xOpen House, the ever-popular weekend event in which hundreds of normally private buildings in the capital are thrown open to the curious and the nosy, has come and gone.The main attraction this year was the BT Tower, open to the public for the first time in decades. Of the 35,000 people who applied to go up, 500 lucky ones were selected from a random ballot, and not a single Londonista was among them. Fortunately, our connections meant that we were able to get some pics from somebody who went on the tour.
Gazing over London from the BT Tower. Photo / Frank PickardThe surreal remnants of the Middlesex Hospital in Fitzrovia. Photo / Frank PickardPretty much unbeatable view of London from the BT Tower. Photo / Frank PickardView of one Open House venue (Village Underground) from another (Broadgate Tower). Photo / M@Roof terrace of 55 Broadway, the London Undeground HQ, taken from the building's 14th floor. Photo / DeanNInteresting view of the Centre Point staircase Photo / McTumshieRoyal Society Council Room. Photo / shuma.raniInterior of the 17th floor of the Broadgate Tower. Photo / DeanNThe Thames Tunnel shaft at Rotherhithe. Photo / flickrwayCity Hall. Photo / Che-burashkaChandalier at Carpenters' Hall. Photo / takoyaki1981View from Centre Point. Photo / Treesiepopsicles.Stoneleigh Terrace - a 1970's modernist housing block - backs on to Highgate Cemetery. Photo / M@
We did, however, manage to get a place on the other big Open House debutante, the London Underground headquarters at 55 Broadway. The extensive tour (for which security restrictions meant no photographs were allowed) covered the Art Deco building's 10th, 7th, and 2nd floors, and included a rare visit to the 14th floor rooftop. Diamond Geezer and Ian Visits also went, and have typically excellent reports.
xWhat were your favourite Open House discoveries, and what would you recommend for next year? Let us know in the comments.
