London Architecture City Guide: 20 Modern and Contemporary Attractions to Explore in UK’s Cultural and Financial Powerhouse (2024)

FAQs

What is the architecture of the city of London? ›

London's architecture ranges from the Romanesque central keep of The Tower of London, the great Gothic church of Westminster Abbey, the Palladian royal residence Queen's House, Christopher Wren's Baroque masterpiece St Paul's Cathedral, the High Victorian Gothic of The Palace of Westminster, the industrial Art Deco of ...

Many buildings were constructed from buff-coloured London Stock Brick, and geometrical symmetry and restrained ornamentation were favoured. With examples including Downing Street, Georgian architecture is one of London's most iconic architectural styles, recognised the world over.

The City of London is home to some of the world's most striking modern architecture.

Georgian: 1714 – 1830. The Georgian period is one of the most well-known styles of architecture in London due to the exquisite buildings that were designed and built during this time.

Sir Christopher Wren is best known for designing The Monument to the Great Fire of London and St Paul's Cathedral. Discover more about his life and his other achievements as England's most acclaimed architect.

The style has a number of characteristics, notably flat elevations faced in brick cladding, portrait-shaped recessed windows, and the maximisation of homes having front-doors opening onto the street - all features found in London's extensive Georgian and Victorian terraced housing.

The City of London (the Square Mile)

It has been a centre for settlement, trade, commerce and ceremony since the Roman period, producing a unique historic environment of exceptional richness and significance. One of the reasons the Square Mile is unique, is the number of people who live, work and visit.

London is home to the Royal College of Art, the number one art school in the world, as well as 14 leading universities specialising in creative subjects. There are apprenticeships and paid internships on offer at leading arts and cultural institutions like the Royal Opera House and the National Theatre.

Character of the city. If the border of the metropolis is well defined, its internal structure is immensely complicated and defies description. Indeed, London's defining characteristic is an absence of overall form. It is physically a polycentric city, with many core districts and no clear hierarchy among them.

London is the world's global capital for creative design and construction skills.

Which UK city has the best architecture? ›

London – London, as the largest and most famous city, often tops the list of cities known for their stunning architecture. It is punctuated with iconic landmarks, such as the BT Tower, Battersea Power Station and new The Shard.

That and the mines' coastal location, so it could be transported up the Thames, was the reason London was built out of Portland Stone and why it's used across all the important buildings throughout the centuries.

From the Tower of London, Big Ben, and Parliament to Wembley Stadium, you can experience a world of history and excitement throughout your stay in England's capital.

The Wellington Arch, also known as the Constitution Arch or (originally) as the Green Park Arch, is a Grade I-listed triumphal arch by Decimus Burton that forms a centrepiece of Hyde Park Corner in central London, between the corner where Hyde Park meets Green Park.

The massive White Tower is a typical example of Norman military architecture, whose influence was felt throughout the kingdom.

The present-day Palace of Westminster is built in the perpendicular Gothic style, which was popular during the 15th century and was responsible for the Gothic revival of the 19th century.

Designed by Foster & Partners with Arup as the structural engineers, it has a distinctive slanting ovoid shape, created by inclined perimeter columns. A 500m helical walkway, which defines the interior, spirals up through the full-height atrium space.

The Palace is one of the most significant monuments of neo-Gothic architecture, as an outstanding, coherent and complete example of neo-Gothic style. Westminster Hall is a key monument of the Perpendicular style and its admirable oak roof is one of the greatest achievements of medieval construction in wood.