Open House London details for this year have been announced, and unsurprisingly, 2020 is looking different from other years.
The architecture festival usually sees London's off-limits venues opening their doors over two days in September, letting the public visit places they can't normally access. Here's a sample of what Team Londonist managed to cover in 2019.
While there are some building visits going ahead this year, the programme has had to adapt for safety reasons, so also includes guided and self-guided walking and cycle tours, and an online programme.
If you're keen to get out and about in person, several London institutions are opening their doors. Admiral's House and the Old Royal Naval College, Baitul Amm Mosque in Uxbridge and several cemeteries around London are on the list. Be aware that numbers are likely to be more restricted than in previous years, so wait times might be longer.
Online visits and virtual tours are prevalent this year, with 110 options. Sights you can visit from the comfort of your living room include Enfield's Forty Hall Estate, HM Treasury, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office building, Apothecaries' Hall, Billingsgate Roman House and Baths, and the Crystal Palace dinosaurs. You can even take a virtual tour of Fleet Street's pubs (BYOB, obviously).
A series of group and self-guided walks have been put together to help Londoners explore the city. Learn about Black History in the area around St Paul's, find out about the Olympic Legacy Masterplan in Stratford, or celebrate 20 years of TfL. Several London areas, from Richmond to Newham, and Merton to Islington, have self-guided local walks, all focusing on the exterior architecture in the vicinity — get out and learn about your local area, or explore an entirely new corner of London.
Only one building, New Scotland Yard, is running a ticket ballot this year. To be in with a chance of gaining access to the Metropolitan Police headquarters, enter online.
Open House London 2020 takes place 19-20 September, with additional events running until 27 September. Programme is online now, but may be subject to change as the Covid-19 situation changes. Some events require booking — see individual event pages for details.
