It too has been part of my life for so many years, since the early 1970s. My dad got to dine in the revolving restaurant and my Uncle worked there for a while. I remember the IRA bombs. The shock of how close they were.
Then that steamy night, when the London telephone codes changed from 01 to 071/081, I walked up Tottenham Court Road watching the light show from the tower, and tailed off into Fitzrovia to get closer. It was something like 28° at midnight that night, that seemed astonishing then (a bit too normal now).
It has been such a beacon, I still get out at Warren Street instead of Oxford St just so I can see it and walk by it. It is still the best building in London.
This is so beautiful – 'Cities age you faster than towns or villages, because they shift around you with such rapidity. You notice your youth fade. You see the trends emerge and dissipate, all in that desperate scramble for whatever is in fashion.'
Who’d have thought you’d get all sentiDuntal on us? Lovely work.
The BT Tower has always made me smile as it was conceived in the rush of optimism of that ‘white heat of technology’ age, the sort of futurism that becomes retro chic, like an Eagle Annual made out of concrete. Also I’m old enough to remember that time it was knocked down by a giant kitten.
Lovely writing, but seeing this “reassuring reminder that some things stay the same” described as the “BT Tower” is strange for me, and I imagine for others of my age and older, for whom it is, was, and will always be, the Post Office Tower! Chris G.
I completely share those feelings. When we came up to London from Southampton as a kid the excitement of seeing the PO Tower (as it was) was indescribable - it was so modern and beautiful and slightly other worldly - and has remained an unchanging fixture over the years.
As beautiful and otherworldly as it is, I don't quite agree that it's not important it will be sold on as luxury hotel. It's another view of the city that suddenly becomes the preserve of those with enough cash to buy it, and locked away from the rest of us poor huddled proles who shiver at its base and wonder what it must be like to gaze over the expanse of the city from a hallowed acropolis.
The angle on psychogeography and impermanence? With you on that though.
What a lovely piece of writing, Ian. As an architect and urbanist, I cannot stop myself from nodding along when you talk about the rapid change of cities in order to stay relevant due to economic forces. It is reassuring for us to have listed buildings in this country so not all historical relevance will be wiped out. It is a shame that a huge amount of buildings from the 60s onwards are disappearing, even though they have just as much architectural relevance as some of the older ones.
Would you recommend any good urbanist reading? I saw your comment and it made me think… maybe I’m an urbanist in waiting! I love this type of article about cities
Anyone who is interested and fascinated by cities is an urbanist.
In terms of reading, The Deaths and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs will be a good start, and all the books by Jan Gehl are fantastic. The Image of the City by Kevin Lynch is also a good read.
And if you fancy a bit of fiction, try The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson which is very good, also Gridiron by Philip Kerr.
OK Ian, that's a sufficiently brilliant piece of writing that I've now moved from unpaid hanger-on to fully subscribed to your substack. Keep it coming.
Many many years ago, walking home to Swiss Cottage through Regents Park and then Primrose Hill, my friend Ralph suggested we could navigate our way home by the stars. "Nah mate, telecom tower" I blurted back.
I have visited London from the US on five occasions during the course of my life and, as age creeps in to decision-making, hope there will be at least one more visit in my future.
I have been unable to figure out what it is about your city that has drawn me there or continues to hold my interest, but your description of the winding little streets amidst Victorian pubs and listed buildings gets close.
I have followed your writing from the States since the Brexit saga first unfolded and have always felt gratitude for your work.
Lovely. My mum worked for Post Office Telephones, which became BT, so, even though she was in Birmingham (they have one there, too, though not quite as iconic) I’ve always felt and affinity with telecommunications buildings in many different places. The PO Tower in London has always been the daddy of them, for me.
I loved the bit about finding your way home with it, too.
Love this, Ian. Growing up in London, I remember the Post Office Tower being built. I remember going all the way up it on an outing one summer holiday (the JOY of walking through those doors for the first time). I remember an astrononically expensive meal in the revolving restaurant. And yes, as you say, the beacon, the landmark like no other. My London.
It too has been part of my life for so many years, since the early 1970s. My dad got to dine in the revolving restaurant and my Uncle worked there for a while. I remember the IRA bombs. The shock of how close they were.
Then that steamy night, when the London telephone codes changed from 01 to 071/081, I walked up Tottenham Court Road watching the light show from the tower, and tailed off into Fitzrovia to get closer. It was something like 28° at midnight that night, that seemed astonishing then (a bit too normal now).
It has been such a beacon, I still get out at Warren Street instead of Oxford St just so I can see it and walk by it. It is still the best building in London.
Oh, man… You've just made me cry.
This is so beautiful – 'Cities age you faster than towns or villages, because they shift around you with such rapidity. You notice your youth fade. You see the trends emerge and dissipate, all in that desperate scramble for whatever is in fashion.'
Kudos is due.
Who’d have thought you’d get all sentiDuntal on us? Lovely work.
The BT Tower has always made me smile as it was conceived in the rush of optimism of that ‘white heat of technology’ age, the sort of futurism that becomes retro chic, like an Eagle Annual made out of concrete. Also I’m old enough to remember that time it was knocked down by a giant kitten.
Lovely writing, but seeing this “reassuring reminder that some things stay the same” described as the “BT Tower” is strange for me, and I imagine for others of my age and older, for whom it is, was, and will always be, the Post Office Tower! Chris G.
You write beautifully about the beautiful, crazy, history-laden city we call home. Thank you.
Absolutely beautiful writing. It’s a strange thing that tower
I completely share those feelings. When we came up to London from Southampton as a kid the excitement of seeing the PO Tower (as it was) was indescribable - it was so modern and beautiful and slightly other worldly - and has remained an unchanging fixture over the years.
As beautiful and otherworldly as it is, I don't quite agree that it's not important it will be sold on as luxury hotel. It's another view of the city that suddenly becomes the preserve of those with enough cash to buy it, and locked away from the rest of us poor huddled proles who shiver at its base and wonder what it must be like to gaze over the expanse of the city from a hallowed acropolis.
The angle on psychogeography and impermanence? With you on that though.
Most of us have not been able to go up there for decades, so in that sense not much will change, really.
What a lovely piece of writing, Ian. As an architect and urbanist, I cannot stop myself from nodding along when you talk about the rapid change of cities in order to stay relevant due to economic forces. It is reassuring for us to have listed buildings in this country so not all historical relevance will be wiped out. It is a shame that a huge amount of buildings from the 60s onwards are disappearing, even though they have just as much architectural relevance as some of the older ones.
Would you recommend any good urbanist reading? I saw your comment and it made me think… maybe I’m an urbanist in waiting! I love this type of article about cities
Anyone who is interested and fascinated by cities is an urbanist.
In terms of reading, The Deaths and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs will be a good start, and all the books by Jan Gehl are fantastic. The Image of the City by Kevin Lynch is also a good read.
And if you fancy a bit of fiction, try The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson which is very good, also Gridiron by Philip Kerr.
I am stunned by your eloquence
OK Ian, that's a sufficiently brilliant piece of writing that I've now moved from unpaid hanger-on to fully subscribed to your substack. Keep it coming.
Many many years ago, walking home to Swiss Cottage through Regents Park and then Primrose Hill, my friend Ralph suggested we could navigate our way home by the stars. "Nah mate, telecom tower" I blurted back.
Thanks Ian, that was unexpectedly lovely.
I have visited London from the US on five occasions during the course of my life and, as age creeps in to decision-making, hope there will be at least one more visit in my future.
I have been unable to figure out what it is about your city that has drawn me there or continues to hold my interest, but your description of the winding little streets amidst Victorian pubs and listed buildings gets close.
I have followed your writing from the States since the Brexit saga first unfolded and have always felt gratitude for your work.
Still do, Ian.
Thank you for committing thoughts to paper.
Lovely. My mum worked for Post Office Telephones, which became BT, so, even though she was in Birmingham (they have one there, too, though not quite as iconic) I’ve always felt and affinity with telecommunications buildings in many different places. The PO Tower in London has always been the daddy of them, for me.
I loved the bit about finding your way home with it, too.
Love this, Ian. Growing up in London, I remember the Post Office Tower being built. I remember going all the way up it on an outing one summer holiday (the JOY of walking through those doors for the first time). I remember an astrononically expensive meal in the revolving restaurant. And yes, as you say, the beacon, the landmark like no other. My London.