All buildings tell stories. Stories about the values and aspirations of the societies which created them are etched into the facades of our streets. Yet some stories are harder to read than others. Hidden beneath the surface of many buildings in London are incredible and sometimes bitter stories of Britain's colonial history. For Open House 2020, we're embarking on a long term project to tease out and reveal the hidden colonial histories of the architecture we celebrate in the festival.

• 
  A Splendid thing (online only)

  Henry Flitcroft, 1730

  Westminster

  Sat 19 & Sun 20 & Mon 21 & Tue 22 & Wed 23 & Thu 24 & Fri 25 & Sat 26 & Sun 27
• 
  (online only) Colonial histories: City of London – a virtual tour with a London Blue Badge Tourist Guide

  2020

  Tower Hamlets

  Sun 20
• 
  (online only) Colonial histories: Limehouse and Canary Wharf – a virtual tour with a London Blue Badge Tourist Guide

  2020

  Tower Hamlets

  Sun 20
• 
  RIBA (online only)

  Grey Wornum, 1932

  Westminster

  Thu 24
• 
  Self-guided Black Evidence Walk

  Hackney

  Sat 19 & Sun 20
• 
  Slavery and the City

  City of London

  Sat 19 & Sun 20
• 
  The lost canals and hidden industry of SE London

  John Rennie, 1807

  Southwark

  Sun 27