Open House 2012
Discover which London venues are featured in this year's Open House weekend
© Nick Woodford
Open House takes place once a year and allows the public access to London buildings that are otherwise strictly private. Admission to most of the properties is on a turn-up-on-the-day basis, but for some venues booking in advance is required. For details of how to book see www.londonopenhouse.org. The highlights below are our top picks of venues that will be open on a walk-up basis.
Open House 2012 highlights on Saturday September 22
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Open House London at Brockwell Lido
Sat Sep 22, Brockwell Park, Dulwich Rd, SE24 0PAFree tours of the classic, 1930s open-air swimming pool take place between 10am and 5pm (last tour 4pm) but you'll have to pay if you fancy a dip.
Read more about Open House London at Brockwell Lido -
Open House London at Lloyd's of London
Sat Sep 22, 1 Lime St, London, EC3M 7HALord Rogers' high-tech Lloyd's of London building always draws an Open House crowd, so be prepared to wait in line. The ground floor and eleventh floor gallery are open between 10am and 4pm.
Read more about Open House London at Lloyd's of London -
Open House London at Cecil Sharp House
Sep 22-23, 2 Regent's Park Rd, London, NW1 7AYThis stately red-brick building was purpose built in 1930 as the home of the English Folkdance and Song Society. Tours take place between Sat and Sun 1pm-4pm. There's also a quiz for children.
Read more about Open House London at Cecil Sharp House -
Open House London at Kings Place
Sep 22-23, 90 York Way, London, N1 9AGThe glass and limestone fronted Kings Place houses galleries and office space (including the Guardian newspaper), as well as London Sinfonietta and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. It will be open between 9.30am-11pm. Special tours include some backstage areas, these start at 10am, 11.30am and 1pm on Saturday; and 2pm, 3.30pm, 5pm on Sunday.
Read more about Open House London at Kings Place -
Open House London at Sanderson
Sep 22-23, 50 Berners St, London, W1T 3NGTours of the Philippe Starck-refurbed statement hotel take place on Saturday and Sunday between 2pm and 5pm (last tour 4.30pm).
Read more about Open House London at Sanderson -
Open House London at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Sat Sep 22, Keppel St, London, WC1E 7HTThis rarely accessible, private building is opening its doors and allowing you to admire more than just the unchanged Portland stone façade. The Grade II listed school is running tours on Saturday between 10am-5pm. Tours start on the hour with the last tour at 4pm. There's also an exhibition on history of building.
Read more about Open House London at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine -
Open House London at City Hall
Sat Sep 22, The Queen's Walk, London, SE1 2AACity Hall is Foster and Partners' offices for the Mayor and the London Assembly with an innovative spiral ramp and views across the city. Tours take place on Saturday only between 9am-6pm. City of a 1000 Architects will be organising kids activities 11am-3pm. Last entry is at 5.30pm.
Read more about Open House London at City Hall -
Open House London at Guildhall
Sep 22-23, Gresham St, London, EC2V 7HHGuildhall has been the City's seat of municipal government since the twelfth century and you can explore this rare example of Medieval civic architecture between 10am-5pm on both Saturday and Sunday. Last entry is at 4.30pm.
Read more about Open House London at Guildhall -
Open House London at Portcullis House
Sat Sep 22, Bridge Street, SW1A 2LWThe ground floor courtyard and first floor of this building, which provides offices for MPs and their staff, are open between 10am and 5pm (last entry 4.30pm). Look out for parliamentary portraiture by the likes of Gillray and Scarfe. Check the Open House website for any special security measures that might be in place.
Read more about Open House London at Portcullis House -
Open House London at Royal Courts of Justice
Sat Sep 22, Strand, London, WC2A 2LLSee where justice at its most bewigged and ermine-robed takes place. The neo-Gothic building is open between 10am and 4pm. Airport-style security is in operation.
Read more about Open House London at Royal Courts of Justice -
Open House London at Wigmore Hall
Sat Sep 22, 36 Wigmore St, London, W1U 2BPBoasting perfect acoustics, art nouveau decor and an excellent basement restaurant, the 'Wiggy' is one of the world's top chamber music venues. Tours take place between 11am and 3pm (last entry 2.30pm). There are also short, creative music workshops for all ages at 11.20am, 12.20pm and 1.20pm.
Read more about Open House London at Wigmore Hall
Open House 2012 highlights on Sunday September 23
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Open House London at Bevis Marks Synagogue
Sun Sep 23, 2 Heneage Lane, London, EC3A 5DQHalf-hourly tours of the superbly-preserved Bevis Marks Synagogue, which contains one of the finest collections of Cromwellian and Queen Anne furniture in the country, take place between 10am and 2pm, with last entry at 1.30pm.
Read more about Open House London at Bevis Marks Synagogue -
Open House at Cecil Sharp House
Sep 22-23, 2 Regent's Park Rd, London, NW1 7AYThis stately red-brick building was purpose built in 1930 as the home of the English Folkdance and Song Society. Tours take place between Sat and Sun 1pm-4pm. Hourly tours run on a first come basis with a maximum of 20 people per tour. There's also a quiz for children.
Read more about Open House London at Cecil Sharp House -
Open House London at Sanderson
Sep 22-23, 50 Berners St, London, W1T 3NGTours of the Philippe Starck-refurbed statement hotel take place on Saturday and Sunday between 2pm and 5pm (last tour 4.30pm).
Read more about Open House London at Sanderson -
Open House London at 30 St Mary Axe (the Gherkin)
Sun Sep 23, 30 St Mary Axe, EC3A 8EPBe prepared to queue because the Gherkin is always one of the most popular Open House venues. Airport-style security will be in operation, so you'll need to bring photo ID – but the 360-degree views are worth it. Entry is 9am-5pm, with the last tour at 4.30pm.
Read more about Open House London at 30 St Mary Axe -
Open House London at Morley College
Sun Sep 23, 61 Westminster Bridge Rd, London, SE1 7HTTours of the Voysey-designed building, which is home to paintings by John Piper and Bridget Riley and, in the canteen, a series of murals created by Edward Bawden, run from 1.30pm to 4pm.
Read more about Open House London Weekend at Morley College -
Open House London at South London Botanical Institute
Sun Sep 23, 323 Norwood Rd, London, SE24 9AQThere have been few interior changes made to this building since 1910, when Alan Octavian Hume founded the institute. Between 1pm and 5pm (last entry 4.30pm) there's entry to the herbarium, botanical library and garden, with a small range of plants for sale.
Read more about Open House London Weekend at South London Botanical Institute -
Open House London at Kings Place
Sep 22-23, 90 York Way, London, N1 9AGThe glass and limestone fronted Kings Place houses galleries and office space (including the Guardian newspaper), as well as London Sinfonietta and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. It will be open between 9.30am-11pm. Special tours include some backstage areas, these start at 10am, 11.30am and 1pm on Saturday; and 2pm, 3.30pm, 5pm on Sunday.
Read more about Open House London at Kings Place -
Open House London at Guildhall
Sep 22-23, Gresham St, London, EC2V 7HHGuildhall has been the City's seat of municipal government since the twelfth century and you can explore this rare example of Medieval civic architecture between 10am-5pm on both Saturday and Sunday. Last entry is at 4.30pm.
Read more about Open House London at Guildhall
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