Open House London is back and bigger than ever this weekend. The event, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2017, will see more than 800 buildings and places across London open to members of the public for free on 16 and 17 September.
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For the first time ever, all London boroughs will participate, allowing unique access to everything from government buildings to places of worship. Some of the most popular places involved in the event include the BT Tower, the Gherkin and Battersea Power Station, which is currently undergoing a complete restoration and redevelopment.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe Gherkin is one of the iconic landmarks that participates in Open House London
Some highlights for 2017 include the Metropolitan Police's New Scotland Yard headquarters and One Blackfriars, London's newest skyscraper. There are also a number of free walks and tours on the programme, including a walking tour of David Bowie's Beckenham, which visits the main architectural landmarks where the late singer lived, performed and hung out during his four years living in the area. Four Crossrail stations will also be open to visitors, offering the last chance to see them relatively empty before they open to the public in 2018.
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Open House London was launched by Victoria Thornton in 1992, and has become an increasingly popular event over the past 25 years; in 2016 more than 250,000 people made 400,000 visits over the weekend, and that number could rise even higher in 2017 with more iconic buildings taking part.
© Photo: Getty ImagesVisitors can also tour the Metropolitan Police's New Scotland Yard HQ
The concept has since spread internationally, with Open House festivals now held in more than 35 cities around the world, including Stockholm and Zurich, who will host their first Open House events this weekend. See all of the buildings and places involved in Open House London 2017 at openhouselondon.org.uk.
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