joannay

Today I received an email newsletter to which I subscribe and it gave a link to an event website called Open House London which takes place this year on Sept. 17 & 18. I was curious as I'd never heard of it before and here is what it says in part:

"Open House London celebrates all that is best about the capital’s buildings, places and neighbourhoods. Every September, it gives a unique opportunity to get out and under the skin of London’s amazing architecture, with over 700 buildings of all kinds opening their doors to everyone – all for free.

With architects homes, eco and retrofit buildings, tours of major regeneration projects, landscape projects, government buildings, historic landmarks and towers, major infrastructure sites and more all available to explore over one weekend..."

It sounds like a wonderful opportunity for those who will be in London that weekend. The only cost seems to be the cost of the "programme" which you'd need for information to plan with so many possible places to see.

Here's the website: http://www.londonopenhouse.org/index.html

PalenQ

sounds exactly like the European Union's scheme whereby on a similar day in September 'doors are opened' free to places that normally charge or do not even take visitors.

Surprise the Brits are involved in anything EU and really thanks for posting.

KayF

It's a great idea, we just had the Open House in Melbourne (same idea, fewer properties). A warning for anyone thinking of going, be prepared to queue. We've seen the queues in London for some of the Open House properties and we queued for nearly 2 hours in Melbourne. They are very popular and it gets very busy. Maybe get there before something opens if there is a must-see on your list.

Kay

flanneruk

Similar events are held outside London throughout the UK under names that include the words "Open Doors": In England, they're all in the weekend of Sep 8-11: in the other provinces they're at scattered times throughout September.

In some cases, you not only get to see things you usually can't, but get free entrance into places that usually charge. The most interesting places mostly need pre-booking, and have VERY limited numbers (a number near me get booked out within days of the website opening)

For England: www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/
For Scotland: www.doorsopendays.org.uk/opendays/
For Wales: www.opendoorsdays.org.uk
For Northern Ireland: www.doeni.gov.uk/niea/events/events-ehod.htm

The event was originally a French initiative.

It's now loosely coordinated by the Council of Europe. It'd be beyond an ignorant perpetual buffoon like PalQ (who, when he's not justifying affluent, employed white people burning down immigrants' houses goes round inventing outrageous lies about politicians) doesn't realise the Council of Europe (whose membership includes Turkey and Russia) has got nothing to do with the EU.

Josser

Yup.
Said buffoon remains to raise our blood pressure while CW is banned. His input would have been invaluable last week.
Thanks for the links

Morningglory47

Many Ontario cities host this type of event, too. http://www.doorsopenontario.on.ca/