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Event Details
Welcome to the Open House Festival 2026 in London
From September 12 to 20, 2026, the Open House Festival returns to London for its 35th edition. Run by the charity Open City, it stands as the world's largest architecture festival, offering free public access to more than 800 buildings across all 33 London boroughs, from private homes to landmark structures.
Highlights and Attractions at the Open House Festival in London
- Free access to over 800 buildings that are usually closed to the public
- Guided and self guided tours through homes, offices, churches and infrastructure sites
- Special programming such as the 40th anniversary celebrations of Richard Rogers' Lloyd's Building
- First time access to the Zaha Hadid Foundation archive of drawings and models
- Themed walking tours through historic and contemporary neighbourhoods
- Talks, workshops and exhibitions exploring urban planning and design
- Participation from all 33 London boroughs, from the City to the outer suburbs
Find Accommodation in London
Compare the best hotel prices for this event and secure your accommodation in time.
Free cancellation on most hotels
Program and Schedule: What to Expect in London
The festival now spans nine days across two full weekends rather than the single weekend it once ran on. Many buildings offer time slots spread across the whole festival period, making it easier to plan visits around a busy schedule. The full 2026 programme was published on July 15 and lists opening times site by site, since these vary widely from one building to the next.
Tickets and Admission for the Open House Festival London
Entry to the Open House Festival is free of charge across the board. For particularly popular buildings and guided tours, free advance booking is required due to limited capacity. Bookings for ticketed activities opened on August 19 at midday through the official programme website. A free account is needed in order to book.
Visitor Tips: Travel and Accommodation in London
- Since the programme spans the whole city, planning by neighbourhood rather than by single building tends to work better
- Popular sites such as striking skyscrapers or government buildings often sell out within hours, so early booking is worthwhile
- The London Underground and bus network remain the most practical way to move between widely spread locations
- September weather in London can be changeable, so layered clothing is a good idea
- Accommodation should be booked well ahead given the high demand during the festival week
Note: The information on this page was researched at the time of writing and may have changed since then (e.g. date, venue, or program). Visit the organizer's official website →
The photo used is illustrative and does not necessarily depict the actual event.
