City Hall: The Building For The Mayor of London

Old City Hall is located on the Thames
Old City Hall

The Mayor of London who leads the GLA (Greater London Authority) requires a place of work; this is still true after the pandemic. The GLA was created in 2002 and since then they have been located in the purpose built City Hall building, located in the London Borough of Southwark close to Tower Bridge. This building has seen all three London Mayor's: Ken Livingstone, Boris Johnson, and Sadiq Khan. But in January 2022 City Hall moved to The Crystal in the Docklands to save £55 million over 5 years.

The Old City Hall

Old City Hall at night with Tower Bridge visible on the left side
Old City Hall is proximate to Tower Bridge

Opened in July 2002 and located on the southern bank of the Thames, in the shadow of Tower Bridge, City Hall in Southwark is iconic for being a "geometrically modified sphere". Currently, after City Hall left in January 2022, the building lies tenantless. The building cost £43 million to construct and was designed by Norman Foster.

The New City Hall

The New City Hall is proximate to the Cable Car
The Crystal (New City Hall) is in the shadow of the Cable Car

The GLA and Sadiq Khan moved to new City Hall in January 2022 which is located in what was called the Crystal which is in the Docklands. Specifically it is adjacent to the Emirates Royal Docks, the northern terminal of the Emirates Airline. The Crystal opened in September 2012 and in its first decade of operation was an exhibition centre. It prides itself on being “a highly sustainable building and a unique events venue”.

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