We’re a matter of mere moments away from this year’s Open House Festival; the free-to-attend festival that allows Londoner’s to have peek behind the curtain of some of the capital city’s most exclusive establishments each year. The 2026 iteration of the event takes place from September 12 until September 20. And with booking opening tomorrow for some of the most sought-after spots, I thought I’d take it upon myself to tell you about one of the most exciting places that’ll be swinging open its doors for the occasion.
Crystal Palace Subway
Sat surreptitiously beneath the streets of south London is the Crystal Palace Subway. Having opened back in 1865, the subterranean structure was designed by Charles Berry Junior and built as a railway station that gave first-class passengers a more direct way to access the Crystal Palace.
The ill-fated palace was destroyed in a fire in 1936 and subsequently demolished, leaving the subway as one of the only remaining elements of the original palace. The Grade II* listed underpass then closed in 1954 and remained shut for 70 years before reopening in 2024, following a gargantuan glow-up. The restoration was so impressive that it actually won a National Railway Heritage award shortly after reopening. Not bad, hey?
The careful (and rather expensive) restoration project saw repairs made to – pretty much – every nook and cranny of the subway. The walls, floors, and entrances were all repaired, and a new glass roof was installed above the former ticket hall. It made its first post-makeover public appearance at the London Open House Festival two years ago, but it’s back again this year – and here’s how you could be one of the lucky Londoners to have a sneak peek inside it.
The Victorian subway will be available to visit on September 12 between 10am and 5pm as part of the festival – but places need to be booked in advance. As it’ll only open for one day during the festival, spaces are expected to book up fast. So you’ll need to be speedy if you want to secure a spot.
Visitors will not only be able to get up close and personal with this ‘beautifully designed and crafted relic of Victorian construction’, but also feast their eyes on the Southwark and District Model Railway Club’s large model of the Crystal Palace high level station – which will be going on display in the subway for the very first time.
Booking for London Open House Festival opens at midday on Wednesday, August 19. Find out more and snap up a spot to visit the Crystal Palace Subway here.
