Transport for LondonExperience London Architecture on the go
The annual event, which is the biggest of its kind in the world, kicks off this Friday (20 June-20 July).
The theme of this year's event is 'Fresh'.
During the festival a series of talks and debates designed to challenge conventional ideas will help promote fresh thinking.
There'll be exciting new work by students, young businesses and international architects to showcase fresh talent; a fresh approach to using public spaces, will elicit new possibilities for the future of the Capital; while the fact that much of this year's LFA 2008 takes place outdoors will encourage festival-goers to soak up sunshine and fresh air.
During LFA month, the focus of the festival will move around five key areas or 'hubs' in central London including: Kensington, Chelsea and Knightsbridge (20-25 June); Canary Wharf, Stratford and Greenwich Peninsula (26 June to 1 July); King's Cross, Bloomsbury and Covent Garden (3-7 July); Southwark and the South Bank (9-14 July); not forgetting Clerkenwell and the City of London (15-20 July).
Each hub represents an area of unique character and history, and will boast its own calendar of LFA 2008 events.
Exploring the festival
On foot
More than 90 fascinating architectural walks will take in some of London's amazing buildings, public spaces and hidden treasures.
Among this weekend's highlights is the first of the Kensington, Chelsea & Knightsbridge Hub Walking Tours (20 June).
Listen out for an audio-described tour of the Royal Albert Hall (21 June, 22:00 to midday) led by VocalEyes - a national charity that improves access to the arts through audio description for blind and partially sighted people.
Meanwhile, Underground Style on the Piccadilly line (22 June) uncovers art deco design on the Tube.
The tour is led by Oliver Green, the London Transport Museum's head curator and David Lawrence, historian and author.
Alternatively, you can explore Southwark and the South Bank anytime, listening to observations from historians, local residents and architects from a podcast; available to download from the LFA website from 20 June.
On your bicycle
Fourteen guided cycle rides will take place during the festival.
Each measures between five and 30km long and will take place on weekday evenings and weekends in each of the festival hubs.
Be sure not to miss: 'All that life can afford' (21 June), a tour of artists' and architects' houses led by Design Museum; or Beneath the City Streets (12 July), where you can explore some of London's subterranean history - including hidden rivers and outlaw burial grounds.
On the river
There are numerous events on and around the Capital's waterways including the lackadaisical narrowboat journeys of the Limehouse Canal Boat Tours (starting 28 June); a chance to drink in the sights of the Docklands with the Trinity Buoy Wharf boat shuttle service (28-29 June); and a series of water taxi trips along north London's manmade
waterways in Regent's Canal: A Fresh Perspective (3-6 July).
As the river Thames naturally links the five festival hubs, a special LFA 2008 riverboat service will be run in association with Thames Clippers.
The journeys will be accompanied by a narrative from Peter Ackroyd, author of the book 'Thames: Sacred River'.
Details of LFA riverboat ticket prices, bookings and discounts can be found on the LFA website.
- For more information, see www.thamesclippers.com
Further information
- For full festival information, visit www.LFA2008.org
- To plan your journey around the LFA hubs, please see tfl.gov.uk/journeyplanner
