London, UK: remarkable British architecture in the city!

duvinca in Architecture+Design • last month

Hello archi lovers!

We are back in the fascinating city of London, full of stimuli and interesting things to see. And among all that we see, we can really notice its architecture, which reveals the very personality of the English city: eclectic, historical and condensed.

Because London is full of interesting and different buildings everywhere. Let's see some...

Downtown monuments

Of course, in the centre, where we have visited some of the most well-known and popular places. And from outside the National Gallery, in the famous Trafalgar Square, right next to Nelson's column and a large fountain, we can enjoy a nice view, we see a typical street, full of people, iconic buses, and elegant, very British facades.

And in the background, the castle tower that we already visited, and from another perspective, again, Big Ben, that great clock that informs us that we are spending time enjoying London.

And suddenly, among so much classicism or old neoclassicism, we are surprised by some aggressive glass and metal architecture that stands out. And as we walk along more streets, we also come across other magnificent buildings, some with wonderful decorative elements on their facades, others important, with flags, and others commercial with many signs, in addition, the typical underground signs.

The Tube (The Underground)

Of course, if you are in London you have to take the underground at some point, which is popularly known as "the tube". A network that is many decades old, one of the oldest in the world, and the busiest too. So you have to be careful to stand to one side on the stairs and not disturb all the people passing by in the rush of the day.

Piccadilly Circus

And we emerge from the mouth of the subway into a mythical place, the square of Piccadilly Circus, a well-known meeting place for all groups of people, always vibrant not only because of the constant traffic but also because of the large advertising posters. Classical facades combine with modern illuminated letters. A summary of the vibrant life of London.

St. Paul's Cathedral

And one place that I particularly like a lot is the cathedral, yes, because in London there is one of the largest domes, after the Vatican, the Pantheon in Rome and some others that I don't remember...

But its majesty is impressive and how it stands out from the rest of the many buildings and the contrast with the more modern glass facades and facing a modern bridge, I think it is the Millenium Bridge, from which we enjoy an incredible perspective.

Shakespeare's Globe

And if we cross that bridge to the south, we find a curious building, in an old, almost medieval style. It is a theatre, Shakespeare's theatre, which has been replied maintaining its essence, of what a theatre where his works would be recited in times past would be like. And whose design clearly stands out from the rest of the surrounding buildings, showing definitively a unique personality.

Royal Albert Hall

We change the setting and location, without leaving the show. Because we are going to a famous place, home to multiple musical performances and concerts by the most remarkable artists in the world. It is the Royal Albert Hall, which also draws attention for its exterior decoration. A circular building made of bricks of an intense reddish color, which contrasts with the rest of the ornamental elements in a light cream tone. It is impressive, and inside we can be spectators of the most important concerts.

Bridges Views

An immense city that we are going through, we are getting tired, but we leave some views for the end, especially on some of its famous bridges. We see the Ferris wheel again, and we also see other bridges, where the innovative metal ones are mixed with the robust ones made of ancient stone. And in the background, part of the heterogeneous skyline of the city, the dome of the cathedral again, with other modern buildings that compete in height, design and attention, while a multitude of boats continue to travel along that famous River Thames in the London capital.

And now all that's left for us to do is relax a bit, in other interesting and pleasant places in the city that we will visit soon in the last post about London!