Everyone likes a good party and the Diamond Jubilee and Olympic Games in 2012 have given the UK plenty of opportunity for celebration. Thanks particularly to the Olympics it has a new set of buildings and public spaces. But how will they fare after the party is over?

The pre-planned legacy of the Games was a key factor in London's winning bid. But can legacy really be predicted or planned? And is a legacy sometimes much more significant than the event itself?

Drawing on the RIBA's unique collections, this exhibition explores these questions by considering how past celebratory events – victories, national expositions, anniversaries and previous Olympics – led to the creation of some of the most extraordinary structures ever built.

The legacies of many of these were not only architectural but also social, economic, cultural and technological. Some had lasting urban impact, transforming entire cities, while others provide more cautionary tales.

Watch a short film on the RIBA's London 2012 inspired exhibitions.|