DOZENS of the region's fascinating buildings will be flinging their doors open to the public as part of an architecture festival.

Private houses, colleges, museums, health centres and schools across Lewisham and Greenwich will be taking part in London Open House Weekend. The event will be held on September 22 and 23.

Last year, hundreds of people flocked to look at various buildings including Eltham Lodge, the Ice House at Manor House Gardens, Queen Mary's Court, Goldsmiths College and an ecological self-build home, in Forest Hill, which will all be open again.

Other locations include show flats on the Greenwich Millennium Village, Devonport House mausoleum, which is a former Royal Navy cemetery, the old Deptford Town Hall building and a former gothic mansion now Sydenham High School .

Now in its ninth year, the weekend aims to increase the public's enthusiasm for architecture by allowing free access to more than 500 contemporary buildings across London.

Backed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport it is part of a European-wide programme of architectural celebration promoted by the Council of Europe.

Anyone interested in information on all the properties taking part can get it by logging on to the website www.londonopenhouse.org or by calling 09001 600 061.