The City Model

The City of London, also known as the Square Mile, is the primary business district and historic centre of London. The 1:500 City Model is the best place for people to come to experience the future of the City of London’s skyline and engage with new developments. 

The model is used by a range of built environment professionals involved in the shaping of the City and includes exact scale replicas of the buildings in and around the Square Mile, with added detail on illuminated buildings built since the year 2000. 

The original model base is now 30 years old, over this time the model has grown to include wooden blocks, detailed cardboard cut-outs and 3D printed buildings. There are three building colours on the model which are representative of different historical periods of the City’s architecture.  

Adaptive London: Reusing Existing Buildings

NLA has launched its latest report ‘Adaptive London: Reusing Existing Buildings’. This report builds upon previous NLA research on climate resilience, the circular economy and the evolving world of work, to bring together best practice in the art of adaptive reuse across the capital. The report demonstrates a wealth of skills and talent through exemplary schemes, thought leadership and research, that places London as a global leader in this field. 

Accompanying the report is a dedicated exhibition, exploring a variety of adaptive reuse typologies that are synonymous with London’s built fabric. New schemes have been placed alongside well-known adaptive reuse projects, bringing these typologies to life. These are marked on the London models alongside a selection of project models also displayed in the gallery. The exhibition panels use repurposed timber or cardboard in tune with the narrative of the report.

The publication is part of a wider programme of events, digital publication and exhibition that explore reuse and retrofit in the city. View the report here.

Planning London

Planning London showcases the innovative data tools used by the Mayor of London to map out development in ways that balance growth with community needs, ensuring that the city evolves sustainably, inclusively and with accountability to its people.

The Mayor of London's planning agenda is driven by a commitment to improving the well-being and quality of life of all Londoners, as outlined in the London Plan. Central to this vision is Good Growth, a holistic approach to urban development that prioritises sustainability, inclusivity, and a higher quality of life. Explore the data used to inform the Mayor's planning agenda at The London Centre.

London: Change, Opportunity, Vision

The permanent exhibition at The London Centre invites visitors to explore the transformation of London in the last 20 years, the opportunities that come with change, and the vision needed to deliver the city all Londoners deserve.

Centred around our world class scale models of the city, London: Change, Opportunity, Vision covers key areas across the capital where change has been successful and sustainable. The exhibition reveals how planning in London works today and the vast array of opportunities on offer, inviting everyone across the capital to envision and shape a better.

This free display will feature a broad range of projects, products and materials that make attractive places for people to work, live and play.

#ChangeOpportunityVision