A winter walk through the Temple's cobbled lanes and Fountain Court ends inside 2 Temple Place, William Waldorf Astor's carved and gilded estate office on the Embankment.

A painted ceiling, a rainbow arch, a library under the beams and the old clock winding room, in a private flat at the top of St Pancras.

One of the most colourful houses on the Open House Festival programme: an 1840s Grade II listed villa in Hackney, restored by Irenie Studio and filled by a roll call of designers and makers.

Open House London 2026 runs 12-20 September, opening 800+ buildings across all 33 boroughs for free. Here's my pick of 15 buildings and tours worth booking or queuing for.

Once the Public Record Office and the 'strongbox of the Empire', the Maughan Library only opens its Round Reading Room to the public one weekend a year, during Open House London.

The Law Society's Grade II* listed hall on Chancery Lane, its Victorian library and stained-glass windows, and how to get inside it yourself during Open House Festival London.

Charles Holden's Portland stone tower in Bloomsbury was the Ministry of Information in the war, and George Orwell's model for the Ministry of Truth. Its library holds three million books, a collection of magic, and sells day tickets to anyone.

London, a city renowned for its rich history and captivating architecture, opens its doors wide during the annual Open House London event. As this year's event approaches (taking place between 6-17 September) I'm thrilled to present a curated list of must-visit locations that promise to take you on a journey through time, culture, and design. From university campuses to diplomatic residences, prepare to be captivated by the architectural wonders that define our global metropo

London Open House Festival is the annual celebration of London’s most fascinating buildings. During the past three decades, the organizers have always put together the most captivating programmes, inviting curious Londoners to explore impressive homes, best-known historic buildings, or astonishing pieces of architecture that grant limited to no access to the public throughout the year. For two weeks only, our capital's most fabulous places open their doors to explorers FOR FR

Historic England calls it an almost unique British example of symbolic expressionism: concrete staircases modelled first in clay, a theatre curved for eurythmy, and a rhubarb-leaf ceiling over the cafe. It has a timeless Viennese charm, and that turns out not to be a coincidence.