London Festival of Architecture

This summer London will play host to a spectacular month-long festival celebrating its waterways, which will include over 500 events such as exhibitions, film screenings and boat trips.

Through a broad programme of events the London Festival of Architecture (LFA) will be exploring the famous River Thames as well as some of the city’s more hidden waterways, from the River Lee in Stratford to the Grand Union Canal in King’s Cross.

The Thames runs through the heart of London linking five festival hubs: Kensington, Chelsea & Knightsbridge; King’s Cross, Bloomsbury & Covent Garden; South Bank & Southwark; Clerkenwell and the city & Canary Wharf; and Stratford & Thames Gateway. These festival hubs are the areas where most of the activity will be taking place, and will be connected by LFA boat trips along the River Thames.

One of the main activities will be the Dark Waters Exhibition where art installations will feature on piers all along the river to highlight the past, present and future of each location, showcasing the history and development of each site.

Another festival highlight will be the Water City Debate where experts will discuss the future of London’s waterways and their potential in strengthening the city’s identity and influencing development. Set in the Clifford Chance Auditorium in cosmopolitan Canary Wharf, this debate will give visitors the chance to put questions and comments to the panellists throughout.

British Waterways will also be getting involved by organising guided boat tours around areas of dramatic change, such as the Olympic site in East London, as well as multiple events along the Regent’s Canal like the Family Fun Day near King’s Cross.

For more information email the London Festival of Architecture organisers on info@lfa2008.org or call them on 020 7436 8625.