English National Ballet Open House

Last Updated on August 25, 2026

A Rare Opportunity to Go Behind the Scenes at English National Ballet

For over three decades, the Open House Festival has been inviting Londoners to visit and explore buildings, which aren’t normally open to the public, in an annual celebration of the capital’s built environment. One such building is the award-winning Mulryan Centre for Dance, home to English National Ballet, which will open to the public for the third year running as part of Open House Festival 2026.

The Mulryan Centre for Dance, purpose-built to strict specifications, is a state-of-the-art building sited in fast-developing East London, which opened in 2019 and was named London Building of the Year 2021 by the Royal Institute of British Architects.   It has spacious studios flooded with natural light and rehearsal spaces sized to replicate the dimensions of the average theatre stage, an extensive wardrobe section, gym and physiotherapy facilities; in short, everything dancers require to practice their exacting art.

If you decide to visit on Open House day (19 September), you will have unparalleled opportunities to familiarise yourself with both the Mulryan Centre and the dancers who call it home, in the first instance by taking a guided tour of the building.  Check out exhibition areas, which display mementoes of the company’s illustrious 75-year life and history.

Costumes, wigs and make-up play a key role in creating the magic of performance – visitors will be able to come up close and personal with some of the most glorious costumes, and attend demonstrations of wigs and make-up by ENB’s expert staff.

Active visitors have the chance to take part in a workshop, from Family Dance with live music for children and their adults, to Adult Ballet and a Bhangra Ceilidh accompanied by a live band.   Or they can exercise their creative side and take part in arts and crafts activities inspired by the company’s upcoming production of Rudolf Nureyev’s Romeo & Juliet.

Of course, if you are interested in the building primarily because you’re a ballet lover and this is the home of one of the UK’s foremost ballet companies, you will not be left wanting.

Daily ballet class is the foundation of everything for ballet dancers from the lowest ranks to the very pinnacle of the company.  Personally, I never tire of watching it, and visitors to ENB Open House will get the exciting opportunity to watch company dancers being put through their paces by a balletmaster or balletmistress.  Ballet class starts promptly at 10:00.

It’s immediately followed by dancer rehearsal, which gives fascinating insights into what goes into crafting and developing the perfect stage performance.  If you’re very lucky, you will be able to watch some of the company’s stars.

There will also be access to orchestral rehearsals by the English National Ballet Philharmonic, under conductor Maria Seletskaja, who was a ballet dancer before hanging up her pointe shoes to pick up the baton.  She won the Critics Circle Outstanding Contribution Award at the 2025 National Dance Awards, and it will be really interesting to observe the particular understanding she brings to conducting music for ballet.

Seletskaja is likely to be among the company artists who will talk to visitors about their work.  ENB Artistic Director Aaron S Watkin has expressed the hope that visitors will feel inspired to “explore, ask questions and experience the energy that goes into everything English National Ballet does”.

All events are free, and all ages are welcome. Building tours and workshops need to be booked in advance through the Open House Festival website (see link at the end), but bear in mind that some events are drop-in, and at busy periods there may be a queue to attend. ENB staff and volunteers will keep you updated with estimated waiting times throughout the day.   All activities are accessible to wheelchair users. Dancer rehearsals at 11.15, as well as the guided tour at 1 pm, will be BSL interpreted.

English National Ballet Open House is on Saturday, 19 September 2026. All info and booking here

English National Ballet
Mulryan Centre for Dance
41 Hopewell Square
London E14 0SY

Open House Festival 2026 runs from 12 to 20 September.

Check out our Dance previews for 2026-2027