About

Join Open City for an afternoon journey out towards Dartford Crossing and back that surveys the landmark architecture of east London’s embankments and beyond.

Departing from Greenwich the tour will see Benedict O'Looney — Open City’s specialist Architecture on the Thames guide — share the microphone with Dr Phil Askew, Peabody’s Director of Landscape and Placemaking leading on Thamesmead. 

London’s future is in the east where some of the world’s most famous architects are transforming this historic industrial landscape into a place to live and work.

A dramatically different landscape to that of central London Thames embankments, the tour will take in landmarks including Richard Rogers’ Dome, the vast Tate and Lyle Sugar Refinery in Silvertown, the Thames Barrier and Joseph Bazalgette’s amazing Victorian Grade I listed Crossness Sewage Treatment Works.

This unique riverside tour offers a fresh perspective on London’s emerging and established skyline and is led Benedict O'Looney. Benedict's in-depth knowledge – founded on his work as a practicing architect based in Peckham and a teacher at the prestigious Architectural Association – guarantees deep insight and thoughtful commentary. 

Meet the Tour Guide: 
Benedict O’Looney was a project architect with Grimshaw Architects and Alsop Architects prior to setting up his own studio Benedict O’Looney Architects in 2005 . Graduating from the Yale School of Architecture in 1992, Benedict has taught architecture history and building technology at the Architectural Association, The University of Kent, the Canterbury School of Architecture, and New York University. Benedict O’Looney is also on the Victorian Society Southern Buildings Committee, the Committee of the Peckham Society and is a past President of the London Sketch Club. 

Duration: 3hrs 

* Suitable for ages 7+