Do you love peeking behind closed doors? Then the Open House London Festival 2026 is for you. Set aside some time between 12-20 September 2026. There is a lot to choose from and planning is half the fun. Read on for my pick of the best buildings to visit at Open House London 2026, including places that need booking and those you can simply turn up and visit.
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What is Open House London?
London Open House Festival is an annual festival when buildings across the capital open their doors to the public for free. It is one of the biggest architectural festivals in the world. Some of these buildings are open normally but you’ll get in free or you’ll get to see parts of the building that are normally out of bounds. Open House London runs from 12-20 September 2026.
How does Open House work?
Entry to every building is free, but some require advance booking while others operate on a first come, first served basis. Take a look at the Open House London website for inspiration and full details. As well as exploring the interiors of buildings, you can join guided and self guided walks and cycle routes to admire London’s architecture from the outside. One of my favourite ways to work out where to visit is to choose an area and explore several Open House buildings nearby.
Best London Open House Buildings that need booking
Every year a few places need booking. Here are my highlights. Booking opens on 19 August 2026, you need to create an account with Open House in order to be able to book.
BT Tower
When I first came to London I worked near the BT Tower and it served as my compass, head toward the tower and I would be somewhere near my office. Open House has tours of the 34th floor with views across London this year.
Senate House
Just a short hop away from the BT Tower is Senate House, an Art Deco tower in the centre of Bloomsbury. George Orwell used Senate House as the model for the Ministry of Truth in Nineteen Eighty Four. You can book tours of the glorious Art Deco interior.
Lloyd’s Building
Over in the City you can book tours of Richard Rogers’ Lloyds Building. It is every bit as awe inspiring inside, as out.
Reform Club
Have you ever fancied seeing inside one of the Pall Mall clubs? The Reform Club is throwing open its doors for guided tours.
Best London Open House 2026 buildings to visit without booking
Not everywhere needs pre-booking, but do be prepared for queues. My favourite tactic is to choose an area with several open houses and be prepared to flit to whichever has the shortest queue.
Royal Society
The Royal Society is housed in a row of John Nash houses on Carlton House Terrace overlooking the Mall and is home to the cream of Britain’s scientific community.
Burlington House
I think that Burlington House might offer the most places open during Open House 2026 in a remarkably small area. Within the Burlington House courtyard five buildings are open and all are fascinating. You can visit the Linnean Society, the Geological Society, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Royal Astronomical Society and the Society of Antiquaries. Many people come to Burlington House to visit the Royal Academy of Arts, which is not open for Open House, but does have a cafe that is open to all.
Argentine Ambassador’s Residence
If you’ve ever wanted to see if an Ambassador’s house really is awash with piles of Ferrero Rocher then visiting the Argentine Ambassador’s Residence on Belgrave Square is for you.
Fitzrovia Chapel
The Fitzrovia Chapel is a tiny jewel box of building. It looks like nothing from the outside but inside it glows with gold mosaics. Visit and gawp. Expect long queues.
Middle Temple
See where the first ever performance of Twelfth Night took place, with Queen Elizabeth I and Shakespeare in attendance. We queued for a looooong time when we visited for Open House but were inspired to book for lunch after our visit.
Romanian Cultural Institute
If you’ve ever wanted to see what one of the grand mansions in Belgrave Square looks like inside then head for the Romanian Cultural Institute. They always have a fascinating display of Romanian art and craft as well.
Two Temple Place
William Waldorf Astor was the world’s richest man when he built Two Temple Place as his London base. You can take a look to see what he chose to spend his millions on a free drop in tour.
How to Plan Your London Open House 2026 Weekend
- Take a look at the Open House website and see what is open, I start with the map
- Create your Open House account before you start booking
- Group buildings geographically
- Allow time for queues
- Don’t try to cram too much in
- Check individual opening times and have a couple of alternatives in case somewhere is busy
Have you explored London Open House? Where did you go? And where will you go this year?
