We love nothing more than sticking our noses where they don’t belong, and what better opportunity to undertake this sniffy task is Open House London weekend, which beckons in a few days (21-22 September).

Open House London is an event which promotes the appreciation of architecture by flinging open the doors of otherwise closed spaces to the public, and is totally free. There are a range of venues open for us to see in Lambeth and Southwark but lets not be precious about our anointed patch of earth; there’s stuff going on around the capital (800 and counting, apparently). Below are links to local things we have seen recently and recommend. Last year we particularly enjoyed a gander around the former Beaufoy Institute in Black Prince Road, which has been turned into a Buddhist centre.

International Maritime Organisation

https://openhouselondon.open-city.org.uk/listings/7730

National Theatre

https://openhouselondon.open-city.org.uk/listings/1172

The Beaufoy (Diamond Way Buddhist Centre)

https://openhouselondon.open-city.org.uk/listings/7275

Kia Oval

https://openhouselondon.open-city.org.uk/listings/7143

Waterloo City Farm

https://openhouselondon.open-city.org.uk/listings/6775

Kirkaldy Testing Works

https://openhouselondon.open-city.org.uk/listings/856

The Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret

https://openhouselondon.open-city.org.uk/listings/1268

If you have your heart set on seeing the inside of Lambeth Palace don’t get your hopes up as we’ve tried for the better part of 20 years and solving the great pong of Kennington tube is probably more achievable. If you want to have a go at seeing it and other iconic venues (such as 10 Downing Street and Mansion House), bookmark Open House in your diary and apply next summer.  Here’s to being nosy!