Discover
Marylebone, home to The Howard de Walden Estate
Join Open House for a socially-distanced walking tour of Marylebone, one of central London’s most attractive and atmospheric neighbourhoods and home to The Howard de Walden Estate
This fun and engaging walking tour led by expert guide Mike Althorpe — an urban historian, architectural researcher, educator and story teller — will explore the architecture and history of this urban village.
Despite being located right in the heart of a vast international city, just minutes from the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street, it sits within an oasis of relative tranquillity, while still offering the dynamism of a modern urban village. As the steward of 92 acres of Marylebone, central London, The Howard de Walden Estate is responsible for overseeing a diverse community of residents and businesses, including the shops and restaurants of Marylebone Village and the world class healthcare providers of the Harley Street Medical Area.
Providing a safe and fun way for enthusiastic urbanists to explore the city, this tour will explore the architecture and history of this urban village. With its unique make up, The Howard de Walden Estate retains the beauty of its period buildings, whilst repurposing and reinventing them for the requirements of the 21st century. From modern residential and office buildings, independent retailers, to cutting edge medical technology, The Estate preserves the history and celebrates the beauty of this community, ensuring it remains an attractive place for generations to come.
Meet: Outside front of St Marylebone Parish Church, 17 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5LT. End: RIBA, 66 Portland Place W1B 1AD. Duration: 2 hrs approx. Cost £5.00 (all money raised from ticket sales will go to Open City, the charity behind the Open House festival)
Attendees must download Zoom before the tour, bring a fully charged smart phone with internet connection, and headphones; and remember to stay at least two metres apart from each other where required. Zoom joining info will be sent out to bookers in the week before the tour. Get in touch with Adrianna at tours@open-city.org.uk with any queries.
Meet the tour guide…
Mike Althorpe is an urban historian, architectural researcher, storyteller and guide 'The London Ambler' With a background in Fine Art and architectural history, between 2006 - 2009 Mike was part of architectural think tank Building Futures and from 2011-2015 was public programmes curator at the RIBA. Since 2016 he has worked with Karakusevic Carson Architects and in 2017 co-authored the practice-led book ‘Social Housing’ and curated the exhibition of the same name in London in 2017 and at New York’s Center for Architecture in 2018. In 2019 he was the recipient of RIBA Research Fund and published ‘Revolutionary Low Rise’ – a publication exploring international low rise, high density housing with Abigail Batchelor.
Mike has produced tours and walking events for five years with collaborators and clients including; Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), The Architecture Foundation, Northbank BID, AA Night School, the London Festival of Architecture, Grosvenor, The London Society and Facebook.