Open House London

After a quick google, it seems that Open House London is architecture oriented. Is that your interest?. Entrance to most London museums is always free, but they do not seem to be on the Open House programme at any rate.

The sites that participate in Open House will be busy (some more than others) but it has little impact on London itself. It's just another London event.

Whether you want to embrace or avoid is up to you; if you're not interested you'd never know it was on.

Open House isn't about attractions that usually charge admission being free - many museums and historic sites in the UK are free anyway. It's about buildings or parts of buildings that usually aren't open to the public at all being opened up. There isn't usually much crowding as the places that are likely to be popular almost always require prior booking.

Open House is a fun and busy event. You can go into buildings that are not usually open to the public, as well as go into some places that have removed the admission charge for the weekend.

I've been going for years and have also been a volunteer. I did the volunteer thing as the queues to go into the most popular places can be hours long and the volunteer badge allows me priority entry.

If there's a specific place you want to go that normally charges admission but has removed it for the weekend (Handel House, Banqueting House, Apsley House as examples,) you're far better off going on a normal day and stumping up the money. You'll be able to enjoy your visit without the crowds and get a hold of audio guides as they're not offered on free days.

If you're prepared to wait in queues potentially up to two or even three hours long (I STILL haven't seen St Mary Axe!), you can see some brilliant places. The Billingsgate Roman Bath House, Lloyds, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Two Temple Place have been some of my favs. There are some places you can apply ahead of time to prebook - I did the Triforium Tour at St Pauls, 55 Broadway (London Underground HQ,) and the Mansion House that way.

However, if the gist of your question is will OH affect the general tourist sites...not really. If you are passing a building and there's a light green Open House sign and a queue of people outside carrying green booklets, ask them what it's about and maybe you'll stumble on a treasure.

many of the same thoughts as mincepie.

Neither have I managed St Mary Axe (The Gherkin) despite 3 years of incredibly long queues. Maybe never.

I agree about going down into Lloyds, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is one of my favs. Haven't managed the Triforium either.

Going into bunkers in the woods at Biggin Hill in Surrey was special, especially as a Spitfire was parked on the apron and we were taken right up to touching distance, followed up with a fly-past.

An ancient barn (which would be knocked down if the stupid 3rd runway goes ahead) near Heathrow was special, as were the Shire Horses resident there for the day.

I enjoyed going down into a ghost Underground station at Strand.

Westminster Hall and the Henry VIII tennis court wall are unique.

Swiss Cottage has Freud's House, available year round but special on Open House.

Our overall favourite is Apothecaries Hall.