London Architecture

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"You find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford". Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784)

London is not characterised by any particular architectural style, having accumulated its buildings over a long period of time. Few structures predate the Great Fire of 1666, notable exceptions including the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Banqueting House and several scattered Tudor survivors in the City.

In itself, the City contains a wide variety of styles, progressing through Wren's late 17th century churches and the financial institutions of the 18th and 19th century such as the Royal Exchange and the Bank of England, to the early 20th century Old Bailey (England and Wales' central criminal court) and the 1960s Barbican Estate. Notable recent buildings are the 1980s skyscraper Tower 42, the Lloyds Building with services running along the outside of the structure, and the 2004 Swiss Re St Mary Axe building, known as the "Gherkin".

London's generally low-rise nature makes these skyscrapers and others such as One Canada Square and its neighbours at Canary Wharf and the BT Tower in Fitzrovia very noticeable from a distance. High-rise development is restricted at certain sites if it would obstruct protected views of Saint Paul's Cathedral. Nevertheless, there are plans for more skyscrapers in central London, including the 72-story "Shard of Glass", which will be one of the tallest buildings in Europe.

Other notable modern buildings include London City Hall in Southwark with its distinctive ovular shape, the British Library in Somers Town, the Great Court of the British Museum, and the striking Millennium Dome next to the Thames east of Canary Wharf. The disused (but soon to be rejuvenated) 1933 Battersea Power Station by the river in the southwest is a local landmark, whilst some railway termini are excellent examples of Victorian architecture, most notably St. Pancras Station and Paddington (at least internally).

Several monuments pay homage to people and events in the city. The Monument in the City of London provides views of the surrounding area whilst commemorating the Great Fire of London which originated nearby. Marble Arch and Wellington Arch, at the north and south ends of Park Lane respectively, have royal connections, as do the Albert Monument and Royal Albert Hall in Kensington. Nelson's Column is a nationally-recognised monument in Trafalgar Square, providing a focal point for the whole central area.

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The Royal Institute of British Architects has today named Britain's best new buildings in their annual awards. The buildings will go on to be considered for the Stirling prize, Britain's most prestigious architecture award, which will be announced in June. Here are some of the highlights from RIBA's list of 92 contenders ...

Manchester: Hilton Tower by Ian Simpson Architects. Beetham Tower in Manchester is the tallest residential building in the country with 219 apartments and a five-star Hilton hotel in the 171m-high block

Photograph: Christopher Thomond

London: St Pancras International station by Alistair Lansley. RIBA's verdict: 'The design strategy has both coherence and drama ... that intentionally establishes the magnificence of the architecture.'

Photograph: Paul Childs

Nottingham: Old Market Square by Gustafson Porter. RIBA's verdict: 'A fluid inviting public space. It allows the surrounding buildings both to complement each other and stand out for their architectural character.'

Photograph: Dominic Henry/PR

Manchester: Civil Justice Centre by Denton Corker Marshall. RIBA's verdict: 'The largest court building to be built in the UK since the Royal Courts of Justice ... elegant and beautifully executed.'

Photograph: Christopher Thomond

East Beach Cafe, Littlehampton. Architect: Heatherwick Studio. The judges said: 'It is both strange and captivating; weird but lovable.'

Photograph: /PR

Glasgow: BBC Scotland, Pacific Quay by David Chipperfield Architects. RIBA's verdict: 'A singularly awe-inspiring volume.'

Photograph: David Woods/PR

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