Credit: pcruciatti, Shutterstock
If noseying around other people’s gaffs is even nearly as high up on your list of favourite hobbies as it is on mine; you’re going to want to hear this. London’s Open House Festival is returning in September, giving mere mortals (like you and I) the rare opportunity to step through the threshold of some of London’s most exclusive establishments. Many of which are usually off-limits to the public.
Between September 13 and September 21, hundreds of sites across the city are opening their (usually firmly locked) doors for the occasion, and allowing visitors to explore inside. The free-to-visit festival aims to champion accessibility, inclusivity, and community, and will include various tours, workshops and drop-in sessions.
Credit: Colin Eby, Shutterstock The balloted buildings
Some particularly legendary landmarks will be getting involved in the festival, and members of the public can enter the recently-opened ballot to be in with a chance of peeking inside one of them. The rather iconic likes of 10 Downing Street, the BT Tower, the BBC Broadcasting House, Canada House and the London Museum will all be accessible to the fortunate folk whose names are drawn in the ballot.
The balloted buildings are rarely accessible to the public, so this really is a unique opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with some of the city’s more iconic infrastructures. These extra special spots join over 700 other buildings and spaces as part of the festival’s programme, from ancient architecture to modern masterpieces.
Credit: Ben Blossom
Offering a fair and free way to allocate some of the most sought-after tickets in town, the ballot is open now and closes on August 18.
Celia Mead, Festival Director, said: “This is our ‘Golden Ticket’ moment where we invite people to apply for the chance to get into some of London’s unique and usually off-limits spaces. It’s the fairest way to share access to the most popular and fascinating buildings. And if you don’t get selected this time, don’t worry. With thousands of other free events and openings across the city, there’s still so much to discover when general booking opens on August 20. Whether you’re a regular or it’s your first time, we encourage everyone to get involved and experience London in a whole new way.”
Find out more about the Open House Festival, plan your visit, and enter the ballot here.