Open House Festival

Neighbourhoods

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The Guildhall Complex

The heart of the City and its centre of governance is also a cultural treasure. From the spectacular Great Hall, scene of state banquets and historic trials, to the remains of London’s Roman Amphitheatre where gladiators fought; explore a Wren church,
historic Library collections, beautiful paintings, and a scale model of the Square Mile showing buildings not yet completed. Guildhall is a showcase of past, present and future, with something for everyone.

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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

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Guildhall Art Gallery

gallery

Open daily 10am-5pm. Regular free guided tours 12.15pm & 1.15pm on Tuesday-Sunday, with extra tours on the final Open House weekend. Home of the City of London's art collection, & remains of London's Roman Amphitheatre

Richard Gilbert Scott, 1999

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Guildhall Library

library

Purpose built over 5 floors to house printed books and manuscripts. Features include former pneumatic tube ticket delivery system and 56 listed translucent pyramid roof lights.

Sir Giles Scott, Son + Partners, 1974

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Guildhall Yard: Meet the Pearly Kings and Queens

miscellaneous, community/cultural, civic

Publicly accessible space outside the spectacular Grade I listed medieval civic Guildhall.

George Dance the Younger, 1789

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London's Roman Amphitheatre

monument, sport, miscellaneous

The capital’s only Roman Amphitheatre. Regular combined guided tours of Amphitheatre and Guildhall Art Gallery at 12.15pm & 1.15pm on Tuesday-Sunday. Additional Open House tours on 19 and 20 September, please see Guildhall Art Gallery listing.

Roman , 70

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St Lawrence Jewry

religious

First built in c.1136, St. Lawrence Jewry was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. The present church was designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1671. The interiors were destroyed in December 1940 during the World War Two and restored in 1957, faithful to Wren’s original design. Extensive conservation works were completed in 2023. The official church to the City of London Corporation.

Sir Christopher Wren, 1670

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The London Centre

gallery

Home of NLA, London’s built environment community, and located in the West Wing of the Guildhall complex, the Centre highlights scale architectural models of London: the New London Model and the City Model, in addition to a rotating exhibition highlighting key NLA projects.

Giles Gilbert Scott, 1974