Open House London 2026

It’s that time of year again and one of our favourite activities here at the Observer….sticking our noses where they don’t belong! From 12 September to 20 September ii’s the Open House London Festival, celebrating London’s housing, architecture and neighbourhoods by flinging open doors and streets not usually open to the public. We have a few suggestions for you and they are all FREE, and we love free.

Most Open House venues have friendly staff on hand to tell you more about what you’re seeing and there are often things to read. If you look on the website you’ll see some local bookable things, but we’re afraid you’ve mostly missed the boat on those babies. The localish venues listed below are open to the public on specific dates, so look at opening times. However, if you possess the audacious gaul to travel out of Greater Kennington you might find there are hundreds more free things to stick your head into around the capital. But we couldn’t possibly encourage that kind of behaviour.

London Fire Brigade Memorial Hall. Perhaps your last chance to see it before it is turned into, you guessed it, flats and a luxury hotel…but we said that last year.

https://programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/11781

International Maritime Organisation (that bizarre looking building on Albert Embankment. pictured below). This was our favourite in 2025.

https://programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/7730