A Gothic Revival landmark on Old Bond Street, this 1926 perfume house combines medieval-inspired architecture with Arts and Crafts refinement, crowned by a carillon of 23 bells.
At a glance
Atkinsons Building occupies the corner of Old Bond Street and Burlington Gardens in Westminster, comprising numbers 2 and 4 Burlington Gardens. Designed by architect Vincent Harris and completed in 1926, it was built as the London headquarters of the Atkinsons perfume company. The structure exemplifies the intersection of commercial ambition and architectural craft in interwar London.
History
Commissioned by the prestigious perfume house Atkinsons of London, the building was completed in 1926. Architect Vincent Harris (1876–1971) created a distinctive landmark that served the company’s retail and administrative needs. Today the structure houses a Salvatore Ferragamo women’s fashion store.
What you see
The building’s Gothic Revival style draws inspiration from medieval ecclesiastical architecture, reinterpreted through the decorative sensibility of the Arts and Crafts movement. The most distinctive feature crowns the structure: a spire containing a carillon musical instrument of 23 bells, cast by the renowned bellfounder Gillett & Johnston. This combination of historical reference and functional artistry defines the building’s character.
Cultural significance
Atkinsons Building represents a confident assertion of commercial identity through architectural means. The Gothic Revival vocabulary suggests heritage and quality—qualities essential to a perfume brand—while the Arts and Crafts detailing anchors the design in early twentieth-century artistic values. The carillon adds an unexpected dimension: a working musical instrument that transforms the building into a temporal marker for the surrounding streets.
Key facts
- Country: United Kingdom
- City: London (City of Westminster)
- Completed: 1926
- Architect: Vincent Harris
- Grade II listed building
- Coordinates: 51.50949, -0.14118
- Carillon: 23 bells by Gillett & Johnston
Practical information & getting there
The building stands on Old Bond Street, one of London’s most celebrated shopping streets in Mayfair. The site is accessible to pedestrians; the ground floor now houses a fashion retail store open to the public during standard shopping hours. To experience the carillon, visit during business hours or check ahead for any special performances.
Sources & resources
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