Final weekend of Open House Festival 2023: Top 15 Places to Visit
The final weekend of the 2023 Open House Festival will see over 1,000 events take place at 400 sites across all London boroughs.
The festival is celebrating its closing weekend with a bumper programme of free events and tours in zones one to nine.
Highlights include 167 events across 41 sites in the City of London, the first musical performances at the Crystal Palace Bowl for decades and demonstrations of London’s only working rolling bridge at Cody Dock.
Below are 15 highlights from the final weekend of the Open House Festival weekend.
Chief Executive of Open City, the charity which runs Open House Festival, Phineas Harper said: “Open House Festival is a chance for Londoners to explore and understand their city in a new way. With over 1000 events taking place during the festival finale this weekend, there’s something for everyone.”
Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee, Munsur Ali, said:
“Open House visitors to Guildhall will certainly appreciate the opportunity to explore the Great Hall, which has been the setting for The Lord Mayor’s Banquet since the 1500s and held many historic trials, including those of Lady Jane Grey and Thomas Cranmer.
“Sitting on top of London’s largest medieval crypts, the Hall’s cathedral-like ambience never fails to impress those who set foot inside.”
Top 15 Places To Visit During Final Weekend of Open House Festival 2023
1. Cody Dock Rolling Bridge
A one-day festival celebrating the rich heritage of Cody Dock, one of the last remaining brick-lined docks in London which now features a remarkable rolling bridge designed by Thomas Randall-Page. LINK
Photo: Jim Stephenson
2. Crystal Palace Bowl Garden Party
With a lineup featuring the Crystal Palace Brass Band and BollyQueer, the Crystal Palace Bowl designed by Ian Ritchie is the perfect venue to round off your Open House Festival on Sunday afternoon. LINK
David Fisher
3. The Guildhall
The City of London Corporation’s seat of municipal government since the 12th century. A Grade I listed, rare example of medieval civic architecture. LINK
4. Dawson’s Heights
A fantastic example of beautifully designed social housing with uninterrupted views of the London skyline. LINK
5. Gulabi House
An extension to an Edwardian terrace house in Tottenham for a young family that marries their cultural backgrounds, inspired by Indian modernism. LINK
6. Haberdashers'‘ Hall
Designed by Hopkins Architects, one of the City of London’s first new livery halls for 40 years. LINK
7. Barbican and City of London Gardens Walking Tour
Built on the site destroyed by The Blitz during World War II, The Barbican Estate is a fascinating area owned by the City of London Corporation and an icon of Brutalist architecture. On this walking tour we will see some of the secret gardens of the City of London. LINK
8. The Design District
London's first permanent, purpose-built workspace for the creative industries. 16 buildings by eight pioneering architects 11 of which will be open for the closing weekend of Open House Festival LINK
9. Haggerston Wharf Open Day
A small community of people living aboard an array of traditional and contemporary craft. Open to viewers are two traditional narrowboats and one widebeam. Visit to have your boat toilet related questions answered for once and for all. LINK
Sonny Malhotra
10. Hounslow’s Adobe Village
A unique and striking playscape made from earth to protect pupil’s sensitive ears from overhead planes. LINK
11. Two Temple Place
An Open House Festival favourite, Two Temple Place is a dazzling neo-Gothic gem completed in 1895 on the Victoria Embankment, designed by gothic revivalist architect, John Loughborough Pearson. LINK
12. The “Neasden Temple”
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, aka the “Neasden Temple” is Europe’s first traditional Hindu temple is a masterpiece of exquisite Indian craftsmanship. Using 5,000 tonnes of Italian and Indian marble and the finest Bulgarian limestone, it was hand-carved in India before being assembled in London. LINK
13. Southwark Integrated Waste Management Facility
Tours of the facility will be taking place throughout the day to give visitors an insight into how waste is actually a valuable resource that can help to build a sustainable future. LINK
14. Central Hill Estate Festival
Tree-lined housing estate on the ridge of Central Hill and Crystal Palace, incorporating open spaces, views over London, gardens and strong sense of community. For Open House Festival the residents are staging the first Central Hill Festival featuring tours led by children, talks on upgrading historic buildings, music, artists, stalls, food, and kids’ activities.
15. Beyond Beck Road
Beck Road is an unusually mixed area of renters, social housing, homeowners and artist studios. For Open House Festival the community is staging an exhibition of artworks, community projects, installations and workshops within houses, artists studios and on the street. LINK
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.
Contact and images
Images for this story be downloaded here.
For all media enquiries email press@open-city.org.uk or call 07703471733.