Fancy seeing London by night while visiting buildings normally off-limits to the public?
Maggie's Culture Crawl, happening in September, lets you do just that, while raising money for Maggie's cancer support centres.
This year's event is curated by Sandy Nairne, until recently, director of National Portrait Gallery. The 15-mile walking route starts at Paternoster Square and takes in The Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Chelsea Physic Garden and the V&A Museum, among other venues.
Samantha Veal is taking part in her seventh consecutive walk this year and says:
It’s a brilliant way to see London by night as well as raise money for Maggie’s cancer centres. Each year I find more and more great things to say about the whole experience.
You can enter alone or as part of a team; there are usually a good couple of thousand people taking part.
There’s no pressure to get round in a set time — everyone finds their own pace. So get yourself on the registration list. You’re seeing bits of London that you wouldn’t normally get to visit AND raising money for a worthwhile cause at the same time. What’s not to love?
As always, there's a pit stop at Maggie's Centre in Hammersmith, something which Samantha says really gives you an idea of what you’re raising money for.
As well as a rare chance to see inside these buildings, cultural events along a theme of People and Places happen along the route. Get the first look at the brand new Ai Weiwei sculpture at the Royal Academy of Arts before it opens to the public. Keep an eye on the website for details on other events taking place.
Interested in taking part? This year's Culture Crawl takes place on 18 September — sign up here. There's a £40 registration fee, plus a £200 fundraising pledge.
