After more than a year in the making, on Aug. 9, House of Vans London opened its doors. Spread across five tunnels and nestled beneath London’s Waterloo Station, the opening weekend saw the space come to life with a series of live gigs, screenings, inspirational talks, exhibitions and of course, skateboarding.

House of Vans London is a free creative space for all to enjoy, five days a week. Whether it’s through the arts, music, skateboarding or simply hanging out, come and join us. Waterloo is easy to get to by rail, bus, bike or board. There’s space for bikes in the venue’s secure bike racks, and you can even take a boat down the Thames, which will drop you just 500 meters from the door.

House of Vans opens with a celebration of DIY culture, presenting ‘Scissors & Glue’; an exhibition and series of talks documenting the brief history of the ‘zine. Curated by figures such as Ben Drury, Gorm, Trevor Jackson and Louise Grey and so representing the pillars of art, skateboarding, music and fashion, respectively, the exhibition pays homage to the roots of independent publishing. ‘Scissors & Glue’ also marks the introduction of House of Vans London’s very first Vans ‘Zine. Guest edited by ‘zine guru and sage of self publishing Jeremy Leslie, issue #1 will reflect upon the current state and future of the magazine, as well as the exhibition itself.

In the Vans Art Labs, adjacent to the gallery space, workshops will be held with longstanding Vans Family members, including; Lovenskate, getting you involved with their stylish screen printing, Wah Nails, decorating your nails with unique and inspired art, and the AONO Barbershop, ensuring you’re looking sharp and immaculately groomed.

Housing London’s only indoor skatepark, House of Vans’ pool-style concrete bowl, street and mini-ramp section will also be open to the public, providing a free and unrivaled playground for skateboarders. To sign up for a skate session, simply register at houseofvanslondon.com/book-skate-session

On Saturday August 9, House of Vans’ central tunnel hosted an eclectic selection of London’s finest DJs, so once guests finished skating, getting creative, or simply checking out the exhibition, the night wasn’t over yet.

Reinforcing Vans’ commitment to community, both creative and social, House of Vans London is proud to be affiliated with three key charity partners, who will be supported through a series of ongoing initiatives and events.

Railway Children

An international charity with a vision to provide protection and opportunity for children living alone and at risk on the streets. Confronting a problem that is often ignored or denied, Railway Children fights for vulnerable children, ensuring help is at hand before it’s too late. From initial contact through to the provision of sustainable support networks, Railway Children strives to change perception and policy, and in doing so makes invaluable steps towards securing the futures of these children. railwaychildren.org.uk

Action for Children

Through their work and through speaking out, Action for Children seeks to break the cycle of deprivation facing neglected children across the UK. Working directly with more than 300,000 children, young people, parents and carers each year, Action for Children challenges injustice and empowers children to overcome these obstacles, helping to transform lives. actionforchildren.org.uk

Old Vic New Voices

Old Vic New Voices nurtures talent, inspires young people and opens up The Old Vic to be enjoyed by the community. From the provision of free tickets and bespoke learning experiences to over 60,000 school students across London, to providing a platform and funding for rising stars, to engaging the community, Old Vic New Voices provides unrivalled opportunities for the next generation. oldvictheatre.com/oldvicnewvoices

To hear more about House of Vans London, keep up to date with news and events, visit HouseOfVansLondon.com or #HouseOfVans