Folks, it may be weeks until Open House London 2005, but you need to be reminded now. Remember last year, when you had to queue for five hours, shooting dirty looks at all those people who had booked in advance? (This is assuming you went to one of the popular buildings, not a recycling plant in Dagenham or something.) Now you can be one of those smug people who booked in advance.
Yes - book now to avoid disappointment. The weekend itself isn't until 17-18 September, but there's a pre-booking on 15 August, and tickets always go like hot cakes. If you want access to the most popular buildings, it's pre-booking or nothing. But remember - IT'S FREE.
A guide to this year's buildings is also now available.
A new event this year is the Circle Line Metro Hike, in aid of Maggie's Centre, the cancer care charity, which is building its first London centre. This event, on 16 September, is a walk around the Circle Line, overground, overnight. A good walk and a good cause.
If you haven't got a clue what we're talking about, Open House London is an annual event that grants ordinary Londoners access to more than 600 buildings that are normally closed to the public - everything from the Foreign Office to the Erotic Gherkin. If you want to know more, check out the FAQ.
