What to do and see at the London Festival of Architecture 2025

The London Festival of Architecture (LFA) returns this June for its 21st edition, transforming the city into a dynamic stage for architectural exploration, public dialogue, and creative expression. Taking place from 1–30 June 2025, this year’s festival is built around the theme of “Voices”—a powerful lens through which to explore the richness, diversity, and collective stories shaping the capital’s built environment. From exhibitions and installations to thought-provoking talks, hands-on workshops, studio lates, and guided tours, LFA 2025 presents events suited to all—whether you’re an architecture enthusiast, a curious local, or simply looking to discover new corners of the city. The month-long celebration encourages Londoners and visitors alike to listen, engage, and be inspired.

By the People: 150 Lifetimes Exhibition

Image credit Andy Paradise

#FLODown: By the People: 150 Lifetimes Exhibition at Alexandra Palace will showcase over 2,000 images contributed by the public, capturing key moments that have shaped the lives of the community around Ally Pally. Alongside these personal photos, the exhibition includes archival images that highlight important events, innovations, and historic figures connected to Alexandra Palace’s 150-year history. This free, drop-in exhibition offers a unique look at the palace’s role in London life and heritage.

Date: 1 - 30 June 2025. Location: Alexandra Palace, East Court, Alexandra Palace Way, London N22 7AY. (The exhibition is held in the Palace’s main public space). Price: Free, no booking required. Discover more

Oskar Zięta: Whispers

Image credit Jakub Musialski

#FLODown: Whispers, a sculptural installation by acclaimed Polish designer Oskar Zięta, will go on display in the City of London. Using his signature FiDU technology, Zięta inflates flat metal sheets with air to create striking, three-dimensional forms that appear to shift and flow. Positioned outside One New Ludgate, the installation celebrates the creative exchange between Poland and the UK, inviting audiences to pause and reflect on materiality, movement, and innovation in the public realm.

Date: 1 – 30 June 2025. Location: Outside One New Ludgate, 60 Ludgate Hill, City of London, London EC4M 7AW. Price: Free, no booking required. Discover more

In the Shadow of the Shard

Image credit Kilian O'Sullivan

#FLODown: At Bermondsey Square, the documentary film In the Shadow of the Shard will be screened, offering an intimate look at residents of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe as they come together to improve their neighbourhoods. Directed by John Rogers, the film tells the story of the Leathermarket Community Benefit Society and the creation of Marklake Court—27 new council homes developed in collaboration with local people, just metres from The Shard. Following the screening, a panel discussion on social housing, co-design, and estate regeneration will feature contributions from those involved in the project.

Date: 11 June 2025. Time: 6pm - 10pm. Location: The Arzner, 10 Bermondsey Sq, London, SE1 3UN. Price: £5 standard ticket. Free concession tickets available (with optional donation). Proceeds go to Southwark Foodbank. Book now

Unheard Voices of the City

Together at Battersea by POor Collective at Battersea Power Station. Image by Charlie Round Turner.

#FLODown:  Unheard Voices of the City, a pop-up installation by POoR Collective in collaboration with the London Museum, will be set in the historic courtyard of St Bartholomew’s Hospital. It highlights the lives of those who keep the City moving at night—market traders, hospital staff, shift workers, club-goers, and others. Presented within Wiggle Wonderland’s open-air gallery, the installation brings these everyday stories into the public eye. A programme of free lunchtime drop-in events will run alongside the exhibition.

Date: 14 June – 6 July 2025. Location: St Bartholomew’s Hospital Courtyard, West Smithfield, City of London, London EC1A 7BE. Price: Free, no booking required. Discover more

Encounters

Image credit Anna Janepalli

#FLODown: Encounters is a site-specific exhibition organised by Kingston School of Art, showcasing photographic and moving image works by MArch Architecture and MA Photography students. It focuses on refuge and displacement while emphasising circular economy and reuse principles. Visitors can also attend a symposium focusing on cultural production and research related to these subjects. The project is presented in partnership with Refugee Week and Counterpoints Arts.

Date: 16 - 22 June 2025. Location: Yorkton Workshops, 1-3 Yorkton Street, E2 8NH. Price: Free, no booking required. Discover more

Threading the Needle: Architecture of Care

Image credit Kurt Hoerbst

#FLODown: Threading the Needle: Architecture of Care highlights how architecture can positively impact lives through the story of Anandaloy, a therapy centre and Dipdii Textiles studio in Rudrapur, Bangladesh. Designed by architect Anna Heringer (2018-2020), the project is showcased through intricate textile hangings created by local women, depicting the building’s design and portraits of children who benefit from the centre. This initiative demonstrates architecture’s role beyond construction—as a driver of local development, skill-building, craft preservation, and inclusive community support. Presented by the V&A + RIBA Architecture Partnership in collaboration with Anna Heringer and Dipdii Textiles, the display structure is made by London collective Bloqs Create. A related talk with Anna Heringer will be held at the V&A on 13 June.

Date: 1 – 30 June 2025. Location: Architecture Landing (Gallery 127), Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2RL. Price: Free, no booking required. Discover more

The Aylesbury Voices: A community in motion

Image credit Harriet Mena Hill - 2Inspire Youth Club, Wendover

#FLODown: The Aylesbury Voices: A Community in Motion, an exhibition presented by Our Cube, will explore the legacy of the Aylesbury Estate — once home to 8,000 residents and a symbol of a vibrant, multi-generational community amid urban change. The exhibition will reflect on what is gained and lost as the estate undergoes regeneration, sharing residents’ stories through art, photography, film, and audio.

Date: 16 - 22 June 2025. Location: Walworth Town Hall, 151 Walworth Rd, London SE17 1RS. Price: Free, no booking required. Discover more

 Art Exhibition at Fleet Studios

Image credit Mickey Lee

#FLODown: Fleet Studios hosts an exciting art exhibition presented by Fleet Street Quarter, showcasing a collection of contemporary works by emerging artists. The exhibition features bold abstract paintings, intricate installations, and digital art across a range of styles. Set within the creative energy of Fleet Studios, it will offer a fresh look at today’s art scene with innovative and inspiring pieces.

Date: 13 - 16 June 2025. Location: Fleet Studios, 8-12 New Bridge St, City of London, London EC4V 6AL. Price: Free, no booking required. Discover more

Earth, Memory, and the Spaces We Inhabit: Matrilineal Legacies in Contemporary Architecture

Image credit Cianeh A. Kpukuyou

#FLODown: Earth, Memory, and the Spaces We Inhabit: Matrilineal Legacies in Contemporary Architecture is an exhibition presented by Black Females in Architecture in collaboration with DēpART. It brings together architectural interventions, sculpture, sound, and film to explore matrilineal heritage and its impact on contemporary spatial practice. Rooted in African and diasporic traditions, the exhibition challenges conventional architectural narratives by centring memory, care, and generational knowledge. It offers a powerful reflection on how Black women are redefining the built environment.

Date: 6 - 29 June 2025. Location: NOW Gallery, 3 Gateway Pavilion, Peninsula Square, London SE10 0SQ. Price: Free, no booking required. Discover more

AI for Adaptation: Can AI Help Us Cope with Climate Change?

Image credit Cornell Tech

#FLODown: A talk exploring how artificial intelligence might support urban adaptation to climate change. Anthony Townsend, a leading voice on cities and technology, shares insights into how AI could enhance climate resilience through smarter infrastructure, improved listening tools, and community participation. The event includes a conversation with Julia Skeete of SOM, focusing on the role of the built environment in facing these challenges.

Date: 4 June 2025. Time: 6.15pm - 8pm. Location: The London Centre, 3 Aldermanbury, London EC2V 7HH. Price: Free, booking required. Book now

Speaking Walls: A Dialogue Between Architects, Artists & Makers

Studio Lates Clerkenwell, LFA2023 © Jane Lam0524

#FLODown: Join Eric Parry Architects for a Studio Lates evening exploring the integration of art into public spaces through collaborative work with artists, sculptors, and makers. Discover the stories behind a range of civic, educational, office, and residential projects, and follow the creative dialogue from concept to completion. Browse samples, mock-ups, and an exhibition of live and completed projects, while enjoying drinks and informal conversations with the studio team and long-term collaborators.

Date: 5 June 2025. Time: 6-8pm. Location: Eric Parry Architects Studio, Discovery House, 28–42 Banner Street, London EC1Y 8QE. Price: Free, no booking required. Discover more

The London Festival of Architecture 2025 takes place across London from 1 – 30 June 2025. londonfestivalofarchitecture.org