Every September, London opens its doors in a way few other cities do, inviting residents and visitors to explore the hidden corners, grand residences and architectural wonders that make the city endlessly fascinating. The London Open House Festival, now in its 30th year, continues to offer a rare glimpse into spaces often closed to the public, celebrating architecture not just as a backdrop to life, but as a dynamic participant in it. From intimate private homes to monumental civic structures, the festival encourages us to consider the city from a new perspective – blending history, design and social narrative into one immersive experience.
The concept of “Open House” is by no means unique to London, though the capital’s iteration has arguably become the most celebrated. The festival traces its roots back to 1992 – inspired by similar initiatives across Europe that sought to democratise access to architecture. Over the decades, it has grown exponentially, moving beyond its early programme of select residential tours to embrace civic buildings, arts spaces and contemporary marvels. The ethos has remained consistent – architecture belongs to everyone, and the act of visiting and engaging with a space is a vital form of cultural participation.
Across the globe, other cities have embraced this model with equal vigour. In New York, Open House New York was founded in 2001 by architect Scott Lauer in response to the city’s increasing closure post-9/11. The first OHNY Weekend took place in October 2003, offering New Yorkers access to over 190 sites across all five boroughs. This initiative has since become a cornerstone of civic engagement, promoting transparency and fostering a deeper understanding of the city’s architecture and public spaces.
Paris hosts Journées Européennes du Patrimoine, an annual event where museums, palaces, and even private ateliers welcome the public – blending history with contemporary culture. Meanwhile, Barcelona’s 48h Open House Barcelona illuminates the city’s Modernisme legacy alongside its contemporary architectural achievements – offering a lens into both the old and the new. The festival began in 2010 and has since expanded to include multiple cities across Catalonia. In 2024, the event featured 205 buildings across six cities, with 212 activities over the weekend, 30% of them being completely new.
This year’s London festival, taking place from 13 – 21 September 2025, promises a similarly rich tapestry of experiences. While some tickets were snapped up immediately following the programme’s launch in August, a variety of drop-in opportunities remain – allowing visitors to explore without prior reservation. The lineup spans historic mansions, iconic modernist flats and vibrant community arts spaces – reflecting both the diversity of London’s built environment and the multiplicity of ways people inhabit it. Amongst the most notable sites this year is the Argentine Ambassador’s Residence – an exquisite historic mansion that doubles as the home of the Argentine Embassy. Visitors can explore its grand interiors, reflecting the layered narratives of diplomacy, design and domestic life. Equally compelling is the Lee Valley VeloPark in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – an emblem of contemporary sporting architecture.
Two other highlights of the programme include Two Temple Place, a neo-Gothic masterpiece built in 1895 – normally closed to the public – and the Mildmay Club, a Grade II listed social club on Newington Green that offers a tangible link to London’s rich social history. For modernist enthusiasts, the Isokon Building in Hampstead remains a must-see – a Grade I listed apartment complex designed by Canadian architect Wells Coates, representing a vision of functional, minimalist living that continues to inspire contemporary design. Tower Hamlets Town Hall also offers hourly tours led by architects AHMM – blending civic authority with architectural storytelling in real time, no booking required.
Complementing these architectural tours are a host of creative and community-oriented drop-ins. The Sands End Arts & Community Centre offers family-friendly wellbeing activities, while the Lakeside Centre, a striking example of brutalist architecture, runs workshops in everything from Gelli printing to chess – encouraging playful engagement with space. Drawing Matter’s Drawing London exhibition presents an intimate cartography of the city through architectural sketches, while Culture House, the first permanent exhibition space for Somali artefacts curated by the Somali community, offers guided talks, workshops, and poetry showcases that contextualize culture within space. Other open studios and research spaces, such as the London Centre for Book Arts and Seed Archives, foreground creativity, learning, and inclusivity – demonstrating how buildings can function as both practical and inspirational sites.
The festival’s power lies not merely in the chance to see famous or hidden buildings, but in its invitation to reflect on how architecture intersects with daily life. Buildings are more than static structures – they shape social interaction, influence wellbeing and carry memory. Visiting the modernist clarity of the Isokon Building, the ornate Gothic flourishes of Two Temple Place, or the community-focused spaces of the Lakeside Centre, we are reminded that the built environment is a lens through which the human experience can be read, understood and celebrated. London’s architecture tells stories of ambition, resilience and identity – and Open House provides the rare opportunity to inhabit those stories.
Beyond the tangible, the festival encourages a wider conversation about sustainability, inclusivity, and urban planning. By opening doors to both historic and contemporary sites, it subtly prompts reflection on how cities evolve, who they serve and how architecture can preserve memory and accommodate progress. Each visit becomes an act of connection – with history, design and community.
London Open House Festival 2025 reaffirms the enduring relevance of architecture in our everyday lives. It is an occasion that blends curiosity, culture, and civic pride – offering a rare moment to pause, look up, and see the familiar city anew. Whether wandering through a neo-Gothic treasure, cycling through the sculptural curves of an Olympic venue, or engaging with art and creativity in community hubs, participants are reminded that architecture is not merely about aesthetics, but about experience, participation, and connection. In an era when cities are ever-changing, Open House celebrates the profound ways in which the spaces we inhabit shape who we are – and who we might become.
London Open House Festival 2025 runs from 13 – 21 September 2025: open-city.org.uk
Words: Simon Cartwright
Image Credits:
1. Dorwich House Museum © Ellie Laycock.
2. Royal College of Physicians © Hufton Crow.
3. John Morden Centre. © Jim Stephenson.
4. Canada House © Canada House.
5. Trelick Tower Photo by James O. Davies © English Heritage.
