Open House London 2019

It is often said that our capital is not the most welcoming of cities. If Parisians are lovers, Romans are chummy and Berliners are überhipsters, then Londoners are, well, a bit hostile. Add to this sanitisation, soaring rents and the ruthless greed of property developers, and to outsiders, London can seem a pretty unwelcoming place. (We know, of course, that it's the best city on the world: you just have to know where to look).

But now for the good news: for one weekend in September some of the city's most exclusive doorways and secret spaces are unlocked for you to have a good snoop around.

The Open House London Weekend has become a highlight of the design and architecture calendar. Since 1992, the not-for-profit organisation has given ordinary citizens a chance to explore their city. In 2019 around 800 buildings will fling open their doors to the public, alongside a comprehensive programme of walks, tours and talks. While access to everything is free, some buildings require pre-booking. If you've got children, we recommend checking out the Open House Junior programme, which is specifically catered to budding architecture enthusiasts.

For the third consecutive year, all of London's boroughs are participating in the scheme. But with so much to see, it's worth planning in advance: download the Open House London App (for free) and scour the 2019 building listings online.

For more detailed information on opening times and building listings, check the Open House website and online programme.