London Open House Weekend - 21/22 September 2019

[Puddy_Tat]

This year's London Open House weekend is 21 / 22 September - website says '800 buildings, walks, talks and tours'

Guide book can now be pre-ordered, will be issued in August.

Volunteer slots will be open 1 July (doing half a day's stewarding somewhere gets you a free copy of the guide book and also a pass for priority admission to all but the 'tickets by ballot' buildings.)

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Volunteer steward slots (generally half a day) open today. Includes Lambeth Town Hall and Brixton Windmill for the Brixton based urbanites, and the Marx Memorial Library in Clerkenwell for those so inclined.

Stewarding tends to be the basic meet / greet / pointing people in the right direction - you're not expected to be expert on the building / site you're at (although a bit of homework is no bad thing)

I'm currently having a fit of indecision...

 

[blossie33]

Yes, me too.
I have volunteered for the past few years but not sure if I want to do it this year. I do enjoy it but felt really tired at the end of my shift last year.
I volunteered for the London Open Garden Squares last month but that's always more chilled.
I've had the email with the list from them, I'll have a look tomorrow

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Yes, me too.
I have volunteered for the past few years but not sure if I want to do it this year. I do enjoy it but felt really tired at the end of my shift last year.
I volunteered for the London Open Garden Squares last month but that's always more chilled.
I've had the email with the list from them, I'll have a look tomorrow

i don't think i could face being queue marshal at one of the really popular places.

i went for beckenham place park this year

 

[blossie33]

I've actually been outside on my own at two private residencies dealing with queues when it was the first time the owners had opened to the public and had no experience of what to do
At one had to deal with a rather drunk lady from a house a bit further up the road who came to see what was happening and wanted to go in I managed ok but I'm really not good at that sort of thing!

 

[Puddy_Tat]

I've actually been outside on my own at two private residencies dealing with queues when it was the first time the owners had opened to the public and had no experience of what to do
At one had to deal with a rather drunk lady from a house a bit further up the road who came to see what was happening and wanted to go in I managed ok but I'm really not good at that sort of thing!

not sure i'd fancy somewhere like that either. i've tended to do places that have some regular staff / volunteers but need a few extra people to deal with the basics for the weekend. trying to remember what i've done in recent years, think it's been the brunel museum in rotherhithe, the fire brigade museum (now closed courtesy of that twat johnson) in lambeth, manor house library in lewisham, the master shipwright's house in deptford (working with the 'build the lenox' project people as it's not regularly open to the public)

ultimately, each to their own - i'm a transport worker (mainly hidden behind a desk and computer these days) but still get out now and then and run bus services (sometimes rail replacement jobs) so dealing with people doesn't hold many terrors for me...

 

[blossie33]

Right, I've gone for an easier option and chosen somewhere I did a few years ago, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation offices in Hoxton Square
It wasn't too busy and I was there with a staff member. Nice offices and interesting organisation.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

the event guide book has now gone out to volunteers (mine landed yesterday) and listings all goes public on tuesday (20th)

as do the ballots for the buildings where they draw names out of an electronic hat

 

[teuchter]

This year's listings are now live on the website...

Open House London 2019

 

[hash tag]

Being away, this has passed me by. I have now entered the ballot for 3 buildings. One or two of the prebooked
buildings are already fully booked
A quick look only so far; it looks like no Government Art Collection this year? A quick look at the website shows
they are relocating Government Art Collection - Visit Us

 

[hash tag]

i don't think i could face being queue marshal at one of the really popular places.

i went for beckenham place park this year

Marshaling at one of the busier places could possibly be easier since you will have a few other vols (some experienced?) with you.

 

[blossie33]

Being away, this has passed me by. I have now entered the ballot for 3 buildings. One or two of the prebooked
buildings are already fully booked
A quick look only so far; it looks like no Government Art Collection this year? A quick look at the website shows
they are relocating Government Art Collection - Visit Us

That's interesting.
I visited a few years ago, very interesting tour and the guy who took us round had a great sense of humour

 

[hash tag]

The GAC was my favourite find with London Open House.
Was hoping to find one or two closed tube stations open, but this doesn't appear to be the case.
I see there is a midnight tour of the Jubilee Line!

 

[hash tag]

55 Broadway also fully booked. Normal price for rare openings £38.50

 

[blossie33]

I've just had an email from London Open House, they still need volunteers at quite a few places, if anyone is interested in helping out you can get in touch with them on -
Open House: pages#home

 

[hash tag]

Yet again, I applied for several of the ballot buildings and yet again it would appear that I have come away with zilch. Over all the years I have been going to Open House
and applied to go to the ballot buildings I have never once been successful
aybe I shall just go for a walk instead.

 

[blossie33]

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Over all the years I have been going to Open House and applied to go to the ballot buildings I have never once been successful

I don't know what the odds are for the really big name attractions.

Hope you find somewhere worthwhile to visit