City Hall, London

City Hall, London

Unlike the ancient city halls commonly seen across Europe, London’s City Hall is an out-of-this-world, avant-garde structure from every angle. Situated on the south bank of the River Thames, it resembles a soap bubble swaying in the wind, facing the historic Tower of London across the river, and has become one of the iconic buildings along the Thames.

The architect of City Hall, London, is the internationally renowned Norman Foster. In 1993, Foster's design was selected from seven competition entries. Construction began in 1995, and after 30 months, the building was completed and handed over on schedule. City Hall is not owned by the City of London; the City Corporation and the Greater London Authority signed a 25-year lease with the owner in 2003, with plans to re-let the building around 2028. The entire structure is tilted three degrees to the south, a design intended to minimize sun exposure and thus reduce air conditioning costs. Another benefit of this tilt is that the building casts almost no shadow on the ground, ensuring that the Thames-side pavement on its northern side remains bathed in sunlight.

Most of the public spaces within City Hall are open to visitors, and the building frequently hosts various themed exhibitions, although entry requires passing through strict security checks. On the ground floor, there is a massive 16m x 10m aerial map of London, detailed enough to show even small houses. Aside from regular exhibitions and the “London Living Room” on the top floor, public information screens display the daily schedule of meetings held in the building, many of which can be attended by members of the public and the press. During council sessions, visitors can also take the escalator to observe the meetings.

City Hall (London)

Must-visit reason: One of the most distinctive buildings along the River Thames

Continent where the attraction is located: Europe【Europe】

Country/region where the attraction is located: Britain[Britain]

Province/state where the attraction is located: Greater London [Greater London]

City where the attraction is located: London [London]