Explore London's architectural gems

You must have been asleep if you've missed the upcoming Open House London weekend. Now in its 17th year, the weekend is a 'celebration of design excellence', opening more than 700 buildings of all sizes and shapes around the capital this Saturday and Sunday for free.


Some of the not-normally-open-to-the-public gems which caught your author's eye include 23 Brook Street, Jimi Hendrix's former pad, HM Treasury, Channel 4, the Argentine Ambassador's Residence, BBC Bush House, the Houses of Parliament, City Hall and the Reform Club, but there are hundreds on offer.

Your author has plans this weekend, and a bit of history with London Open House, so as it stands he'll probably just try and see what he can, though he understands that queues and early bookings for some of the best buildings can be an issue.

For more information, and a full list of the buildings open, visit http://www.londonopenhouse.org/public/london/find/

_{^Picture of the stairs at City Hall by James Cridland^}