Open City is best known as the brains behind the annual Open House weekend. During the rest of the year, the charity is busy organising architectural tours and talks to enthuse Londoners about the built environment of their city.
One particularly memorable way to explore the ever-changing skyline is by boat. Open City is arranging such tours on 16 May and 7 June and 25 June. This is no tourist sightseeing trip, but an educational and entertaining look at the buildings of the Thames.
The sunset tours depart from Festival Pier. The boat first cruises up to Battersea, where the famous power station stands poised on the cusp of redevelopment. Norman Foster's studios are also nearby. The tour then heads down river as far as Canary Wharf, exploring the landmarks on either bank, before returning to Festival Pier. Architect Benedict O’Looney provides expert commentary on the design and engineering behind some of London’s most famous landmarks.
Architecture on the Thames sunset tours last two and a half hours, 16 May, 7 June, 25 June, £35.50.
