5 Cleveland Place
Until 20 Sept
London Open House Festival returns from 12 to 20 September 2026, opening the doors to hundreds of buildings, homes, workplaces and spaces across the capital. We’ve taken an early look at the programme and picked out some of the places and themes that have caught our attention so far. There are few better ways to understand London than by getting inside the places that make it work. Organised by Open City, London Open House Festival returns for its 35th edition this September, offering free opportunities to explore places that are often closed to the public, from landmark architecture and private homes to infrastructure, industry and cultural spaces. Hundreds of events have already been announced, with more being added over the summer. Many are free to drop into, while some require advance booking, with general bookings opening at midday on 19 August. The London Society’s picks, so far… With so much to choose from, we couldn’t possibly pick them all. Instead, here are a few themes and places from the programme so far that caught our attention. Behind the scenes of how London works Explore some of the infrastructure behind everyday London, including Wapping Hydraulic Power Station, West Ham Pumping Station, Citigen power station and the Southwark Integrated Waste Management Facility. London icons and hidden spaces Go inside the Lloyd’s Building as it celebrates its 40th birthday, or look out for opportunities to visit 10 Downing Street, BT Tower and BBC Broadcasting House. At Leadenhall Market, you can even head underground to discover the remains of London’s Roman Basilica and Forum. Culture behind the scenes Discover the Zaha Hadid Foundation archive, explore rehearsal rooms and archives at the National Theatre Studio, step inside legendary recording studios at Strongroom, or uncover the extraordinary history of The Print House in Dalston. Homes and greener ways of living See how Londoners and architects are rethinking the home through projects including the deep retrofit of St George Villa and low-energy Green Lodge, alongside the festival’s wider Homes with Stories to Tell collection. Pick a neighbourhood and explore You don’t have to race across London ticking off individual buildings. This year’s curated festival neighbourhoods include Bankside, Fitzrovia and Piccadilly & Jermyn Street, alongside clusters across a growing number of London boroughs, making it easier to spend a day exploring one part of the city. Find your own Open House These are just a handful of the places that caught our attention. Hundreds of events are already listed and more are being added, so explore the full programme and find the parts of London that make you curious. London Open House Festival 12 to 20 September 2026 General bookings open Midday, 19 August 2026
Not the same tradition as the lineage above — a genuinely different thread to pull, if you want one.