September 8, 2008
London Open House
If you are visiting London – one of the world's most expensive cities - during the next couple of weeks, you have a rare opportunity to see some of the capital's buildings and monuments that are usually off limits to the general public.
The program, called London Open House is actually a charity, the purpose of which is to enhance the public's knowledge of architecture, design and the environment. The charity operates year round, but once a year, they have a couple of days when the public is allowed to visit various buildings – homes, palaces, churches – that are otherwise usually closed to the public. This year's dates are Saturday and Sunday, September 20th and 21st and around 700 buildings will be open, as well as various guided walks and lectures.
On those two days only, you can visit – for free – such intriguing and diverse places as the home of the Argentinean Ambassador, the BBC studios and Benjamin Franklin's home as well as many of London's little known churches, several cemeteries and the first Hindu temple to be built outside India.
This month is also the last chance this year to visit certain rooms in Buckingham Palace which is only open to the public during August and September of each year. If you visit Buckingham Palace, you can see some of the lavishly furnished state rooms, the gardens and the ballroom, home to state banquets. Unfortunately a visit to Buckingham palace isn't free but it's a rare chance to see how the other half lives! (Still free is the ceremony of the changing of the guard at the palace).
Unfortunately, transatlantic airfares seem high at the moment. I am trying to go to the UK for a few days (from Raleigh-Durham) around the beginning of December, (surely this is considered low season..?) but cannot find anything for less than $800. I also checked Kayak and found some slightly cheaper options, but with making several connections each way.
Posted by James Trotta at September 8, 2008 10:39 PM | TrackBack