It’s easy to stare in awe beyond the beautiful architecture already on our own shores when thinking about stunning buildings. However, the UK undoubtedly has a rich building history – from the modern glass towers of London’s financial district to the iconic medieval centrepieces of cathedral cities all over the country.
Here is a selection of some of the biggest, boldest and best buildings from throughout British history.
The Barbican, London
While not everybody will agree with this Brutalist design’s inclusion here, the design once comprised 2,000 flats, two schools and an arts centre. Now an art gallery, a theatre and host to many other arts and culture facilities, this collection of buildings encapsulates the post-war rebuild of England’s capital city – and demonstrates the immense power and impact of concrete as both a building material and an art form.
Westminster Abbey
From one building that’s certainly an acquired taste, to another that tourists can’t get enough of – this famed coronation church and mausoleum is more than 1,000 years old and has hosted some of the most famous royal marriages in history. If you plan to swing by while in London, be prepared to queue, and take in Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster nearby.
Durham Cathedral
Further north, and itself approaching its 1,000th birthday, this exquisite cathedral and UNESCO World Heritage Site is regarded as one of the finest examples of Norman architecture across Europe.
Surrounding the cathedral, the small local city still holds many fine examples of housing from the centuries since the cathedral was built. Every Durham roofing company in the area will certainly need to know how to work with listed buildings and a range of exquisite building materials in order to satisfy customers.
King’s Bench Walk
make the list. Well, it’s not simply because some of these buildings were designed by none other than Sir Christopher Wren – they actually hold even more significance.
After the Great Fire of London in 1666, the city required a new type of home to accommodate all of the people who had lost theirs. Therefore, in came bricks, and homes were packed together in tight terraces, forever changing the landscape of UK architecture nationwide.
A&G Murray Mills
One of the world’s oldest-surviving, once-steam-powered mills, these red-brick behemoths powered the industrial revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries. Essentially, it was buildings just like this that moved the UK from a mainly rural and agricultural society and into an industrial icon composed of the large urban environments we know today.
Chatham Historical Dockyard
Finally, with another several hundred years of history within its walls, this Kent dockyard became influential in the production of the Royal Navy, helping it to become the most powerful fleet in the world. Take a trip back in time and learn how the ships were created and how the local workforce lived, in this enormous structure steeped in cultural significance.
