London Festival of Architecture returns in June with 30 days of walks, talks, events and exhibitions on the urban realm, and loosely themed around community. As ever, the programme is huge. We've combed through the hundreds of entries to find a few highlights — many of them free.
Things to see
- Goggle at this snaking Peace Pavilion in Brockwell Park...
- ...or this giant shoebox dolls' house for Shelter.
- This year's Serpentine Pavilion looks promising.
- But Kew Gardens wins the best pavilion prize with its 40-tonne Hive.
- London's first wooden church since the Great Fire remembers Chernobyl.
- Edible Avenue near New Covent Garden Market aims to beautify an otherwise grey part of town.
- A new crop of Sculpture in the City installations rolls out toward the end of June.
Talks
- Find out more about the Sky Pool - the elevated swimming pool that will span two buildings in Nine Elms.
- London still has industry. Find out what and where at this London Society talk.
- London's urban forest looks at how communities plant and maintain trees.
- The story of the Great Fire, 350 years ago, is told by Adrian Tinniswood in St Bride's Church.
Walks and tours
- Behind the scenes at Wilton's Music Hall.
- A 'derelict London' tour of Silvertown and the Royal Docks by the superb Paul Talling. It's free, too.
- The Lansbury Estate in Poplar is perhaps not on most tour guides' routes, so here's a good chance to get to know the historic housing project.
- 20th century buildings in Hoxton and Haggerston will also get you exploring a different side of London.
Exhibitions and other events
- Learn about The Well Line, a hypothetical new freight line following the old Mail Rail tracks, with a ribbon of parks above.
- See the intricate city streetscapes of Anna Gibb.
- Explore a maze of books, and take some home for free.
- The art and architecture of the current refugee crisis is explored at a Barbican event.
- Get a preview of the architecture and design of the Crossrail stations we'll all be using in a few years.
- Designing the homes of tomorrow.
To avoid the iceberg cliche, this is just the tip of the radio mast on top of the skyscraper. Check out the full festival programme for more ideas, or browse the festival's own pick of events.
London Festival of Architecture, 1-30 June 2016, various locations, various prices.
