OpenLondon
Sometimes London is just stunning.
I fully admit until I met Richard I never felt like I knew London. I’ve lived in Greater London the majority of my life and never really felt the need to really get to KNOW London. Luckily for me, I met Richard, (at a party while eating a lemon... story for another day!) and he introduced me to the city I now know. Showing it to me from his North Welsh eyes, and really making me fall head over heels in love with the city. Two weeks ago, we decided to take part in the OpenLondon weekend, where homes, famous buildings, toilets and museums all open their doors to the public for free for a weekend…
Get RoseElizabethT’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
We found hidden gems in Drapers Hall, explored beautiful churches, the cinema museum and even found an art gallery in a victorian toilet!
Strolling around london, in some of my favourite weather, beautifully sunny with a slight autumn crispness in the air. The city looked beautiful, St Paul’s was stunning with a range of colourful rose’s around the fence outside. We decided to stop off and get some lunch at the Southbank market, Richard had Mexican and I went for bruschetta with pesto, which was gorgeous and exactly what I needed after walking around all morning! Along with a pint of scrumpy cider outside the haywood gallery, it was perfect.
After being fed and watered we made our way to the cinema museum in Lambeth. It was the place I was most looking forward to seeing and it did not dissapoint! My addiction to camera’s really came alive, and I felt so at home there! The guide was really passionate, and very informed about the history of the building, he was also dressed up, which I’m always a fan of. It was somewhere we never would have gone without the OpenLondon event, and now I can’t wait to go back and see a film!
I couldn’t come the cinema museum and leave empty handed, and I soon spotted my Wall-e (a nickname we’ve given it) of a beautiful old film projector, just sitting on the shelves gathering dust. It was for sale and for a fiver! It doesnt work, but I was in love, and Richard knew we wouldn’t be leaving without it.
We took Wall-e for a celebratory pint, and then headed back to find him a new home on our shelves, where he looks very curious holding up my vinyl.
All in all, it was a wonderful day, and a great example of what I’ve learned to love about London, there is always something to do and something to uncover. It’s a beautiful city and I’m so happy to have hundreds of weekends ahead of me to explore!
If you want to get involved with OpenLondon next year, I highly recommend it, they also have a really handy app which tells you where’s open and what else they have to offer! I can’t wait till next year! I’ll be so much more prepared!
