Open House
Festival 12-20.9.26

Join Devil’s Botany Distillery for a one-off 'Meet The Maker' experience as part of this year’s Open House Festival. Go behind the scenes at the UK’s first absinthe distillery, meet the founders, and discover how rebellious spirits are crafted in Leyton. Includes tastings, tales of botanical lore, and a dash of Victorian debauchery.

London is the world's first National Park City, and our visitors centre at 80 Mortimer Street is the entry point to hundreds of places to visit and things to do across a greener, healthier and wilder London.

Part of the Chelsea Heritage Quarter, the National Army Museum covers the British Army’s role from the Civil Wars to the modern day. Find inspiration in the stories of our soldiers and how their service shapes our world. Founded by Royal Charter in 1960, the Museum has been on the Chelsea site since 1970. Come and find out who we are and why we are here! Free entry to all our galleries!

Sir Robert McAlpine and Sons Limited., 1970

The Cumberland Road Studios Wood Green is host to about 50 artists and makers currently occupying studios in a 1980s former office building. You will have the opportunity to chat, see their work and their workspaces as part of their Open Studios weekend. The building will be active with events including workshops, demonstrations and talks.

Formerly known as Memorial Baptist Church this Grade II listed building opened in 1922, it retains many original features. Open House will include access to the church, gallery and bell tower, information on church history, a reminiscence trunk, the Tower Gallery art exhibition of images of Newham. On 13th September the bells will be played, celebrating their centenary

William Hayne, 1911

St Johns Church was built by the Normans and retains architectural features from this time and later periods. As well as original brasses and monuments, it also contains several artefacts from the excavations at nearby Lesnes Abbey. As an ancient parish church its story echos that of the local area, especially the Lords of the Manor of Erith.

Architect unknown, 1130

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

The Smallest Gallery in Soho is a historic shop-front which faces onto 62 Dean Street, in the heart of Soho. The aim of this creative space is to display artwork that captures people’s attention on their journey through Soho and encourage them to stop, think and be inspired. The art displays are only to be viewed from the street and can be seen at any time of the day for free.

, 1911

Renovation and extension of a Grade 2 listed, five storey house by Dominic McKenzie Architects. New rear extension constructed using bespoke brickwork. Lower ground floor lined with douglas fir panelling throughout. Bespoke kitchen and pantry. Upper ground floor sensitively remodelled by DMA. Rear garden by Kawauchi Rowe Garden Design. Interior design consultant (upper floors) Patrick O'Donnell.

Dominic Mckenzie Architects, 2024

Since 1891, St Alban's has served South Norwood and Thornton Heath; areas that began to develop with the coming of the railways. The church was built by the community and is still serving the community. The building design altered considerably from start to finish and a small exhibition will give examples of the various suggestions.

John Ninian Comper (1864-1960), 1891

Studio AVC is an architecture and interior design practice based in the historic 1929 Shop at Merton Abbey Mills—Join us for a short talk on William Morris and how the Arts & Crafts movement continues to inspire our designs today. Afterwards, we’ll take you on a guided tour of Merton Abbey Mills, the historic heart of Arts & Crafts making.

Studio AVC, 2014

Join us for a unique opportunity to step inside the working studios of Tannery Artists. This event offers the chance to meet the artists, explore their work in progress, engage in conversation about wide range of artistic practices, and gain insight into different creative processes.

St Johns Church was built by the Normans and retains architectural features from this time and later periods. As well as original brasses and monuments, it also contains several artefacts from the excavations at nearby Lesnes Abbey. As an ancient parish church its story echos that of the local area, especially the Lords of the Manor of Erith.

Architect unknown, 1130

The New Fauconberg Cottage replaced a building that had been on the site since 1931. Designed within extremely limited space, planning, and financial constraints, it is a testament to ingenuity and creativity. The building’s local renown is largely due to its dazzling and unique yet discreet cladding, which is both a remarkable sculpture and a functional weather protection.

Torsten Broeder, 2025

Join SAVE Britain's Heritage and Klaud Studio for a tour of Sprüth Magers gallery in Mayfair, a sensitively restored Grade II-listed townhouse by Sir Robert Taylor. Discover how its layered history was honoured and past damage repaired to create a refined, modern space for art, clients, and work.

Klaud (formerly ALA), 2018

A walk around places in the City you might recognise (or not) from the silver screen. Visit the impressive sites used in major films, including Harry Potter, Mission Impossible, James Bond, and many more.

Absorb the fascinating history of ancient Londinium, visiting sites where the Romans lived, worked, and played.

Queer Britain Museum is the UK’s national LGBTQ+ museum. Housed in a converted Victorian building in the heart of the regenerated King’s Cross area, the galleries feature over 200 objects from over 100 years of queer history. At Open House 2026, Queer Britain’s volunteer guides will give talks demonstrating the museum’s mission to reclaim, preserve and inspire LGBTQ+ history.

, 1852

The Cumberland Road Studios Wood Green is host to about 50 artists and makers currently occupying studios in a 1980s former office building. You will have the opportunity to chat, see their work and their workspaces as part of their Open Studios weekend. The building will be active with events including workshops, demonstrations and talks.

The Operations Support Group provide a service to the London Fire Brigade. At the Operations Support Centre, we track, trace, repair and maintain firefighting PPE and equipment in our many workshops. The OSC also houses a large warehouse and stores, and delivers everyday items and specialist equipment to 102 Fire Stations across London.

Buried treasures, banks and bullion…. Explore the legendary wealth of the City of London and its modern-day reputation as a global centre of finance. They used to say its streets were paved with gold... This guided walk explores the historic sources of the City's money, including livery companies, global trade and the development of the banking industry, and some of the ways that manifests today.

Built in 1817 and located at the terminus of York Gate, Regent’s Park, St Marylebone Parish Church is one of the most significant landmarks of Marylebone. Our parish church has shaped and has been shaped by the community of Marylebone, even giving the village its name and providing continual spiritual and pastoral care for the community for over 900 years.

Thomas Hardwick, 1817

Victorian Tardis. The original house dates from 1864, but was completely redeveloped in 1984 and fine tuned in 1993 and in 2023 by three different architects. Double height and open interiors contrast with a Victorian facade.

Emile Somelof, David Setchfield, Cristina Lanz Azcarate, 1864

A walking tour of the City, visiting key areas associated with famous writers, from Shakespeare, Dr Johnson, Oscar Wilde, and many others.

For hundreds of years, Spitalfields has been a place where those seeking safety, work, and community have settled. They all leave their mark in streets buildings in an area rich in history and architectural interest.

The doors to the building will be opened to the public. Not only will visitors get the opportunity to see "behind the scenes" at Good Shepherd Studios but they will have the opportunity to join taster sessions from site regulars and find out more about what takes place onsite at Our Pastures Community Garden and Pastures Centre too.

-, 1880

The early 1800's saw the green fields of northern Clerkenwell spring up into grand squares and terraced houses. This walking tour will look at how the speculative housing developed, what remains today, and the unique stories and characters of the area.

Buried treasures, banks and bullion…. Explore the legendary wealth of the City of London and its modern-day reputation as a global centre of finance. They used to say its streets were paved with gold... This guided walk explores the historic sources of the City's money, including livery companies, global trade and the development of the banking industry, and some of the ways that manifests today.

This tour takes visitors around the haunts and homes of famous Victorian artists, both international and local, and explores the connections between these personalities and their work, the wider impact of their art on society then and now, and the excitement of the Victorian time period's prolific artistic output and invention.

Unpack my story of North Kensington’s rich history on this guided walk. My family was one of the first families to move into the Brutalist-style Trellick Tower. From rural roots to industrial hub, class divides to cultural revolution – discover hidden stories, iconic sites, and how migration and activism shaped a vibrant, ever-changing community like no other: my childhood playground.

Calling all canal enthusiasts - also known as 'gongoozlers' - to walk through the social and industrial history of Little Venice, Camden Lock, and St Pancras. If you enjoyed Gongoozlers of Regent's Canal & Limehouse Basin in the east (Open House 2024), you will enjoy this new west side story. Discover how a hand-dug canal shaped the lives of West Enders, Londoners, and the United Kingdom.

John Nash, 1820

On the surface Thamesmead might seem concrete and grey, but on this tour we will take a look at the colour and life local artists are breathing into the area. Examining the past and present, we'll explore the abbey ruins, exciting sculptures, concrete skywalks, and vivid murals that make this place the Town of Tomorrow.

Discover the fascinating history of Eastcote and its surroundings, focused on how the landscape has changed, from the exclusively agricultural area to the today's modern suburb, revealing some of the oldest local buildings and their stories

A walk around Brook Green with emphasis on the buried lost river, Stamford Brook.

Petty France is a short street with a long history. This walk will time travel from the medieval origins of Petty France through its sensational history to its present distinguished profile. We shall study Charles Holden's 1927 Grade 1 listed London Underground HQ, upstaged in 1976 by Sir Basil Spence's 1976 brutalist monument to modernism, and where the original Queen Anne house was born.

Sitopia Farm is a 2-acre organic and regenerative farm in the London Borough of Greenwich. We are on a mission to improve our food system. We grow vegetables and flowers and sell direct to our local community, to chefs, and to florists. Through our farming and events, courses and community volunteering, we reconnect people to the soil, the joy of good food and flowers, and to each other.

, 2021

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