Most people seem to have a curiosity about the strange world of construction sites – as is amply demonstrated by the numbers peering though holes cut in wooden hoardings built around them.
However, next month is a chance to go past the security turnstiles and stand on the other side of those wooden barriers, as Open Doors Weekend takes place.
A bit like Open House Weekend, but specific to the construction industry – and UK wide if you fancy leaving the confines of the M25 motorway.
It’s a promotional event to encourage people to consider a career in construction, which has suffered a bit of an image problem in the past. Today though, it is a highly skilled industry and not at all like the stereotypical “handyman” of patios and porches fame.
There are 90 venues nationwide that will let people into areas not usually open to the public, and fully a third of them are in London. Many of the building sites are for actual buildings, but there are four tunnels on offer. Well, the chance to look down two deep shafts belonging to power and sewage firms, and visits to the Crossrail sites at TCR and Paddington.
Most of the events need pre-booking. The website seems to let you book a date, but not a time, so I have added my time requests into the notes to make it easier for the venues (or maybe not?).
Your mouse may now click here to book your tours.
Oh, and if you do book a tour, wear sensible shoes. It is a building site after all.
A tip of the hat to Crossrail for telling me about this, otherwise I might have missed it.
Thanks for posting this, there are some good places on there.
I applied for 4 places, got 3 offers (all Saturday morning :-() and plumped for Mace at Tate Modern, who did me proud. 9(!) people to talk to us, talks and a tour for 3 hours, and a free builder’s breakfast. Well spotted.