Open City London: Inside City Hall

I remember the years when I could dedicate a whole weekend to London Open City and do all the queueing and running around from place to place, trying to fit in as much as humanly possible. As I’ve crossed off many places in the last few years, I’ve slowed down and focused on only doing one or two attractions across the two days.

This year brought me to City Hall, also known as the Snail or the Testicle, that sits on the South Bank and currently houses the London Assembly and the offices of the London Mayor and staff. As they are actually moving at the end of the year, I figured it might be a good idea to go visit it now, as it might not even be on the list in 2022.

If you ever get the chance it’s definitely worth a visit as there’s lots of architectural quirks to enjoy inside the building, plus the viewing deck is a great place to spot all the nearby landmarks.

The Chamber where the Greater London Authority (that’s the Mayor of London and the London Assembly) discuss important issues underneath a hypnotic spiralling walkway.

The building is designed by the same people as the nearby Gherkin and the not so nearby Reichstag in Berlin, so you might recognise the similar use of glass and the helical staircases.

Take in the gorgeous views from the top floor: from Tower Bridge to the Tower of London and the Shard.