Ten great Instagram accounts for London lovers to follow in 2021
From historic pubs to weird public art, we’ve picked ten Instagram accounts documenting London you’ll want to follow this year.
Old Kent Road: Is there room on the gravy train for everyone? 2/2
For this second part of our two-part episode we continue exploring all the amazing work local people are doing to create spaces and opportunities to thrive in the shadow of ambitious regeneration agendas.
Ten great Twitter accounts for London lovers to follow in 2021
From historians to community gardeners, we’ve picked ten Twitter accounts lovers of London and its architecture might want to follow this year.
Ten Christmas gifts for London lovers
Ten last minute Christmas gifts for lovers of London and its architecture
Old Kent Road: Is there room on the gravy train for everyone?
In this two part episode we will be learning about one of London's most important roads, Old Kent Road, and the work that local people are doing to make sure that the future of the area is one that belongs to them and their communities.
New East London & South London Printed Tour Guides available for pre-order
We’re excited to announce the first in our new series of printed guides based on our popular in-person walking and cycling tours. They would make the perfect stocking filler, small gift or family activity this festive season!
Marylebone On-Demand Audio Tour
Listen to Open House’s new on-demand audio tour of Marylebone, one of central London’s most attractive and atmospheric neighbourhoods and home to The Howard de Walden Estate
Black Friday Offer: Three books for the price of two
Tick a few gifts off your list and get three copies of the Alternative Guide to the London Boroughs for the price of two, until the end of Monday.
Public Transport: What do bus drivers really think of you?
In this episode we will be discussing how our modes of transport have changed - what works, what doesn’t and what is still needed to make our journeys accessible, enjoyable and effective.
Learning from London’s lack of lockdown loos
Marianna Janowicz argues lockdown has exposed the failings of the public sector to provide sufficient sanitary infrastructure
The Fast Consumer City: can a sandwich really run the city?
How can a cheddar and pickle baguette shape our city? Why does a £3 flat white make a difference to how open a city is? This episode looks at the work and lifestyle habits of the fast consumer city and how our cities start to look and run when they cater to the well heeled urban professional.
Would Young People Design a Better London For Us All?
In this Open House special episode we will be talking about how young people are currently shut out of the conversation about planning and regeneration and how they could help design the happy, healthy, sustainable London we all want.
Elle Dodd joins Open City trustees
Economist and policymaker, Elle Dodd, joins Open City trustees as incoming treasurer.
Why is Architecture so Political?
In this episode Merlin Fulcher and Arman Nouri are joined by Emma Dent Coad, former Labour MP for Kensington to discuss why architecture and housing is so political. Dent Coad -- who remains a councillor at Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea -- will discuss how the stories of the Trellick and Grenfell towers reflect the failure of politics to safeguard the notion of public housing as a public good.
Suburban Taskforce: Call for Evidence
The Suburban Taskforce extends its Call for Evidence to begin an investigation into the state of Britain’s suburbs, beginning with the experiences of those in the Outer London Boroughs.
Unleashing Londoners' imagination
In this Open House special episode hosts Merlin Fulcher and Arman Nouri talk about how imagination - such as myths which celebrate our real or fictional past - can transform how we see the city around us, and in turn create better places for everyone.
Rethinking London’s Green Spaces
In this Open House special episode we will be talking about green spaces -- London’s greatest public treasures loved by everyone -- and their future during a time of climate crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic. Specifically this episode will be focussing on Grosvenor Square in Mayfair which is poised to undergo an ambitious renewal to unlock its full potential as an urban oasis meeting the needs and expectations of our twenty-first century capital.
Open City Programmes
Accelerate
For over a decade, Open City has run Accelerate, a free programme supporting young people from under-represented communities to pursue creative careers in engineering, architecture, design and city-making.
Tours and events
Open City runs an adventurous programme of year-round walking, cycling and boat tours, debates and lectures.
Open House London Festival
With thousands of visitors across all 33 London Boroughs, Open House London Festival is the largest and most inclusive festival of architecture and neighbourhoods in the world.
Open House Worldwide
Open City is part of a global network of festivals dedicated opening up and celebrating special buildings and places from New York to Maputo and beyond.