An aerial shot of Trinity Buoy Wharf and Container City surrounded by the Thames with high rises in the background, Poplar, east London

Buoy what a view © Open House

Open House London: Our Tower Hamlets highlights for 2025

5 September 2025 Billy Roberts

Open House Festival is an opportunity to discover architectural and housing gems in Tower Hamlets that are normally hidden from view, from residential grand designs to social housing and ancient churches.

Around eight million people have attended the festival since its 1992 launch, making it the world’s largest celebration of buildings and neighbourhoods. The festival runs from Saturday 13 to Sunday 21 September, and Open House has selected 40 locations in Tower Hamlets this year.

These open houses offer the chance to learn about Tower Hamlets’ history, get involved in the local art scene, get stuck into glorious architecture, or enjoy a moment of peace in a beautiful building.

Whether you’re curious, passionate, or looking for an interesting day out, here are our top picks for this year.

English National Ballet

BEST FOR: ENJOYING DANCE IN A STUNNING SPACE

Founded in 1950 as London Festival Ballet, English National Ballet moved to East London in 2019. Its new home, Mulryan House, was named London Building of the Year in 2021 by the Royal Institute of British Architects. You can pop in at any time to learn about the company’s history. However, for the festival, the group are holding sessions where you can see the dancers practice, perform, speak, and even take part in the artists’ jam session. It’s open for one day only on Saturday, 20 September.

41 Hopewell Square, London E14 0SY

Huguenots’ heritage in Spitalfields

BEST FOR: HISTORY BUFFS WHO LIKE A WALK

The spire of Christs Church, designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor, Spitalfields, east London. — Find the French in London © Open House

In the 17th century, as French Huguenots fled religious persecution, a group of refugees settled in Spitalfields. This walking tour traces the immigrant groups’ foundations all the way to the present day. Head over to hunt for clues about how the Huguenots lived, worked, worshipped, and why, apparently, they kept canaries. Catch it from 10:00-11:45 on Sunday, 14th September.

86 Brick Lane, E1 6RL

Sketching the East End: an Illustrator’s Guide to Poplar

BEST FOR: FAMILY DAYS OUT

A man with an ipad describing a sunny scene on the docks to a group of interested onlookers, east London — Lucky draw © Open House

If you like the idea of mixing exploring with creativity, try community artist Matt Ponting’s sketching tour of the East End. You and the family can try your hand at (re)drawing community murals, copying a hidden Banksy, and capturing Aberfeldy Street, considered the most colourful street in the UK. The tour runs from 14:00–16:00 on Thursday, 18th September, and we can confirm that no drawing experience is required and all materials are provided.

Aberfeldy Neighbourhood Centre, Aberfeldy St, E14 0XA

Trinity Buoy Wharf/Container City

BEST FOR: LONDON’S ONLY LIGHTHOUSE

In 1864, civic engineer James Douglass built his Experimental Lighthouse at Docklands, alongside his Chain and Buoy Store. The lighthouse still stands, as does the workshop of the father of electromagnetism, Michael Faraday. No longer a maritime hub, the area is home to Container City, a collection of workspaces and art studios built entirely from ex-shipping containers. Also, don’t miss the SS Robin, internationally recognised as the only complete Victorian steam ship in existence. You can book tours, drop-ins and art viewings on the weekends of the 13th and 20th September.

64 Orchard Place, E14 0JW

Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park

BEST FOR: HERITAGE AND NATURE

Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park is a quiet pocket of East London. It has 31 acres of mature broadleaved woodland and meadow, perfect for escaping the noise of city life. Burials ceased in 1966, and the park now serves as an educational resource to 7000+ school children every year who use the space as an outdoor classroom. It is open year-round, but on Saturday, 20 September, you can join a guided heritage tour of the park.

Southern Grove, Mile End, E3 4PX

Four Corners

BEST FOR: ART AND CREATIVES

Four Corners Film Workshop opened in 2007 to create a unique facility that supports artists, photographers, and filmmakers in East London. Inheriting a dilapidated building, architects came up with a design to match their vision, creating a central courtyard ‘hub’ allowing light and air to filter through the building. The space is hosting an exhibition of photographs from Morpeth Secondary School students. It’s free of charge and well worth a visit to get a unique insight into the minds and lives of Tower Hamlets’ teenagers. Four Corners is open for guided tours and the exhibition on one day only: 20 September.

121 Roman Road, E2 0QN

Royal Foundation of St Katharine

BEST FOR: PEACE AND QUIET

The quad at St Katharine's Precinct on a sunny winter's day, Limehouse, east London. — Get some green © Open House

Founded by Queen Matilda in 1147 and with HM Queen Elizabeth II as its previous patron, The Royal Foundation of St Katharine has served as a centre for worship, hospitality and service over many centuries. The retreat centre, with its cloistered gardens and quiet chapel, is an oasis in the centre of London. You can book walking tours for multiple slots on Sunday, 14 September.

2 Butcher Row, E14 8DS

Brady Arts and Community Centre

BEST FOR: ARTISTIC FAMILIES

Then and now image of the staircase at Brady Arts Centre, Whitechapel, east London. — Fond memories © Open House

The centre began its life in 1935 as the Brady Jewish Girls Club. In 1960, they were joined by the Boys’ Club. The building was designed by Ernest Joseph, an architect and youth worker. The centre now functions as a multi-purpose arts centre, with galleries, gardens, and a theatre. You can drop in for a building tour, view some of the tenant groups’ work or take part in the free family arts activities run by A Team Arts Education.

192-196 Hanbury Street, E1 5HU

Royal Pharmaceutical Society Museum

BEST FOR: STRANGE HISTORY

A selection of historical pharmaceutical equipment including an old, thick book, a plant drawing, and many mixing bowls and containers, Royal Pharmaceutical Society Museum, — For your health © Open House

The museum was created in 1842, intended as a reference collection for the students of the newly formed School of Pharmacy. It became a historical collection in 1937 and, in 2015, moved to its current headquarters. The museum collections cover all aspects of British pharmacy history, from the 1400s up to the present day. Drop in on Saturday, 20 September, for a free guided tour and access to the rare book collection. Head over to find out how medicine has changed in the last 600 years, and what crocodiles have to do with pharmacy.

66 East Smithfield, E1W 1AW

Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB)

BEST FOR: A RARE INSIGHT INTO A STUNNING BUILDING

Usually closed to the public, on Saturday 20 September, the headquarters of SPAB is opening its doors for guided tours. Thirty-seven Spital Square is the last surviving Georgian house on a street once lined with such buildings and has been occupied by Huguenot silk merchants, Jewish purse makers, an 18th-century surgeon, and a 20th-century umbrella maker. The tour of this labyrinthine five-storey building promises to reveal some of the architectural clues to its past – from the original Georgian features to hints of the medieval origins of the site.

37 Spital Square, E1 6DY

If you liked this, read Rare Victorian steamship SS Robin finally returns home to Blackwall

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