a pocket garden.

Brown Urbanism, 2023

Drop in / Guided tour

St Augustine's Church

religious

St. Augustine's, Kilburn affectionately known as 'The Cathedral of North London' was established in 1870. Fr. Kirkpatrick, the first Vicar, engaged John Loughborough Pearson as the architect with the result being what many consider one of his finest works. Externally in 1890 with the tower and spire it became the 2nd tallest building in London (now ecclesiastically 2nd to St. Paul's Cathedral).

J L Pearson, 1871

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