The Strangest Buildings in London
Posted on 31/08/2015
The city of London is an interesting destination for tourists from all over the world, not only because of its impressive history, but also because of the strange buildings that are located within its boundaries. The capital of the UK has some really interesting sights to show its visitors, aside from the regular and most famous buildings present. There is much around the city to inspire wonder and the following list reveals just a small part of the buildings that accomplish this:
- The Gherkin - this towering skyscraper rises at 180 meters to the sky and is one of the buildings in London with the most striking architecture. The skyscraper, known also as 30 St Mary Axe, offers the best 360 degree view of the city. This popular landmark is often used to host major corporate events and offers private hire of the glass dome at the top. The Gherkin is famous for the exclusive menus of world class catering. The lounge, bar and restaurant are considered highly exclusive, featured in the home of London’s highest private members’ club.
- London City Hall - often times compared to an egg or a biker’s helmet, the London City Hall has the weirdest shape for a building. This bulbous structure is located on the south bank of the Thames, next to Tower Bridge. It serves as headquarters of the Great London Authority, comprising the London Assembly and the Mayor of London. A notable feature of the City Hall is the 500-metre long helical walkway, considered an absolute feat of engineering. The top of this landmark is turned into meeting and exhibition space by the name of London’s Living Room. The main quality of the building is its transparency.
- London Coliseum Theatre - located in central London, the Coliseum Theatre is one of the capital’s theatres offering the largest variety. This magnificent building of luxury opened on 24 December 1904, and was then described as “people’s palace of entertainment”. The venue is known as the first in Europe to use lifts for patrons to reach the upper levels. Nowadays, with its 2359 seats, the theatre is easily ranked the largest one in London. Currently the theatre is used for opera and home of the English National Ballet, but in the past it has been a venue for musical comedies, stage plays and a variety of other shows.
- King’s Cross Station - located in Central London, King’s Cross Station is a major railway terminus in the capital. It was built in 1851-1852 and named after the King’s Cross area. The station is known as one of the biggest transport hubs of London. It serves main lines such as Newcastle, Edinburgh and Leeds plus other major destinations. The station offers convenience as the London Underground has more connections to it than to any other station. King’s Cross Station has undergone severe improvements with additional entrances, better facilities and more space. All of it has made changing between services and lines a breeze.
- Tate Modern - the art gallery of Tate Modern takes the place of the Bankside Power Station in the London Borough of Southwark. This national gallery of international modern arts holds a huge collection of art pieces dating back from 1900 to present days as well as international contemporary and modern art. The building has seven floors, with the first four being gallery space. Additionally, the building features the Starr Auditorium, facilities used for educational purposes, a large performance space and several small shops that sell various kind of merchandise.
London is home to some truly interesting buildings, which should definitely be visited. Not only are they unique in design, but also in history and represent fascinating feats of engineering and design.
