Open House Festival

Neighbourhoods

Back to neighbourhoods

Guildhall

The centre of the ancient walled City, this Neighbourhood contains the governmental history of London, pre-dating Westminster. Here you will find a Roman Amphitheatre, beautiful livery hall interiors, the soaring gothic of the Guildhall itself, and an art gallery filled with treasures.

Guided tour

Armourers' Hall

livery hall

Late Georgian Livery Hall rebuilt in 1839. Highlights include the main Hall, featuring a stunning 1870s lantern ceiling, and displays of historic arms and armour throughout the building.

Joseph Henry Good, 1839

Drop in

Guildhall

civic, library

The City's seat of municipal government since 12C. Grade I listed, rare example of medieval civic architecture.

John Croxton, 1440

Drop in

Guildhall Art Gallery

gallery

Open daily 10am-5pm. Regular guided tours 12.15pm & 1.15pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, see below. Home of the City of London's art collection, & remains of London's Roman Amphitheatre

Richard Gilbert Scott, 1999

Drop in

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

Drop in

Guildhall Yard

miscellaneous, community/cultural, civic

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

George Dance the Younger, 1789

Drop in

London's Roman Amphitheatre

monument, sport, miscellaneous

Regular combined guided tours of Amphitheatre and Guildhall Art Gallery at 12.15pm & 1.15pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays. Additional Open House tours on 21 and 22 September, please book via Guildhall Art Gallery listing. The capital’s only known Roman Amphitheatre

Roman , 70

Drop in

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, 1677

Talk

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 3 scale architectural models of London: the New London Model, the City Model and the Royal Docks Model.

Giles Gilbert Scott, 1974