This weekend the doors of some of London’s most creative, intriguing and historic buildings will open to the public for free for the 21st year.

But in 1992 when Victoria Thornton started Open House London and looked for participants the response was “No, no, no”, she says.

Today the concept has “snowballed” to include 20 cities around the world.

And even that most famous of houses 10 Downing Street opens later.

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(Published 21 September)

Evidence from Jack the Ripper’s murders, death masks, the first truncheons and vintage police cars could be brought together for the first time under plans to create a Metropolitan Police exhibition.

With New Scotland Yard being sold and its private collection from crime scenes needing a new home, the Mayor of London is championing the idea of a new Met Police museum.

At the moment, artefacts from the Met’s 184-year history are in a warehouse, and small, scattered pockets across London largely closed to the public or only viewable by appointment.

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