Join Open House London’s summer evening Architecture on the Thames central boat tour on Tuesday 18 June with special guest speaker Sebastien Ricard, director leading WilkinsonEyre’s refurbishment of London’s iconic Battersea Power Station

This summer evening tour along the River Thames surveys the landmark architecture of central London’s embankments and the skyline beyond with a special focus on Battersea Power Station.

For this tour our regular tour guide Benedict O'Looney, famed for his thoughtful commentary, is joined by Sebastien Ricard, director at WilkinsonEyre and director leading WilkinsonEyre’s refurbishment of London’s iconic Grade II* listed Power Station.

Sebastien will speak for around 20 minutes, giving a behind-the-scenes account of designing this mixed-use development that will form the centrepiece of a revitalized neighbourhood, whilst retaining the Power Station’s sense of scale and visual drama.

Departing from Crown Pier, the tour first ventures upriver to Nine Elms, taking in Battersea Power Station, the new American Embassy and the studio of world-famous ‘starchitect’ Norman Foster, designer of the Gherkin and the Millennium Bridge. Then heading downriver, our guide will explore the design and history of Michael Hopkins' imposing Portcullis House, the Neo-classical Somerset House and Renzo Piano's Shard, London’s super-contemporary skyscraper, among many others.

This unique riverside tour offers a fresh perspective on London’s emerging and established skyline is led by our specialist guide Benedict O'Looney. Benedict's in-depth knowledge - he is a both a practicing architect and a teacher at the prestigious Architectural Association - guarantees deep insight and thoughtful commentary.

GROUP DISCOUNT CODE: Enter GROUP at the checkout on purchases of 3 or more tickets to receive a 15% discount. Pre-order Pimm's and bagels also available through the shop page.

Departing and returning to Crown Pier, EC4N. Duration 2.45hrs. Regretfully no children under 7. Booked for capacity of the inside covered deck in case of rain.

Sebastien Ricard © WilkinsonEyre

Tuesday 18 June 6.30pm £35.50

Tuesday 18 June 6.30pm - with pre-order Pimm's £40.50

The Real Lea Valley from Industry to Art - Saturday 27 July 11am

While the Olympic Park in east London has finally introduced many Londoners, perhaps for the first time, to this part of town, beyond the Olympic Park lies a different and still unknown world, a mysterious collection of waterways, natural open spaces, and important relics of London's industrial era which London's subsequent growth and development has barely touched. Its rich industrial history played a singular part in the evolution of the metropolis; more recently it has been discovered by artists whose studios, galleries and workshops pepper the riverside. This walk provides an opportunity to get to know the area before it too is submerged by new building, as 'Central London moves east'.

Your guide has worked on the planning and development of the area for over twenty years, most recently as Olympic planning and regeneration advisor for the Department for Communities and Local Government. He is now visiting professor at the University of East London.

Meet: Carmelite Cafe at the Nunnery Gallery 181 Bow Rd, London E3 2SJ. Walk ends a short distance from East India Dock DLR, and Canning Town Underground station. Cost £25.50. Tour duration 2-2.5hrs.

Saturday 27 July 11am

Photography Tour - Capturing Battersea - Saturday 15 June/13 July 10am

Explore Nine Elms & Battersea through the lens with this photography tour looking at how to effectively photograph the transforming landscape of Battersea and the surrounding area, one of Europe's largest regeneration projects.

This tour is an introductory tour led by an acclaimed architectural photographer and member of the architectural photography agency VIEW Pictures and you will discover different ways of observing and photographing the cityscape.

The tour will cover optimum time of day to photograph. By the end of this tour you should be able to identify differing architectural styles and different approaches to architectural photography.

Meet: Outside Pret A Manger, opposite Vauxhall tube Station, 21 St George Wharf, SW8 2JW. Duration 2-2.5hrs. Cameras not provided.

Saturday 15 June 10am

Saturday 13 July 10am

Thank you to Luke Tozer of Pitman Tozer Architects for inspiring tours of Gap House in Bayswater last week

" I'd wanted to see this house for years and it was every bit as good as I hoped - an amazing building, really well and clearly explained by the architect whose home it was. Another excellent and worthwhile tour - thank you! " (Gap House tour attendee)
Find out more about Pitman Tozer Architects

You can also catch Pitman Tozer Architects at 'Public Housing: a London Renaissance' exhibition at NLA until 18 July

Three Pitman Tozer projects are included in the FREE exhibition at NLA - Plaistow Hub, a housing scheme for Red Door Ventures in Newham, Gascoigne East Estate Regeneration for BeFirst in Barking & Dagenham and schemes for Brick by Brick in Croydon.

This exhibition looks at how for the first time in decades, new homes are being built by London boroughs – with improved capabilities, partnerships, funding avenues and delivery mechanisms – seeking to respond to the housing crisis. Yet, this next generation of projects must successfully rehabilitate perceptions of public housing, and work more closely with communities and residents.

NLA, The Building Centre, 26 Store Street WC1E 7BT Find out more

Open House London Guide 2019

Pre-order the Open House Guide now for the pre-order price of £8.50

The guide is an indispensable companion to Open House London weekend, with details of over 800 buildings, places, talks and walks that will be opening their doors.

*Please note guides will be dispatched mid-August 2019

Pre-order 2019 Guide