Borough's best buildings open their doors

1.57.31pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 27th Aug 2007

The doors of the borough's architectural gems will be thrown open to the public during Open House Weekend (15-16 September).

Visitors will get free access to 20 venues across Richmond upon Thames including Orleans House Gallery, Strawberry Hill House, Garrick's Temple to Shakespeare and the Normansfield Hospital Theatre. The annual event is organised locally by Richmond Council's Arts Service in collaboration with London Open House and local societies and volunteers. It offers free admission to a huge selection of the capital's greatest historic and contemporary buildings, some rarely open to the public.

Cllr John Coombs, the Council's Cabinet Member for Youth, Culture and Leisure, said: "Open House Weekend is a superb opportunity to explore both the borough's iconic buildings and modern examples of great design right here on our doorstep."

Buildings involved include Ham House, Sandycombe Lodge, Marble Hill, Richmond Theatre and Twickenham Museum. The Book Shed in Leyborne Park, Kew, the Kilmorey Mausoleum and the Herbarium, Library, Art and Archives at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, will also be open. Orleans House Gallery will stage a Family Heritage Day and also be a stop on a walking tour from Marble Hill to York House.