The capital’s greatest annual architectural showcase, Open House London, returns for a city-wide celebration of the buildings, places and spaces where you live and work.

For one weekend indulge in this unique opportunity to get out and under the skin of the city’s amazing architecture, with more than 800 buildings opening their doors to everyone – all for free.

Explore this year’s immense programme of walks, open buildings, cycle rides, landscape tours and expert talks, taking in everything from churches, museums, town halls, award-winning contemporary homes to major regeneration areas. Discuss with planners, architects and engineers how they create such successful buildings and cities, while the kids can take part in architectural model-making and quiz trails in Open House Junior.

This year’s theme is ‘Celebrating architecture, people and place’, to discover issues that are relevant to local communities and understand how the built environment is evolving and most importantly showing you how good design can make London a more liveable, vibrant and enjoyable city.

North London residents can visit an array of fascinating buildings including Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley, one of the oldest Grade II-listed cinemas in the country, with its 1910 barrel-vaulted ceiling and Art Deco wall reliefs by Mollo and Egan.

Golders Green Unitarians is another Grade II-listed, small, interwar building with an Arts and Crafts pulpit and a mural by Ivon Hitchens in the tradition of Morris & Co. Hampstead Garden Suburb Artisans Quarter Walk, the most nearly perfect example of the 20th Century garden suburb, has informally laid-out terraces and picturesque Arts and Crafts vernacular cottages.

Middlesex University’s college building has an innovative glass and steel roof which was added to the original 1930s quadrangle, creating one of London's largest covered spaces. It features The Grove building, an £80 million purpose-built arts centre which includes TV studios, workshops and photography studios.

Whilst you and your family are in the area, take a trip to some of the following open buildings: Burgh House, Friends Meeting House, Fenton House, Hampstead Garden Suburb Free Church, St Luke’s C of E School and Church, St Jude on the Hill, Swiss Cottage Open Space and Wrotham Park.