LONDON on the Ground

Recently restored and open to the public, its clean classical exterior hides subtly impressive art deco details inside. Waltham Forest Town Hall In 1932 the municipal borough of Walthamstow, then part of Essex, decided that its Victorian town hall on Orford Road was no longer big enough. The council sought bids from architects to design new civic buildings on a large rural site previously occupied by Chestnuts Farm. Walks available for booking For a schedule of forthcoming Lo

The City of London’s largest shopping centre offers stunning views of St Paul’s and beyond (it also has shops). One New Change Opened in 2010, One New Change occupies a whole block, bounded by New Change, Cheapside, Bread Street and Watling Street. It is the second post World War II building on this site, replacing offices built in 1957 (on what had been a bomb site) for the Accountant’s Department of the Bank of England. Walks available for booking For a schedule of forthcom

Five buildings have successively replaced St Paul’s as the capital’s tallest. St Paul's Cathedral and The Shard Sir Christopher Wren’s St...

Unpublished drawings of St Paul’s and Blitz-damaged Wren churches in the 1950s and 1960s. St Paul's Cathedral and St Nicholas Cole Abbey,...

Nelson’s Column is London’s best known free-standing stone column, but is it the tallest? Duke of York Column - Nelson’s Column -...

London's most prolific 20th century architect was born 150 years ago. Charles Holden and his Senate House design Charles Holden was...

The Parliament architect honed his Gothic Revival design skills on four Islington churches. Architect Sir Charles Barry (1795-1860) is...

The site’s 800 year history includes housing Jews converted to Christianity, and legal and national records. During London Open House...

Simple brick arches support one of Victorian London's most elaborate monuments. I recently joined the first ever public tour of the...

The Old Queen's Head, Victorian on the outside and Tudor inside. The popular North London watering hole on Essex Road appears to be like...

Ancient London buildings depicted in the 18th century and today. In June, I posted some of John Thomas Smith's engravings of London,...

From ruined royal residence to magnificent modern mansion. A 15th century gothic great hall, a stunning 20th century Art Deco...

The City of London office block, Richard Rogers and Sir Christopher Wren. Officially 122 Leadenhall Street, or the Leadenhall Building,...

See paintings by William Hogarth and climb the scaffolding to admire the Great Hall's stucco ceiling. The 18th century North Wing of St...

Late 18th century engravings of London buildings that were already old then (spot the few that remain today!). John Thomas Smith captured...

Fire, Air, Water and Earth: stone relief for Lloyd's. The carving, in a hidden City of London alleyway, represents the Four Elements.

Unique, architect-designed plates recognise support for the Architects Benevolent Society. City of London livery companies are known for...

The Bloomsbury structure has proved highly influential, but is it modernism, brutalism or something else? The Brunswick Centre is a...

The North London stadium was unique in football architecture, motivated by an innovative manager and inspiring generations of Arsenal...

Engravings of London of more than 200 years ago. John Thomas Smith was an artist, engraver and writer who captured London in the late...