A 34-storey modernist tower that defined London’s postwar skyline, Centre Point dominates the junction of New Oxford Street and St Giles High Street, close to the British Museum and Tottenham Court Road station.
At a glance
Centre Point is a mixed-use development comprising a distinctive cylindrical tower, a lower eastern block, and a linking structure. The complex rises 117 metres and contains approximately 27,180 square metres of floor space across retail, office and residential uses.
History
Completed between 1963 and 1966, Centre Point was among London’s first skyscrapers. The site itself carries darker history—it once held a gallows, and the construction required rerouting of the original St Giles High Street to accommodate the tower’s footprint.
The building remained empty from completion until 1975, a period of vacancy that drew public criticism. In 1974, housing activists briefly occupied it in protest. Since 1995, Centre Point has been protected as a Grade II listed building, recognising its architectural significance.
What you see
The tower’s cylindrical form and vertical striping create a striking silhouette on the London skyline. The design integrates a nine-storey eastern block containing shops, offices and residential units, connected at first-floor level, creating a complex urban form that responds to its busy intersection location.
Cultural significance
Centre Point marks a pivotal moment in London’s architectural evolution, representing the city’s embrace of high-rise modernism in the 1960s. As of 2009, it ranked among the capital’s 27 tallest buildings. Its controversial vacant period became emblematic of property speculation debates of the era.
Key facts
- Location: 101–103 New Oxford Street, 5–24 St Giles High Street, London WC1
- Height: 117 metres (385 feet)
- Storeys: 34
- Completed: 1966
- Grade II listed: Since 1995
- Converted to residential: 2015
- Coordinates: 51.51586111, -0.12969444
Practical information & getting there
Centre Point stands directly above Tottenham Court Road tube station (Northern and Central lines), making it easily accessible by London Underground. The building is located at a major crossroads in Bloomsbury, near the British Museum and within walking distance of the British Library and the West End.
Sources & resources
- Centre Point – Wikipedia
- Cultural Heritage Online
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