Friday 16 September 2011

Open House preview

This weekend is London Open House, and in an attempt to make the pace a little more measured I've booked two boat trips this year. However, there will still be plenty of time on foot and here are some SE8 highlights.

First, two guided walks. I'll be joining the very-local Deptford town centre with BDP. Meet 10am at the eastern entrance of Margaret McMillan Park, Watson Street for a ninety-minute tour of Deptford's recent regeneration projects including the market square in Douglas Way and the park itself.

You can also walk Pepys Park with BDP, meeting 12 noon at the base of Aragon Tower. (If you do, Deptford Dame would love to hear the explanation for the wonky lights!)

The Stephen Lawrence Centre, Brookmill Road is open 10am to 3pm on Saturday; there are first-come first-served tours at 11am and 1pm. While the Laban Centre - or, to give its full title, the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance - is also open for guided tours, these need to be pre-booked by email.

There are also some Deptford homes to visit. 2 Ashmead Mews, a former stable building converted into an architect's home and studio, offers tours every hour from 11am to 5pm on Saturday. They begin with a talk on 'Living Cities, Changing Rooms'. (Access between 40 and 42 Ashmead Road).

A short walk away is Connearn Studio, a small artists' studio in a residential garden at 4 Friendly Street. There are regular tours between 10-5 Saturday and 1-5 Sunday.

To search over 700 properties throughout Greater London, click here; for a look at some of my previous visits, click here; and for a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes with a volunteer, click here.

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