Built in 1986 this most futuristic building is the headquarters for Lloyd's Insurance. Richard Rogers, the architect, made the bold decision not to cover up the internal workings of the building such as lifts and water pipes. Instead he made them a feature of the building by putting them on the outside. This lead to it being described as an inside out building. It is hard to imagine that Lloyd's began life as a group of businessmen meeting in Edward Lloyd's coffee shop back in 1688.
Inside, some traditions are observed, such as the ringing of the Lutine Bell, which was taken from a French ship that sank in 1799. The bell is rung when a major insurance claim is made!
Surprisingly the American-born poet T S Elliot worked at Lloyds as a clerk for 7 years.
Address: One Lime Street, City of London, London, EC3M 7HA
Nearest Underground (Tube) Stations: Aldgate, Bank and Monument