This weekend was the annual Open House event run around London where hudnreds of historic buildings, typically closed to those who don’t work in them, open to the general public. I believe all of the buildings are free to enter although some require pre-booking, or at least, a lot of lining up. I opted to visit a number of buildings on a walk down to the river considering the weekend offered such wonderful weather, where I ended up at 100 Victoria Embankment, the HQS Wellington, and then the Freemason’s Hall located just near Covent Garden. 100 Victoria Embankment

100 Victoria Embankment
I’d never really noticed this building before, simply walking past it as a building that never opened and, if anything, this surprised me the most. Its outside facade looks almost colloseum like, yet stepping inside to a polished stone floor, the building opens up to a bright, airy and modern officespace. Eight almost totally glass eleavtors whisk you to the eight floor, where I induldged in the free ice tea they gave you, before climbing the stairs to the rooftop courtyard. Here, you can a totally amazing view of the dome surmounting St Paul’s cathedral, small glimpses of London Bridge, and the spectacular London Eye.

HQS Wellington
I spent the longest time on this small boat, moored against the Thames shortly after the second world war since they had Master Mariners giving tours of the entire place, and I think I got one who was the most talkative of the bunch. Our guide impressed me by the sheer passion that he demonstrated, in his rather reserved yet insightful talking, turning what would have been a quick ten or fifteen minute walk around a ship, into one reflecting historical events, and significant relationship to large boating events.

Freemason’s Hall
This tour was probably the most brief of my trips, though inside, probably the most impressive. Large intricate masonic designs surround you in all types of forms, all the way from tiles, carvings, panels. You are offered a self guided tour of the buliding and I have to admit that I didn’t really give it the time that it probably deserved. Perhaps it was because they discouraged photogrpahs from being taken, or slightly weary from seeing the number of buildings that you can see in a single day. They had plenty of advertising and paraphenalia, including an interesting book of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the Freemason’s and what they stand for.

See the rest of the pictures here.