London


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-old-royal-naval-college-greenwich">1. <a href="https://programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/1310" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich</a></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_1310_old-royal-naval-college-ornc-and-jigsaw-design-publishing-2010-60_f1b0fceb304ea26c4dbae3107f6fd0c8-1024x683.jpg" alt="Old Royal Naval College Greenwich" class="wp-image-3952" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_1310_old-royal-naval-college-ornc-and-jigsaw-design-publishing-2010-60_f1b0fceb304ea26c4dbae3107f6fd0c8-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_1310_old-royal-naval-college-ornc-and-jigsaw-design-publishing-2010-60_f1b0fceb304ea26c4dbae3107f6fd0c8-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_1310_old-royal-naval-college-ornc-and-jigsaw-design-publishing-2010-60_f1b0fceb304ea26c4dbae3107f6fd0c8-768x513.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_1310_old-royal-naval-college-ornc-and-jigsaw-design-publishing-2010-60_f1b0fceb304ea26c4dbae3107f6fd0c8.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Designed in 1696 as the Royal Hospital for Seamen on the grounds of Tudor Greenwich Palace, this grand building later morphed into the Royal Naval College and now serves as one of London&#8217;s heritage hotspots within the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site. Don’t miss the VIP tour of Admiral’s House, designed by John Webb for Charles II, where you can explore Admiral Nelson&#8217;s treasures in the Morning Room. And of course, a visit to the Painted Hall is a must – think of it as the UK’s Sistine Chapel, minus the crowds and the neck strain.</p>



<p><strong>Date</strong>: Sat 14 &amp; Sun 15 Sept  |  <strong>Time</strong>: 10am – 4:30pm</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-walking-tour-of-unity-place-south-kilburn-estate">2. <a href="https://programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/10231" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Walking Tour of Unity Place, South Kilburn Estate</a></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_10231_02-unity-place_landscape-paul-riddle_2dcc7cd46732a313207a7c0165940a67-1024x683.jpg" alt="Unity Place South Kilburn Estate" class="wp-image-3951" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_10231_02-unity-place_landscape-paul-riddle_2dcc7cd46732a313207a7c0165940a67-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_10231_02-unity-place_landscape-paul-riddle_2dcc7cd46732a313207a7c0165940a67-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_10231_02-unity-place_landscape-paul-riddle_2dcc7cd46732a313207a7c0165940a67-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_10231_02-unity-place_landscape-paul-riddle_2dcc7cd46732a313207a7c0165940a67.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Unity Place on South Kilburn Estate is a poster child for urban regeneration. Part of Brent Council’s ambitious 20-year South Kilburn Regeneration Masterplan, this 240-dwelling masterpiece was crafted by the dream team of architects Feilden Clegg Bradley, Alison Brooks Architects, and Gort Scott. They’ve transformed a derelict parking podium into a vibrant community space with mansion blocks, communal gardens, and a new community hub. The clever design ensures that every flat enjoys ample light and air. It’s no surprise this project has won awards like the Brent Design Awards’ Best Residential Scheme in 2023 and the RIBA London Award in 2024.</p>



<p><strong>Date</strong>: Sat 14 Sept  |  <strong>Time</strong>: 10am – 12pm</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-the-london-fire-brigade-memorial-hall">3. <a href="https://programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/11781">The London Fire Brigade Memorial Hall</a></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_11781_main-image_7b78a7d102bc779b70ce0533a3d1b6de-1024x683.jpg" alt="London Fire Brigade Memorial Hall" class="wp-image-3950" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_11781_main-image_7b78a7d102bc779b70ce0533a3d1b6de-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_11781_main-image_7b78a7d102bc779b70ce0533a3d1b6de-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_11781_main-image_7b78a7d102bc779b70ce0533a3d1b6de-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_11781_main-image_7b78a7d102bc779b70ce0533a3d1b6de.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Tucked away at 8 Albert Embankment, the London Fire Brigade’s Memorial Hall is a historical treasure brimming with stories. This Grade II listed building, inaugurated by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937, withstood the Blitz and served as the command hub for London’s firefighters during WWII. The Memorial Hall, adorned with sculptural reliefs by Gilbert Bayes, honours the bravery of firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice for the city. During Open House, you’ll get a peek into this evocative space, though access to the rest of the building remains off-limits.</p>



<p><strong>Date</strong>: Sat 21 Sept  |  <strong>Time</strong>: 11am – 4pm</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-the-rolling-bridge">4. <a href="https://programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/11858" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Rolling Bridge</a></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="673" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/rollingbridge-1024x673.jpg" alt="Rolling Bridge Cody Dock" class="wp-image-3953" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/rollingbridge-1024x673.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/rollingbridge-300x197.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/rollingbridge-768x505.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/rollingbridge.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Yes, you read that right—the Cody Dock bridge literally rolls up like a Swiss roll! Completed in 2022, this engineering marvel by Tom Randall-Page is the first of its kind, offering public access across the mouth of a working dock in East London. Not just functional, this bridge is a piece of kinetic art, rolling into a perfect circle when not in use. Already a winner of the 2023 Bridge Award and a Civic Trust Award in 2024, it’s a shining example of contemporary architecture.</p>



<p><strong>Date</strong>: Sat 21 Sept  |  <strong>Time</strong>: 12pm – 12:15pm</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-old-admiralty-building-oab">5. <a href="https://programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/12525" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Old Admiralty Building (OAB)</a></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_12525_oldadmiraltybuilding2_af3b40d8bcfae6bb08eebbd96c5d9981-1024x683.jpg" alt="Old Admiralty Building" class="wp-image-3954" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_12525_oldadmiraltybuilding2_af3b40d8bcfae6bb08eebbd96c5d9981-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_12525_oldadmiraltybuilding2_af3b40d8bcfae6bb08eebbd96c5d9981-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_12525_oldadmiraltybuilding2_af3b40d8bcfae6bb08eebbd96c5d9981-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_12525_oldadmiraltybuilding2_af3b40d8bcfae6bb08eebbd96c5d9981.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Located in the heart of Whitehall on Horse Guards Parade, Westminster’s grand Old Admiralty Building has been the backdrop to many of the UK’s significant ceremonial events – from Trooping the Colour to the Olympic beach volleyball in 2012. During the Open House festival, you’ll get a rare chance to walk the same corridors once frequented by Winston Churchill and James Bond creator Ian Fleming. This historic building was also the setting for some of the 20th century’s most secretive moments, including the inception of Operation Mincemeat – a WWII deception strategy that helped change the course of the war.</p>



<p><strong>Date</strong>: Sat 21 Sept  |  <strong>Time</strong>: 10am – 4:45pm</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-6-barts-pathology-museum">6. <a href="https://programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/10272" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Barts Pathology Museum</a></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="682" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_10272_path-museum_eafbbfad52af75eff2862e02911ac2dc-1024x682.jpg" alt="Barts Pathology Museum London" class="wp-image-3955" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_10272_path-museum_eafbbfad52af75eff2862e02911ac2dc-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_10272_path-museum_eafbbfad52af75eff2862e02911ac2dc-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_10272_path-museum_eafbbfad52af75eff2862e02911ac2dc-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_10272_path-museum_eafbbfad52af75eff2862e02911ac2dc.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Barts Pathology Museum, nestled within the historic St Bartholomew&#8217;s Hospital, is a Grade II listed marvel with a chilling yet fascinating collection. Established in 1879, this medical museum was designed to educate medical students and still serves this purpose today. Housing over 5,000 anatomical specimens, the museum&#8217;s collection includes everything from historical curiosities like the skull of John Bellingham, the assassin of Prime Minister Spencer Perceval, to sobering examples of diseases such as leprosy and tuberculosis. The museum’s open-plan design, with its stunning spiral staircase and three mezzanine levels, adds an eerie grandeur to this medical time capsule.</p>



<p><strong>Date</strong>: Sat 14 Sept  |  <strong>Time</strong>: 11am – 4pm</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-7-queen-elizabeth-olympic-park">7. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_12668_img_20240622_112827_f3c272438179dca756ece734fa314c5c-1024x683.jpg" alt="Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park" class="wp-image-3958" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_12668_img_20240622_112827_f3c272438179dca756ece734fa314c5c-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_12668_img_20240622_112827_f3c272438179dca756ece734fa314c5c-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_12668_img_20240622_112827_f3c272438179dca756ece734fa314c5c-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_12668_img_20240622_112827_f3c272438179dca756ece734fa314c5c.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Stroll around the captivating waterscapes of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on this walking tour, starting from Stratford International DLR. You will explore how water is ingeniously woven into the park&#8217;s design, from rainwater management to sustainable urban spaces that promote both beauty and functionality. The tour highlights the role of water in creating vibrant, environmentally conscious public areas, showcasing the park as a prime example of innovative landscape architecture. Whether you&#8217;re a design enthusiast or just curious about the park’s hidden features, this walk offers a fresh perspective on how water shapes the way we live and interact with our environment.</p>



<p><strong>Date</strong>: Fri 20 Sept  |  <strong>Time</strong>: 10am – 1pm</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-8-no-1-goodwins-court">8. <a href="https://programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/12592" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">No. 1 Goodwins Court</a></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/112791204_587795518591233_3086273537472689559_n.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3959" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/112791204_587795518591233_3086273537472689559_n.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/112791204_587795518591233_3086273537472689559_n-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/112791204_587795518591233_3086273537472689559_n-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/112791204_587795518591233_3086273537472689559_n-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/112791204_587795518591233_3086273537472689559_n-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Instagram @hello_cities</figcaption></figure>



<p>No. 1 Goodwins Court, built between 1690 – 1720, is celebrating 300 years of history with the completion of a meticulous 10-year restoration. Nestled in Covent Garden&#8217;s Conservation Area, this Grade II Listed gem is one of the rare survivors from Georgian London, offering a glimpse into the living conditions of the working classes of that Goodwins Court is said to have inspired the magical Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter series, making it a must-see for history buffs and Potter fans alike.</p>



<p><strong>Date</strong>: Sat 14 &amp; Sun 15 Sept  |  <strong>Time</strong>: 10am – 5pm</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-9-the-herbarium-at-the-royal-botanic-gardens-kew">9. <a href="https://programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/12733" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Herbarium at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew</a></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="717" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_12733_wing-c-interior_8ae68729d3cd7f595dcce17c43fd7512-1-1024x717.jpeg" alt="Herbarium at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" class="wp-image-3957" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_12733_wing-c-interior_8ae68729d3cd7f595dcce17c43fd7512-1-1024x717.jpeg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_12733_wing-c-interior_8ae68729d3cd7f595dcce17c43fd7512-1-300x210.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_12733_wing-c-interior_8ae68729d3cd7f595dcce17c43fd7512-1-768x538.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/08/building_12733_wing-c-interior_8ae68729d3cd7f595dcce17c43fd7512-1.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>The Herbarium, established in 1800, is a treasure trove of botanical knowledge, housing one of the world’s largest collections of preserved plant specimens. Normally accessible only to visiting researchers, this complex of historic and modern buildings offers a rare glimpse into the meticulous art of herbarium curation and the cutting-edge digitisation efforts underway to preserve this priceless collection. During special tours, visitors can explore the intricate processes behind plant preservation and gain insight into the invaluable role the Herbarium plays in global biodiversity research and conservation.</p>



<p><strong>Date</strong>: Sat 14 Sept  |  <strong>Time</strong>: 10am – 4pm</p>



<p><strong>Date</strong>: Sun 15 Sept  |  <strong>Time</strong>: 11am – 4pm</p>


Secret London: 9 architectural gems open for one week only

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