I am planning a short trip to London in September. I have always dreamed of attending the London Open House Weekend (Sept. 19-20). Has anyone done this? Can anyone recommend any of the houses (government buildings or private establishments)? I have an old catalog and plan to order the new one so I can formulate a strategy before I go.

Thanks,
Laura

Well, most of us just choose a couple of things that interest us.

Since, almost by definition, the stuff most people think is truly outstanding is accessible year-round anyway, there's really no point in recommending any of the Open House specials without knowing far more about you than makes sense on a board like this.

For many, the Durbar Court at the Foreign Office might be exceptional: for others, it might be a flatulent and overwrought bit of Edwardian showing off. Just read the book (Open House rarely changes much from year to year) and see what floats your boat.

Note though that many feeatured sites are accessible all the time anyway: Open House often just features a talk, or a set of displays, you can't get the rest of the year. The Open House book (or website, because usually everything's online by August) is a great checklist to interesting sites that crappy guidebooks (like the one that hosts this forum) don't even begin to talk about.

Thank you flanneruk for your response. I studied English history in college and have taken some courses in the last few years so any building relating to history will interest me. I will study the catalog and try to make some good picks. I just thought it would be helpful to have some personal recommendations because there are so many choices.

I've always wanted to visit London during that weekend too. Thanks for posting the dates for this year.

Open House really has very little to do with history.

It's about architecture - and mostly institutional architecture. Which means it's almost entirely about buildings put up in the past hundred or two years, and about what the company or public institution in that building does with it these days rather than the normal guided tour of a historical property.

If you've got a specific set of interests (like the tiny handful of pre-17th century buildings), you'll find the website (up on Aug 9) usually allows specialised searches better than the book does. Remember, too, that many of the buildings featured are several miles from each other, and not always that public transport-friendly. Given there's only about 18 hours total opening time, you do need to narrow your objectives down a lot.

So much depends on your own interests that it's impossible to advise. There are usually a number of "star" openings that need booking, and book up early, so keep an eye on the website.
These are my choices in the last two years:

http://autolycus-london.blogspot.com...ud-capped.html

http://autolycus-london.blogspot.com...-for-your.html

I've been on a few and I'm a guide on one (Greenwich Magistrates Court - I'm dead glamorous me).

Most people don't really undertsand that these aren't intended as tourist events but as showcases of architecture. So most of the buildings are architecturally important but deadly dull (art deco houses, Goldfinger's monstrosities and the like).

Get the catalogue and book ahead. The best one I've been on (for my taste) was the Government's Art Collection in an old nuclear bunker near Tottenham Ct Rd. You need to book very far ahead for that one - cos they have to vet you a bit.

Thank you all for your responses. I guess that I didn't explain myself well. I do understand what the event is all about. I love architecture. I go on architecture walks and I study architecture guides for the cities I visit. I thought this event would be a good way to combine my interests in architecture and history. I appreciate all who took the time not just to lecture me but to actually give a recommendation. Thanks for the insight and the help.

Then you should love it. It just that on several of the events I've been on or invloved with there's always been a bunch of disappointed people who thought they were getting a guided tour, where as it's full of people in specs banging on about front elevations and mullions.

Laura, you might also be interested in New London Architecture at the Building Centre on Store St, Bloomsbury:

http://www.newlondonarchitecture.org/exhibitions.php