On 20 September we threw open the doors to Burlington House and welcomed over 1000 visitors as part of the annual Open House festival.
Open House festival
Founded in 1992, the festival now attracts some 250,000 visitors every year to all manner of buildings throughout London. Our nearby neighbours, the Linnaen Society and the Royal Astronomical Society also opened for the day, giving the whole courtyard a buzz.
This year a team of 11 staff volunteered to entice people in off the street and to help them make the most of their visit. Caroline Lam, the Society archivist, created a “Geology of Burlington House” spotters’ guide, Dr Natasha Stephen, Director of Science and Engagement, curated a new display of meteorite fragments and Dr Lucia Perez-Diaz FGS ran a series of four ticketed workshops for children in the Gertrude Elles Room. We were also joined by colleagues from Rockwatch who were stationed in the Lower Library and were busy throughout the day.
Feedback was very positive, with lots of happy faces, young and old, seen leaving the building. Quite a few even bought some Society merchandise to commemorate their visit!
Very many thanks go to all those who volunteered on the day.
