Open House 2013: Council estates to go see

The annual Open House weekend runs this year from September 21-22. Of course there are a whole load of exciting things to go and see - Battersea Power Station, the View from the Shard and The Gherkin among them.

But luckily, this year's offering also features a host of interesting estates across London. Take your pick and find out what they're really like close up...

Trellick Tower

West London's most iconic tower block, Erno Goldfinger's Trellick Tower, will be open to the public on Sunday, September 22.

Tours run every half an hour from 1030am on a first come, first serve basis. (Expect queues! But look out here for a special competition for LLCH readers to get inside...)

17B Ainsworth Way, Alexandra Road Estate

If you've ever fancied a peek inside the beautiful grade II* listed Alexandra Road Estate designed by Neave Brown, head down there between 10am and 5pm on Saturday, September 21.

Photo by Jamie Barras

There are regular tours, including of the gardens, and a three-storey house at 17B Ainsworth Way will be open to the public.

Spa Green Estate

Berthold Lubetkin and Francis Skinner's 1948 Spa Green Estate in Islington is grade II* listed and over the Open House weekend the public will have access to the grounds, lodge and one flat.

There are also four tours of the Spa Green Estate running over the weekend - at 11am and 2pm, Saturday and Sunday.

World's End Estate 

Eric Lyons 1970s estate was a deliberate attempt to overcome the problems of many of the post-war high rises built in London.

Walking tours run Saturday at 1pm and 3pm and Sunday at 230pm and 430pm, meet at 16 Blantyre Street.

Photo by RBKC

Vivo Ocean Estate

Architects Levitt Bernstein have delivered the largest new build phase of the £220 million transformation of the Ocean Estate in Stepney, Tower Hamlets. (You may remember it from the recent Channel 4 show How to get a Council House).

There is a tour (pre-book only, email abdul.wajid@towerhamlets.gov.uk for a place) that runs on Sunday at 10am.

Highpoint

Another Lubetkin - Highpoint in Haringey. It's grade I listed and regular tours run on Saturday from 10am to 5pm. You must pre-book at http://ohlhighpoint.eventbrite.co.uk. No photography allowed inside the buildings or gardens.

(I'll be doing an extended post on all things Lubetkin soon, so please excuse the lack of detail here.)