Croydon's Open House Festival returns this September, offering a free, borough-wide celebration of the area's architecture, history, and communities. Running from September 12 to 20, the festival features guided tours, exhibitions, and creative activities designed to reveal the stories behind Croydon's most iconic landmarks and hidden gems.
Shaping Croydon Exhibition Opens at Museum of Croydon
This year's festival coincides with the opening of a major new exhibition at the Museum of Croydon. Titled Shaping Croydon: Architecture and Ambition, the exhibition opens on Saturday, September 12, and traces the evolution of Croydon's skyline, exploring the bold planning ideas that have shaped the town centre over the decades. Featuring contemporary photography, archival material, and future-facing displays from Croydon Urban Room, the exhibition offers a deeper look at the architectural innovation that defines the borough.
New Mural Marks 750 Years of Surrey Street Market
South London artist Vic Lee has been commissioned to create an 18-metre mural celebrating the 750th anniversary of Croydon's Street Market. The market, granted by Royal Charter in 1276, originally operated in the triangle around what is now Surrey Street and remains one of London's oldest continuous markets. Lee's mural will bring this remarkable history to life with bold illustration, sharing surprising stories, facts, and memories gathered from the market's past.
Guided Pub Tours and Family Activities
Heritage continues across the festival with guided tours of Croydon's historic pubs led by public historian Charo Havermans. These tours explore the buildings, traditions, and local characters that have shaped these institutions over time. The festival opens with Build / Play / Shape, a two-day programme of interactive events and activities for families and young adults in The Queen's Gardens. The weekend invites visitors of all ages to explore the borough's past, present, and future through hands-on making, creative challenges, and imaginative play.
Highlights of the Family Programme
- Pif Paf Theatre's Right to Play: A touring adventure playground where children can build and design clambering frames, dens, and a mud kitchen for younger visitors.
- Architects Matt + Fiona: A large-scale skyline made from cardboard, allowing visitors to design and create their own Croydon.
- In Situ's Croydon Space Station: Reimagines the town centre's space-age architecture as spacecraft models.
- Creative Quests' Curiosity Rover: Offers creative challenges that encourage families to explore their surroundings and community through fresh eyes.
Art Installations and Community Engagement
The Caravan Gallery brings its mobile art project, founded in 2000. The gallery has spent 26 years touring the United Kingdom and internationally, working at the intersection of documentary photography, community engagement, and contemporary art. For Open House, they will present a new Croydon exhibition displaying photographs from across the borough, capturing its architecture, streetscapes, and community stories. Artist Max Yasmin invites visitors to contribute to and experience the collective hopes and fears of their local community through an interactive public artwork.
Other Featured Sites and Mayor's Comments
Other featured Croydon sites offering tours and workshops include Whitgift Almshouses, Stanley Arts, Fairfield Halls, and the Norman Fisher Observatory, each providing a unique lens into Croydon's architectural identity and heritage.
Jason Perry, executive Mayor of Croydon, said: “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.”
For the full line-up and to book tickets, visit the official Open House Festival website.
