Open House London 2020 Press Release

*This page will be updated regularly to reflect changes to the programme*

Last updated 06/08/20

For nearly thirty years Open House London has provided access to the beloved favourites and hidden gems of London’s buildings. This September the will take place more ambitious and varied than ever before to reconnect Londoners with a city they’ve been locked out of for months. Open House 2020 will help rebuild a healthy city with a special programme carefully curated around safe ways to explore the streets of London on foot and bike alongside sociable, active ways to participate in the festival from home too.

Building visits and walking tours will take place in locations who have ensured that these can be done in a safe and responsible manner through implementing measures such as pre-booking, timed entry and reduced capacities. Self-led walking tours will be available to download for anyone that wants to go at their own pace.

Buildings and walking tour highlights include:

  • Trellick Tower, resident-led tours of the 1970s Brutalist tower block

  • Freemason Hall, 1920s Art Deco building which is home to the governing body of Freemasonry in England

  • (New for 2020) Tillermans , architect-led tours of the 14-storey tower sitting on the edge of the Grand Union Canal

  • (New for 2020) Black history walking tour around Bank/St Pauls area

Alternative events

As well as in-person building visits, for the first time, Open House is launching a series of alternative events. This includes exclusive digital content such as live-streamed talks, discussions, tours and the premiere of the Open House Films short film series, as well as a host of new events- from workshops, to supper clubs, picnics to artists talks. With the launch of Open House's most diverse programme , Open House 2020 is an exciting celebration of the buildings and outdoor spaces we’ve all been missing.

For a hands-on experience a selection of buildings have been turned into illustrated self-assembly models, with each pack containing a factsheet with key information about the structure and guidance on how to assemble your own piece of London’s skyline.  

Open House Film series includes tours of:

  • Picker House, a “time-capsule of the 1960s” that hosts the art and collections of artist Stanley Picker.

  • Siobhan Davies Studios, a disused Victorian school that has been transformed into an innovative contemporary arts space 

  • Salter’s Hall, a Brutalist building with Grade II listed interiors that houses the 600-year old Salter’s Company 

Alternative Events Highlights:

  • A ceramics workshop in Rochester Square

Model highlights include

  • Kew Gardens Glass House 

  • St Pauls Catherdral 

  • The Gherkin

Key dates:

  • Programme is announced on Wednesday 26th August on the Open House website and app

  • The Open House festival programming will begin Wednesday 16th September

  • Main event will take place over Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September

  • Festival fortnight ends Friday 29th September

Weblinks

Website: https://open-city.org.uk/open-house 

Instagram & Twitter handle: @openhouselondon 

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/openhouselondon2020

Model building packs will be available here: https://shop.openhouselondon.org.uk/

Additional press materials available here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/aoqnsjnw4idghyl/AAAhaUY4Q56XRnj7d-T_5-Z3a?dl=0 

Editors Notes

  • Open House London festival programming begins on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September and runs until Sunday 27th September

  • Full listings will go live on the Open House website on 26th August

  • First Open House event under new director Phineas Harper

  • Over 250,000 people attend Open House each year

  • In 2019 there were over 800 buildings, tours, walks and places open free to the public over the weekend across all London boroughs

  • The first Open House London weekend took place in 1992 with just four boroughs taking part

  • Open House was founded by Victoria Thornton OBE HonFRIBA