Open House 2026

12th & 13th September 2026 and 19th & 20th September 2026.

Trinity Buoy Wharf will open its doors to the public once again for Open House 2026, offering a rare opportunity to explore one of East London’s most unique and creative riverside sites.

Once a working dock, the site is now home to a thriving arts community, innovative studios, and the iconic Container City. Visitors will have the chance to discover its rich maritime history, enjoy stunning views of the Thames, and experience the vibrant energy that defines this cultural hub. From historical architecture to contemporary art installations, Trinity Buoy Wharf promises a fascinating journey through London’s past and present.

As part of Open House 2026, visitors will have the unique chance to step aboard the SS Robin, the world’s only complete steam ship for guided tours. Permanently moored at Trinity Buoy Wharf, this 1890 cargo ship offers a glimpse into Britain’s maritime and industrial heritage. Tour participants can explore the ship’s engine room, crew quarters, and cargo hold while learning about life at sea.

• When: 12th & 13th September, and 19th and 20th September at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm each day
• Booking: required. BOOK HERE
• Entry: free

Please note: the tours are now fully booked, but please speak to a member of staff at the start of each tour to check for no-shows and last minute availability

Guided site tours will offer visitors an in-depth look at the history, architecture, and creative transformation of this iconic riverside location. The tours will explore the site’s maritime past, including its role in lighthouse manufacturing, and its evolution into a thriving hub for artists, makers, and cultural enterprises. These tours provide a rare opportunity to see how heritage and creativity come together in one of London’s most distinctive and inspiring spaces.

• When: 12th & 13th September, and 19th and 20th September at 11am each day
• Booking: required. BOOK HERE
• Entry: free

Please note: the tours are now fully booked, but please speak to a member of staff at the start of each tour to check for no-shows and last minute availability

The site will host an exhibition of Andrew Baldwin’s kinetic sculptures, offering visitors the chance to experience art that truly comes to life. Known for his intricate craftsmanship and distinctive style, Baldwin creates whimsical mechanical works where figures, animals, and dreamlike scenes move in captivating rhythms.

• When: 12th & 13th September, and 19th and 20th September at 11am to 5pm each day
• Booking: not required
• Entry: free

Some of the artist studios at Trinity Buoy Wharf will be open to the public, offering a rare chance to step inside the creative spaces of painters, sculptors, designers, and makers. Visitors can meet the artists, see works in progress, and experience the vibrant artistic community that brings the site to life.

• When: 12th & 13th September, and 19th and 20th September at 11am to 5pm each day
• Booking: not required
• Entry: free

Some of the artists opening their studios are:

The Kings Foundation: open on 12th-13th September

The King's Foundations Diploma Year is an art foundation course delivered on-site at Trinity Buoy Wharf. The course supports students to build in confidence in a range of artistic disciplines including drawing, painting, pottery, sculpture and photography, before embarking on a career in the creative industries or progressing into higher education.

Hussain Manawer: open on 12th-13th and 19th- 20th September

Meet Hussain Manawer in his studio and discover the creative process behind his work. A two-time Sunday Times bestselling poet and author from East London, Hussain is known for powerful writing exploring mental health, grief, identity and human connection.

Cute Circuit: open on 12th-13th and 19th- 20th September

Founded in 2004, CuteCircuit is the world’s first wearable-technology fashion brand. A pioneer in this field, CuteCircuit interweaves leading edge fashion design with emerging technologies and smart fabrics to create fashion design that not only looks beautiful, but also features magical interactive capabilities. CuteCircuit’s co-founders, Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz, come from a heritage of couture in fashion design (Valentino), and Interaction Design and Anthropology respectively.

Tan Wang-Ward: open on 13th September & 19th-20th September 

Tan Wang-Ward is an artist and creative technologist. Through interactive installations and immersive works, her practice engages with the impact of urbanisation and rapid technological advancement. Her most recent project, Limehouse Déjà vu, funded by Immersive Arts UK, traces maritime histories and the early migrant communities that formed around the ports of East London. 

Elena Vittoria Bevilacqua: open on 12th-13th and 19th- 20th September

BE KA Art Studio, the riverside atelier of Italian multimedia artist Elena Vittoria Bevilacqua, will open its doors inviting visitors to discover Elena’s artistic practice and explore a selection of her work. Visitors will be able to browse and purchase exclusive art prints, while those looking to get hands-on can take part in cyanotype workshops and create their own photographic prints using this historic sun-printing process.

TimbreWorks: open on 19th- 20th September

TimbreWorks was established by Çağrı Tozluoğlu, also known as Philamelian, with the goal of providing music for various media, gaming, and art installations, as well as creating new avenues for musical collaborations. With years of experience in the music industry, Çağrı is a composer with a keen interest in contemporary and experimental music.

Maud Milton/ Artyface: open on 19th- 20th September

Artyface works with schools, councils, businesses and the community to make murals, specialising in mosaics and ceramics. Maud is passionate about running intergenerational, multi-cultural inclusive workshops to make art that is accessible and open continuously to all, free of charge

John Fox: open on 12th-13th September & 19th-20th September

John Dominic Fox is an East London sculptor who creates large, vibrant ceramic pieces. He originally specialized in metalwork and bronze-casting. You can see his 1989 bronze Clipper Ship relief permanently installed on the Isle of Dogs. In recent years, his focus has shifted to building stacked, hand-coiled glazed ceramics that feature abstract designs.

Ipal Robot invites families, educators and businesses to explore how AI, robotics and emerging technologies are being applied across education, marketing and branding.

Meet the team, see their humanoid robots in action, and discover some of the AI learning experiences we are developing for children aged 7–13. We would especially welcome conversations with parents, teachers and schools to hear their views and help shape our future programmes.

Visitors can also explore how Ipal Robot uses emerging technologies to create interactive marketing campaigns, brand experiences and technology-led activations for businesses and organisations.
 

• When: 12th & 13th September, and 19th and 20th September at 11am to 5pm each day
• Booking: not required
• Entry: free

Step back into the 18th century with Arcangelo violinist Sophia Prodanova and special guests Apollo’s Cabinet  for a musical menu of Baroque delights at Arcangelo's studio in Container City. Visitors can watch the musicians in an open rehearsal, punctuated by two free performances of Apollo’s Jukebox, where the audience- armed with a ‘shilling’ and a musical menu- get to choose the tunes.

Founded in 2010 by artistic director Jonathan Cohen, Arcangelo is an award-winning period performance ensemble specialising in Baroque and Classical music. Working with the world's leading ensemble players and soloists, the ensemble creates bespoke concert, broadcast and recording projects, while its New Ensemblists programme supports exceptional early-career musicians with performance opportunities, mentoring and career development.

Each performance will last approximately 30 minutes.  This will be an informal setting and you are welcome to drop in at any time.

NB limited seating available

When: Saturday 12th September 2026

• 11am- 12 noon: open rehearsal
• 12 noon: Apollo’s Jukebox performance #1
• 1pm-1.45pm lunchbreak (no music but you are welcome to drop in to see the studio)
• 1.45pm- 3pm: open rehearsal
• 3pm: Apollo’s Jukebox performance #2

Booking: not required

Entry: free

The spirit of confluence has inspired this joint exhibition by artist Nicole Mollett and curator Garry Hunter. Nicole presents her work as Resident Artist at Trinity Buoy Wharf based in the Wheelhouse Studio.  She also shares work connecting with the colour blue, water and waves recently co-created with Bangabandhu and Globe Primary School in Tower Hamlets.  

Flowing alongside these contemporary outputs are a range of archival photographs of the vast Thames Ironworks that dominated Leamouth.  Working from his Fitzrovia Noir Studio at Trinity Buoy Wharf, Garry unearthed these powerful pictorial memories from the Getty Images collection located just a little further up the River Lea. This continues Garry's practice of responding to the parallel histories of maritime industries and early photography, utilising the vast interior of the pontoon supporting the 350 ton Victorian coaster SS Robin moored here at Leamouth. 

• When: open on 12th-13th and 19th- 20th September
• Booking: not required
• Entry: free

Explore the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize exhibition, showcasing outstanding contemporary drawings by artists from across the UK. The Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2026 exhibition will be held at Trinity Buoy Wharf in London from 17th September to 4th October 2026.

The Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize is supported by the Trinity Buoy Wharf Trust, and widely regarded as the foremost open exhibition dedicated to drawing in the United Kingdom.

• When: open from 17th September to 4th October 2026
• Booking: not required
• Entry: free

Join The Big Draw and artist in residence Nicole Mollett for a free Walk and Draw session along the River Lea and through to Trinity Buoy Wharf as part of London Open House!

We’ll set off from Canning Town Station and wander along the river, stopping along the way to draw the places and details around us, and finishing up at Trinity Buoy Wharf. The session is a chance to draw in good company, spend time outdoors, and explore this part of London in a new way. No previous drawing experience is needed, just bring a sketchbook or some paper and something to draw with!

The event is designed for adults and young people aged 16+. Children are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult - and just bear in mind there will be a lot of walking!

• When: 13th September 2026 11am
• Booking: required. BOOK HERE
• Entry: free
• Starting point: Canning Town Station (Bow Creek / City Island footbridge exit)
• End point: Trinity Buoy Wharf
• Led by: Nicole Mollett, Artist in Residence at Trinity Buoy Wharf, with The Big Draw

Dominique Pinchi’s 7-metre “Shield of Achilles” reimagines Homer’s epic imagery in sculptural form. It’s displayed in the SS Robin’s vast cargo hold.

• When: 12th & 13th September, and 19th and 20th September at 12.30pm, 2.30pm & 4.30pm slots
• Booking: required. BOOK HERE
• Entry: free

Listen to an ever-evolving musical composition by artist and musician Jem Finer. Housed within London’s only lighthouse, Longplayer is designed to continue playing without repetition for 1,000 years, from the year 2000 until the final moments of 2999.

During the Open House Festival, visitors can meet Longplayer Trustees and friends, join creative sessions for all ages with artist Kitty Finer, and experience a day of quiet reflection on Sunday 20th, immersed in Jem Finer's 1,000-year composition.

• When: 12th & 13th September, and 19th and 20th September at 11am to 5pm each day
• Booking: not required
• Entry: free

Explore a unique piece of London's history by visiting the city's only lighthouse. It offers stunning views and a rare glimpse into the maritime heritage that shaped London.

• When: 12th & 13th September, and 19th & 20th September 11am-5pm
• Booking: not required
• Entry: free

Led by heritage practitioner Annie Spencer, the talk will uncover the site's connections with lighthouses and British maritime history.

• When: 12th & 13th September, and 19th and 20th September at 1pm each day
• Booking: required.BOOK HERE
• Entry: free

As well as our free Open House activities, visitors can also get hands-on with a selection of pottery workshops. It’s a great chance to try something creative, learn new skills and make your own piece to take home.

Art Crafts Studios

Saturday September 12th BOOK HERE

Saturday September 19th BOOK HERE

Sunday September 20th BOOK HERE