NW London’s most iconic buildings

London is well-known for its diverse architecture. There are modern buildings – like the Gherkin – and historical treasures, such as the Tower of London.

North West London is full of magnificent buildings; some of which have sparked controversy, whilst others are famous for bringing communities together. 

Kubie Gold takes a look at which striking structures you need to look out for next time you’re in this neck of the woods:

125 Park Road

Affectionately nicknamed ‘the sardine can’ by cab drivers, 125 Park Road is an iconic Grade II listed building. It was designed in the late 1960s by architects Terry Farrell and Nicholas Grimshaw, and cost what now seems like a measly £227,000 to build.

The 11-storey building spans 35,508sq ft and consists of 18 two-bedroom, 18 one-bedroom and four penthouse apartments – plus a flat for the caretaker. There was a great sense of community among those who lived in the building and people were so desperate to live there that at one point there were more than 400 people on the waiting list.

Farrell and Grimshaw actually lived in the block itself and when it became listed in 2001, they were recognised as pioneers of the high-tech movement in British architecture. The building really does stand out from its surroundings, with its rounded corners, corrugated aluminium cladding and sloped glazed roof. Plus it’s in a fantastic location opposite the Hanover Gate entrance to Regent’s Park.

St Pancras Renaissance Hotel

With its red brick façade, Gothic Revival metalwork and gold leaf ceilings, it’s easy to see why the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel is known as London’s most romantic building. The hotel is located just above St Pancras International, which has been voted one of London’s favourite landmarks.

It was not always known as the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel though, as it was originally named the Midland Grand. Queen Victoria opened the hotel in 1873, which was mainly used by weary rail travellers to rest their heads after passing through St Pancras station. Unfortunately the hotel later closed in 1935 and the building was left to its own devices. In 2001, the space was uncovered and restoration work began. It took ten years and £200 million to return the building to its former glory, and it truly is a wonder to behold.

In the end, the great English poet Sir John Betjeman was proved wrong, as he famously said the hotel was “too beautiful and too romantic to survive” in London’s concrete and tower block jungle.

The British Library

Not too far away from St Pancras is the British Library – a fantastic piece of modern architecture which resembles a ship sailing into the city. Also donning a red brick façade, it’s the largest building to be constructed in the UK during the 20th century. The British Library was the cause of some controversy during its construction, as it took a whopping 30 years to build. No project has taken so long to construct since St Paul’s Cathedral, and that was built more than 400 years ago.

The building’s Scandinavian modernism style was inspired by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto’s well-known public buildings. Sir Colin St. John Wilson designed the building, which finally opened in 1995. As well as being home to great artefacts, such as the Magna Carta, and every book ever published, there are also a wide-range of meeting rooms inside the library. People can come in and read for free, and businesses can hold meetings in the 240-capacity conference centre.

One of the most grand places in the building is the King’s library, which lies in the very heart. There stands a 60,000-volume book collection which belonged to George III.

Swaminarayan Hindu Temple

This traditional stone mandir was a first for the Western world – one of this scale had never been constructed outside of India before. Located in Neasden, this place of worship is arguably one of the most beautiful buildings in London, thanks to its white marble domes and elaborately carved exterior and interior.

The main marble staircase leads up to the mandir, where visitors are then welcomed by the dancing figures carved into the entrance. Some are playing music, whilst others have incense or flowers. The mandir was constructed to the traditional designs of eighth-generation Ahmedebad architect CB Sompura and some 1,500 people were involved in the project, many of whom were volunteers. The outside is made of Bulgarian limestone, whereas the inside is a combination of Italian and Indian marble. These materials were picked not only because they’d withstand the Great British climate, but also because they are soft and therefore easy to carve.

It took just three years to build and tourists are able to walk around free of charge, so long as they respect the sacred nature of the building and follow its guidelines.