Key Points
- The Open House Festival returns to Croydon from September 12 to 20, offering residents and visitors free access to explore the borough’s architectural heritage, stories, and communities.
- The festival launch coincides with a major new exhibition at the Museum of Croydon titled Shaping Croydon: Architecture and Ambition, which opens on September 12 and explores the evolution of the borough’s skyline and town planning.
- South London artist Vic Lee has been commissioned to produce an 18-metre public mural celebrating the 750th anniversary of Croydon’s historic street market, established by a Royal Charter in 1276.
- Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon, highlighted the festival as a unique opportunity for families and young people to engage with local history and imagine the future of the borough.
- The festival opens with Build / Play / Shape, a two-day family-friendly programme in The Queen’s Gardens featuring Pif Paf Theatre’s Right to Play, architects Matt + Fiona building a cardboard Croydon skyline, and In Situ’s Croydon Space Station.
- The Caravan Gallery will exhibit documentary photography capturing Croydon’s architecture, streetscapes, and community stories as part of its ongoing tour across the UK and internationally.
- Public historian Charo Havermans will lead guided tours of historic pubs, providing insight into the buildings, traditions, and characters shaping Croydon’s pub culture.
- Additional tours and workshops will take place across notable heritage sites, including the Whitgift Almshouses, Stanley Arts, Fairfield Halls, and the Norman Fisher Observatory.
- All events across the festival programme are completely free to attend, with full details and booking information accessible via programme.openhouse.org.uk.
Croydon (Extra London News) August 5, 2025 — Croydon is officially gearing up to celebrate its rich architectural heritage, dynamic community spaces, and long-standing local traditions with an extensive, packed programme of tours, exhibitions, and creative activities. As reported by staff writers at London Now, the highly anticipated Open House Festival is officially returning to the borough from September 12 to 20, offering both residents and visitors a fresh, immersive perspective on the buildings, historical narratives, and diverse communities that define the area.
The annual cultural celebration arrives this year hand-in-hand with a major new exhibition hosted at the Museum of Croydon. Entitled Shaping Croydon: Architecture and Ambition, the exhibition is scheduled to open its doors on September 12, providing an in-depth exploration into the historical evolution of the borough’s skyline alongside the core planning ideas that ultimately shaped the modern town centre. In addition to indoor gallery exhibitions, the festival will introduce a large-scale public artwork into the urban landscape, marking a prominent visual celebration for the local community.
What is the Significance of Vic Lee’s Commissioned Mural?
To commemorate a monumental local milestone, South London artist Vic Lee has been officially commissioned to create a striking 18-metre public mural. As detailed in coverage by London Now, the large-scale artwork celebrates the 750th anniversary of Croydon’s historic street market, a foundational community institution that traces its roots all the way back to a Royal Charter granted in 1276.
Weighing in on the cultural importance of the upcoming events, Croydon’s Executive Mayor Jason Perry shared his perspective with reporters. As reported by London Now, Jason Perry stated that:
“Open House Festival showcases Croydon’s rich heritage and the iconic architecture that makes our borough unique. The 750th anniversary of Croydon’s Street Markets is a wonderful moment to celebrate, and the festival’s events and activities offer families and young people a creative and enjoyable way to explore our history and imagine the future of the borough.”
How Will the Festival Open in The Queen’s Gardens?
The festival will kick off its public engagement with Build / Play / Shape, an energetic, two-day programme packed with family-friendly activities staged right in the heart of The Queen’s Gardens.
According to London Now, the opening weekend lineup features Pif Paf Theatre’s interactive production Right to Play, which acts as a touring adventure playground allowing children to construct and design their own clambering frames, imaginative dens, and specialized mud kitchens for younger toddlers.
Adding to the interactive architectural experience, design architects Matt + Fiona will invite festival visitors of all ages to roll up their sleeves and help construct a massive cardboard replica of the Croydon skyline. Concurrently, In Situ will present their Croydon Space Station, an imaginative installation that reimagines the town centre’s distinct space-age architecture as futuristic spacecraft models.
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What Can Visitors Expect from The Caravan Gallery?
Art enthusiasts and documentary photography lovers will also have the opportunity to experience a brand-new exhibition brought forward by The Caravan Gallery.
Founded back in 2000, this mobile art project has spent 26 years touring extensively across the United Kingdom and internationally, uniquely blending documentary photography with contemporary art practices and grassroots community engagement.
For their residency during the Open House Festival, London Now notes that the gallery will display a curated collection of photographs specifically capturing Croydon’s distinct architecture, changing streetscapes, and intimate community stories.
Which Historic Sites and Tours Are Featured in the Programme?
Beyond contemporary art installations and family play areas, the festival programme delivers a deep dive into local history through specialized guided tours. Public historian Charo Havermans is set to lead dedicated guided tours focusing on Croydon’s historic pubs.
According to reporting from London Now, these tours will provide rare insight into the physical buildings, time-honoured traditions, and colorful historical characters that shaped local pub culture over the generations.
Furthermore, a comprehensive series of additional tours and interactive workshops will take place across several of Croydon’s most celebrated architectural landmarks.
These participating locations include the historic Whitgift Almshouses, the cultural hub Stanley Arts, the iconic entertainment venue Fairfield Halls, and the scientific beacon of the Norman Fisher Observatory. Each distinct site sheds light on a different facet of Croydon’s multi-layered architectural identity and enduring heritage.
Organizers have confirmed that all events featured throughout the week-long festival are entirely free for the public to attend. Members of the public looking to plan their schedules can access the full event programme and secure booking information directly by visiting programme.openhouse.org.uk.
