Architecture

London's most unusual architectural landmarks      

London is the capital of the UK and its biggest city by a mile. So, it’s no surprise that millions of tourists descend upon it every year. One of the main attractions is the plethora of architecture.

Everywhere you turn, you’ll be presented with examples of fantastic British architecture. Some is quite traditional, others a bit more out there. Some you’ll love and some you’ll hate.

If you plan on seeing the sights for yourself, here are some of London’s most unusual architectural landmarks.

Trellick Tower

This 31-storey block of flats is hardly the first piece of architecture to come to mind when thinking of London architecture. However, the brutal design by Erno Goldfinger has become something of a local landmark.

The high-rise used to have a reputation for crime, but since the 1980s when tenants were able to buy their flats, it’s become a much more desirable place to live. In fact, one of the apartments sold for close to half a million pounds.

It is now such a part of popular culture that it has featured in several television shows and music videos, including those by Blur and The Verve.

Battersea Power Station

It would be hard to do a list of London’s best architecture without including the upside-down table design of Battersea Power Station.

Despite not having been used for more than three decades, the infamous chimneys are still standing. However, the art-deco building is set for a £100m revamp, which will involve demolishing the originals and rebuilding them from scratch.

The site is set to be redeveloped into homes, offices, shops and a park, but the team behind the restoration are using the original architectural plans to ensure it retains its character.

Royal Albert Hall

Built in the late 1800s, the Royal Albert Hall was once described as a cross between the Coliseum and a Yorkshire Pie. However, it’s now considered one of the most notable buildings in London.

With 6 million red bricks and 80,000 blocks of terracotta, it’s a real tribute to Victorian architecture, complete with Victorian front doors.           

The Hall’s auditorium measures a huge 185 feet wide and 219 feet long – the glass dome and girders that cover the Hall, was once the world’s biggest structure of its kind.