C4.26 Open House Architecture Events
Open House London: over 800 buildings open to the public for free.Remember to book as early as possible.
Some buildings require advance booking for entry. Others need you to submit an application first, followed by a ballot. If all slots are fully booked, you won’t be able to visit.
Official website for Open House London to check building details, specific opening times and book in advance (Reminder from Shishengmiao: The website updates details for the current year’s openings and bookings only when the event is about to start. However, you can register early to volunteer):
https://openhouselondon.open-city.org.uk
On the Open Day, more than 800 buildings across London will be open to the public for free visits.
Due to the large number of buildings, the official has produced an exquisite Open House London Guide – as shown in the picture below. You can purchase it to gain a more intuitive understanding of the history and culture of each building, and it can also be kept as a souvenir.
You can choose your visiting route by the building's location, construction period, or architectural type. Reminder from Shishengmiao: With so many buildings, it’s impossible to visit all of them in two days. So plan ahead, and focus on a few iconic buildings or those that interest you. However, I recommend visiting by architectural type, especially places you can’t usually get into – such as government institutions or particularly valuable art galleries.
Note that there will be a huge crowd. Remember to plan in advance, arrive early, and choose buildings that are not normally free or rarely open to the public. Some of these open buildings require advance booking. You can visit the official Open House London website, select the buildings you want to visit, check if booking is required, and find details like building introductions and addresses there.
There are 47 categories by architectural type:
1，architectural practice
2，art in the public realm
3，art studio
4，bridge
5，cemetery
6，cinema
7，civic
8，club
9，community/cultural
10，concert/performance space
11，education
12，embassy/high commission
13，entertainment
14，gallery
15，garden
16，government
17，health
18，historical house
19，hostel
20，hotel
21，housing
22，industrial
23，infrastructure/engineering
24，institution/profession
25，legal
26，library
27，livery hall
28，media
29，military
30，miscellaneous
31，mixed use
32，monument
33，museum
34，offices
35，open site
36，palace
37，public realm/landscape
38，recreational
39，religious
40，residence
41，restaurant/bar
42，retail
43，scientific
44，sport
45，theatre
46，transport
47，walk/tour
First, we recommend visiting Category 16: Government Buildings.
0 Downing Street
Address: 10 Downing Street, SW1A 2AA
You need to submit a visit application first, followed by a ballot for entry.
Since 1735, 10 Downing Street has been the official residence of the British Prime Minister. Behind this famous black door, the most important decisions shaping the UK have been made over the past 277 years.
BT Tower (London Television Tower)
BT Tower
Address: 45 Maple Street, W1T 4BG
You need to submit a visit application first, followed by a ballot for entry.
This is the enduring and distinctive feature of the BT Tower over the past 53 years. For the public, it is a rare opportunity to visit the famous revolving floor, located 158 metres above London.
The View from The Shard
Address: Joiner Street, SE1 9EX
You need to submit a visit application first, followed by a ballot for entry.
The building's highest accessible point is the 72nd floor – an open-air observation deck 800 feet (244 metres) above the ground, exposed to the elements. Visitors are surrounded by glass shards that form the top of the building.
City Hall, London
Address: The Queen's Walk, More London Estate, SE1 2AA
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)
Address: King Charles Street, SW1A 2AH
HM Treasury
Address: 1 Horse Guards Road, SW1A 2HQ
The Banqueting House
address：Whitehall, SW1A 2ER
Lloyd's Register Group
address：71 Fenchurch Street, EC3M 4BS
Reminder from Shishengmiao: A free app is available for download for Open House London. It is still the 2018 version, as the 2023 update will launch on 20 August. The app provides information such as the distance to each building, opening times and introductions. Please bring your ID, as some venues may carry out security checks.
Open House London is not only for visitors to attend. If you are interested, you can also join as a volunteer. It’s a highly meaningful experience where you can not only visit the buildings but also learn a great deal – you just need to register and apply to be a volunteer in advance.
Finally, this is a rare annual opportunity. We recommend planning your itinerary in advance, including building locations, transport routes, opening time slots and more. If you have plenty of time, consider applying to be a volunteer – you’ll meet people from all over the world, and while helping others, you’ll gain unexpected life experiences.