Drop In to 2 Temple Place

Two Temple Place, commissioned by and built for William Waldorf Astor in the 1890s was both an ornate historical and literary fantasy and a working office. Astor (1848 – 1919) was an American-English attorney, politician, diplomat, hotelier, publisher and philanthropist. He moved to England, became a British subject in 1899, and was made a peer in 1917 for his contributions to war charities. His American-born wife Nancy, became the first woman to sit as an MP in the House of Commons.

Two Temple Place is now the home of the Bulldog Trust, a social impact charity. The building was renovated after partial destruction in WWII and is now an eclectic architectural delight with gorgeous wooden panelling, colourful stained glass and beautiful marble floors. On the roof is a gleaming golden weathervane of the Santa Maria, the ship in which Christopher Columbus sailed to America in 1492. There are frequent tours around the building (check their website for details) AND the building is open as a "drop-in" option as part of this years Open House Festival on Sundays 13th and 20th September 2026.