Four Incredible Listed Buildings to Visit in London

The capital is home to a wide variety of amazing structures, both historical and modern. There are 9,000 Grade I listed buildings across England and the City of London borough contains an impressive 589 of them alone. From churches to great halls, banks and houses, there’s plenty to choose from to suit all tastes.

Many famous buildings in London are Grade I listed, including St Paul’s Cathedral and Buckingham Palace. However, if you’re looking for some more hidden gems, see below for just four lesser known listed buildings to visit.

Westminster Bank

This Grade I listed building actually changed its name to Gibson Hall, after its designer John Gibson, but many people still refer to it as Westminster Bank. Completed in 1865, the building now operates as an events venue available for public hire. The building is covered in sculptural details and ornate carvings, including statues of women to represent British cities such as London, Manchester and Birmingham.

Dr Johnson’s House

The former home of 18th century author and lexicographer Samuel Johnson is now a writer’s museum. Set in Gough Square, the house contains period furniture, portraits, panelled rooms and exhibitions of Johnson’s life and work. Built in the late 17th century by Richard Gough, it is a rare example of a surviving building from this period.

Debenham House

This ornate residence was commissioned by Ernest Debenham in 1905 and designed by architect Halsey Ricardo. The mansion can be found at 8 Addison Rd, Holland Park and it stands out due to its striking blue and green bricks. The interior is said to be equally lavish, with mosaics depicting classical scenes, marble staircases, stained glass and even specially designed light switches.

Fenton House

This 17th century merchant’s house can be found in Hampstead and was bequeathed to the National Trust in 1952. There’s a lot of green space attached for a house in central London, including a large walled garden, orchard and kitchen garden. Visitors can sample some of the apples from the 300 year old orchard during the house’s annual Apple Day in September.

Buildings are important to us here at Simon Levy, which is why we’re proud to have a team of professional chartered building surveyors working across Borehamwood, Watford and Greater London. We’ve got all the expert services you need to help you with a number of issues, including dilapidations, party wall disputes, building defect diagnosis, planning matters and more. For more information about any of our building services, don’t hesitate to give us a call today or visit our website.