Enter our photography competition in partnership with V&CO
What colour best encapsulates the city of London?
Competition brief
Is London best represented by a bold red bus captured outside an iconic building, the interiors of a private home or the golden glow through a stained glass window? We’re inviting you to capture your answer through the camera lens at this year’s Open House Festival by entering our photography competition ‘Colour Match London.’
We’re looking for photos that splash out and cast a light on the festival’s buildings, architecture and interiors. Notice the details; the way light and shadow play, how patterns repeat or how angles collide.
Your entry should spotlight the shades, tones and hues that speak to you as you explore the festival sites. But don’t just show us the colour name it. Whether it’s ‘Borough Brick’ or ‘Docklands Blue’ we want to hear titles as creative as your images.
There are two main rules: 1. your photo must be taken at an Open House Festival location between 13-21 September 2025. 2. If people appear in your shot, they shouldn’t be identifiable: let the architecture and atmosphere take centre stage.
1st Prize: You’ll receive an exclusive pot of paint mixed to match your London colour by V&CO
Runners up: 3 x Goody bags
Closing date: Sunday 28 September
Terms & Conditions
Please read these competition rules before entering.
Eligibility:
To enter the competition you must be: (a) UK resident and (b) 18 years old or over at the time of entry.
The competition is open to amateur and professional photographers.
Submission:
All images submitted must be taken between 13-21 September 2025 at an Open House Festival event.
All images submitted must be the work of the individual submitting them. Entrants must warrant that the photograph they are submitting is their own work and that they own the copyright for it.
Entries should not have been published anywhere else other than on your own social media. We kindly ask that they are not shared with any other outlet or competition until after 31 October by which time the winners will be selected and announced.
The photographer will retain copyright of the photo, however, in submitting an image, each entrant grants a worldwide licence to Open City and V&CO to feature any or all of the submitted images in any of their publications, social media and website.
The photographer will be credited any time Open City or V&CO uses their photo.
Entry conditions:
To enter, please email your photo/s to submissions@open-city.org.uk with the subject line Colour Match London along with:
Your full name
Your address
Your phone number
Your email address
Title of image (inspired by the colour you’ve captured)
Location of image
Date image was taken
Confirm you are aged 18 or over
Your Instagram handle if you have one (this is to tag you if your image is featured by us)
Entrants can submit up to three photos, these can be sent in separate emails or in one email. Please attach the photos to the email - do not send external download links.
No responsibility can be accepted for entries that are lost or delayed, or which are not received for any reason.
Personal information shared with us when you apply is not shared with any third party. Entrant’s emails will be added to the Open House email newsletter database, you may unsubscribe at any time.
Please note: You must add your name to every photo file you send — we cannot accept entries that have not been submitted correctly.
Prize:
1st prize: Exclusive pot of V&CO paint mixed to match your colour
Runner-up prizes: 3 x Goody bags
Highly-commended entries will be featured in an online gallery on the Open City website
The winner will be chosen by judges comprised of members of the V&CO team.
If you win, we will notify you by e-mail.
The judges’ decision will be final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
No part of a prize is exchangeable for cash or any other prize.
Good luck! We can’t wait to see your entries.
