Incredible architecture, fascinating walking tours and creative performances: Open House Festival 2023 opens with its most ambitious programme yet

Press Release

Sep 6

2023 edition of the world’s largest festival of special architecture and neighbourhoods gets underway in London.

Over 53,000 hopefuls enter ballots for tickets to tours around eight of the festival’s most coveted sites.
Twelve day programme features an array of special events mixing architecture, music, walking tours, art, discussion and food.
New programme of special tours exclusively for young Londoners from under-represented communities.
“London is a city best shared” — for the first time, Open House Festival and Airbnb are spotlighting the homes on Airbnb which are also part of the festival, celebrating the Londoners who are sharing their space.

The world’s largest celebration of special buildings and places, Open House Festival, has launched in London with a bumper programme taking place over the next two weeks.

Nearly 700 events are scheduled over twelve days across all 33 London boroughs including walking tours, open days at iconic buildings, creative performances and thought-provoking discussions exploring big themes.

The festival programme has proved enormously popular with over 52,000 entries to ballots for limited numbers of tickets to some of the festival’s most popular sites.

For the first time, in partnership with headline partner Airbnb, this year Open House Festival is highlighting homes featured in the festival that visitors can book an overnight stay in.

Zoë Cave, chief curator of the Open House Festival said, “We believe that when people of all backgrounds are able to visit, learn about and even book stays in places they cannot normally access, we can break down barriers, fostering pride and understanding across communities.”

Amanda Cupples, General Manager for Northern Europe at Airbnb, said, "We're thrilled to be partnering with Open House Festival to make London's incredible architecture more accessible to everyone. This is a unique opportunity for people to explore the city's hidden gems and learn about its rich history and culture. We hope that our partnership will inspire people to fall in love with London all over again."

Festival organisers say the 2023 Open House Festival will be the most accessible ever with special new programmes for young people from under-represented communities

Now in its 31st year, the charity behind Open House Festival has helped launch over 60 festivals around the world including in New York, Lagos, Colombo, Osaka and Mexico City. Together this worldwide network of festivals attracts a global audience of over 750,000 a year.

Visitors planning to attend London’s Open House Festival should go to programme.openhouse.org.uk and register for a free visitor account to start planning their festival itinerary.

Filming and interview opportunities

Most festival sites are available on request for filming and media interviews. For all media enquiries email press@open-city.org.uk to arrange access.

The official festival launch is taking place on Thursday the 7th of September at Waterloo City Farm. To arrange media access or filming permission email press@open-city.org.uk.

Notes to editors

The 2023 Open House Festival runs from the 6th to the 17th of September.

Typically the Open House Festival attracts 170,000 visits. The economic impact is estimated to be £2.9m direct spend in the local economy by visitors.

Open City, the charity which stages the Open House Festival was founded in 1992 and runs educational programmes for children and young people from under-reperesnted communities in London and Birmingham year-round.

Over its three-decade history, the Open City has helped set up Open House Festivals across the world from New York City to Lagos. There are now nearly 60 Open House Festivals worldwide which together attract around 750,000 visitors a year.