Poplar architecture walking tour - Saturday 26 September 2026 10.30am

Join Open City for a walking tour exploring Poplar — a working class area of London’s East End transformed by pioneering mid-20th century architecture focused on a range of public benefits

Poplar is an area of massive and ongoing transformation where slum housing was replaced with futuristic visions of a built environment dedicated to delivering a better world for all.

Profoundly shaped by optimistic experiments in serving the ‘public good’, this deeply historic post-industrial district remains at the forefront of contemporary urban reinvention to this day.

Recently, Poplar has achieved fame through the popular book and television series, ‘Call the Midwife’, which tells some of Poplar’s working-class history.

Historically, Poplar’s fortunes were tied to the wealth and employment from London’s docks and that history echoes through to buildings in Poplar such as the Queen Victoria Seamen’s Rest home and the George Green building.

The tour starts at the busy Chrisp Street Market, remodelled after the Second World War as part of the Lansbury neighbourhood, with its famous clock tower designed by Frederick Gibberd.

Using an original site map, we will trace the estate’s original buildings and layout of as part of the 1951 Festival of Britain exhibition and see a unique home that housed some of its first residents.

The tour will conclude at Ernő Goldfinger’s Balfron Tower which was recently the focus of a major redevelopment. Along the way, this walk will explore the various debates prompted by Poplar’s history including the roles of local government, planning, housing and gentrification. 

Key information