About

Open House Festival is a nine day celebration of London’s housing, architecture, and neighbourhoods.

The festival is led by a community of Londoners who, for its duration, open up buildings they own, work in, or care for — giving visitors the chance to explore. Alongside festival contributors, over 500 volunteers come together to help open some of London’s best buildings.

Visitors can explore the full festival programme and discover all the open buildings through the festival website, where they can sign up and book tours or drop in to openings and events.

In addition to open buildings, the festival offers a programme of urban walks and tours, making it one of the best ways to learn about London’s history, architecture, and the social significance of its diverse neighbourhoods.

Programme: 

The Fan Museum Open Day (13th September)
Location: 12 Crooms Hill, Greenwich SE10 ER
Carefully restored Grade II* listed Georgian town houses, retaining many principal architectural features, including elegant façades and panelled rooms. Now houses the UK's only museum devoted to the history of fans and craft of fan making.

Old Royal Naval College Drop-in (13th and 14th September)
Location: Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich SE10 9NN
Sir Christopher Wren's riverside masterpiece in Greenwich, built as the Royal Hospital for Seamen and begun in 1696 on the site of the Tudor Greenwich Palace. Occupied by the Royal Naval College from 1869 to 1998, it is now a premier historic, cultural and educational destination in the heart of the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Old Royal Naval College - Queen Anne Court Guided Tour (13th and 14th September)
Location: Queen Anne Court, 30 Park Row, Greenwich SE10 9NN
Wren and Hawksmoor building, completed 1749 when Thomas Ripley built the pavilions facing the river. Highlights include council boardroom, grand staircase and restored Portland stonework. Refurbished in 2000 for University of Greenwich.

Old Royal Naval College - Queen Mary Court Guided Tour (13th and 14th September)
Location: Queen Mary Court, 30 Park Row, Greenwich SE10 9NN
Last major building on the site (1751). Original layout, timber panelling, barrel vaulting and Portland stone. Refurbished in 2000 by Dannatt Johnson for University of Greenwich.

Old Royal Naval College - King William Court Drop-in Tour (13th and 14th September)
Location: King William Court, 30 Park Row, Greenwich
Wren-designed building completed under the direction of Hawksmoor and Vanbrugh, 1698-1712. Original wood panelling, refurbished by Dannatt Johnson in 2001 for University of Greenwich.

Devonport Mausoleum Drop-in Tour (13th and 14th September)
Location: Devonport Mausoleum, Romney Road, Greenwich SE10 9NF
Beautiful mausoleum in former Royal Navy cemetery, restored 1999 by the University of Greenwich. Many interesting plaques and gravestones.

University of Greenwich, Stockwell Street Guided Tour (13th and 14th September)
Location: Stockwell Street, Greenwich SE10 9BD
The building features a limestone exterior designed to 'complement but not mimic' the surrounding historical architecture, whilst behind the façade is a 4-storey composition of steel, glass and exposed concrete.

C2 Clod Ensemble Studios : Design District Open Day (13th, 14th, 17th, 18th and 19th September)
Location: C2 Cripps Yard, Soames Walk, Design District, Greenwich Peninsula SE10 0BQ
The building, designed by Mole Architects, comprises a top-lit, 2,000 square foot rehearsal studio, open-plan office, music production studio. Constructed entirely from timber, clad in weathered corten steel and designed to limit energy consumption.

The Photography Foundation - Open Studio & Office Space Drop-in (15th September)
Location: Buidling D2 (Level 2), 3 Dormer Yard, Design District, Greenwich Peninsulam SE10 0EB
Come and see our light filled Studio & Office space and find out more about what we do at The Photography Foundation! Browse our Trainee photography zines and meet our welcoming Staff Members.

Adẹ̀kọ́ & Co. Studio: Behind the Story (18th September)
Location: 3.2 Building A4, 10 Monro Way, Design District, Greenwich Peninsula SE10 0EJ
Step inside Adẹ̀kọ́ & Co., an interior design Studio located in The Design District. The District is made up of 16 buildings designed by 8 pioneering architects housing 170 workspaces. Join us for immersive activities, explore our creative process, materials, and moodboards, and enjoy a Q&A with founder Tolù Adẹ̀kọ́.

Ravensbourne University London Guided Tour (20th September)
Location: 6 Penrose Way, Greenwich Peninsula SE10 0EW
Ravensbourne is a dynamic institution at the intersection of creativity, business, and technology. Based in the heart of North Greenwich, we are home to a diverse, global community. We learn with industry; industry learns with us. Together we transform lives. With our facilities and strong industry connections, we empower students with the skills, experience and connections needed to thrive.

Open Studio at Plan B & Sold Out Publishing Drop-in (20th September)
Location: No.2 Upper Riverside, 10 Cutter Lane, Greenwich Peninsula SE10 0XX
Located inside Firepit Gallery and Studio, Plan B creative studio and Sold Out welcomes you into their creative space and bookshop. Founded by Bakhtawer and Betty, they are excited to talk creative process and publishing. Their focus is under-represented and decolonial forms of publishing and archiving within visual culture and design. Come and get yourself a nice reference and help us Sold Out.

IFS Cloud Cable Car Behind-the-scenes Tour (20th and 21st September)
Location: Unit 1-4, Edmund Halley Way, Greenwich Peninsula SE10 0FR
An exclusive Behind-the-scenes Tour of the London Cable Car. You'll gain access to areas used in the daily operations of the cable car not typically open to the public. Led by our expert guide, you'll learn about the history, design, and construction of the cable care, while enjoying breath-taking views from high above with a return round trip. Tour lasts 60-minute. Limited to 15 people per tour.

Greenwich Yacht Club Drop-in (20th and 21st September)
Location: 1 Pearway Tree, Greenwich Peninsula SE10 9BW
Community boating club housed in a contemporary timber and aluminium building using existing pier, offering unique views of the river, the O2 and the Thames Barrier. Other buildings include sail loft, machine shop and activiities centre available for weddings and other events. Club activities include dinghy sailing, cruising, rowing and an extensive list of classes.

Charlton House & Gardens Open Day Guided Tour (21st September)
Location: Charlton House & Gardens, Charlton SE7 8RE
Welcome to one of the U.K.'s few remaining Jacobean manor homes, nestled in picturesque Charlton Park. This stunning property boasts classic red brick with elegant white stone dressings, embodying timeless Jacobean style. Each room features a unique fireplace, exquisite strapwork ceilings, and original period details. Experience historical elegance and modern comfort in this extraordinary home.

Plot 9 Maze Hill Drop-in (21st September)
Location: Plot 9, Maze Hill, Restell Close, Greenwich SE10 9BD
Taken on by Andy Millns in 2019, this derelict, polluted and overgrown council allotment plot has been transformed into a thriving space for creative, community-building and therapeutic gatherings and events. The main structure (the Dodeca-den) is a hightly versatile and unusual parachute-covered 12-sided/circular gathering space and living sculpture and is available to use by donation.

View full programme here.