10 iconic British buildings you can live in
From a famous football stadium to a notorious nightclub
These buildings are instantly recognisable and iconic and, today, people get to call them home.
Claybury Hospital water tower, Chigwell
This iconic building in Chigwell, Essex was once the water tower for Claybury Hospital, a hospital for the mentally ill, which was home to around 2,000 patients. It is a Grade II listed building.
Claybury Hospital water tower, Chigwell
The tower is now home to a luxury three-bedroom apartment, with walk-in wardrobe, designer kitchen and even its own private lift to help you scale its 50-foot height. It was recently put on the market for a cool £1.25 million.
Empire House, Cardiff
Empire House in Cardiff played a crucial role in the city’s industrial coal business. Built in 1926, its historical significance led to the building achieving listed status in 1991.
Empire House, Cardiff
In 2014 Empire House was turned into 37 luxury one- and two-bedroom apartments, boasting an on-site concierge service and fully-equipped gym. A flat within the complex sold for £300,000 in December 2014.
Leonid Andronov/Shutterstock
Ten Trinity Square, London
Designed in the early 1920s, Ten Trinity Square, located near St Paul’s Cathedral in the centre of London, began life as the first home of the Port of London Authority. More recently it appeared in the James Bond film Skyfall as the home of MI6.
Ten Trinity Square, London
Bought by Chinese investors in 2010, the building has now been converted into 41 luxury apartments, as well as a Four Seasons hotel. It’s pretty pricey though – a one-bedroom apartment on a 999-year lease costs a cool £5 million.
Royal Victoria Patriotic Home, London
The Royal Victoria Patriotic Home in Wandsworth, south-west London was originally designed as an orphanage for girls who lost their parents in the Crimean War, and has since served as an interrogation room for MI6 and a field hospital.
Royal Victoria Patriotic Home, London
Sold in 1980 for just £1 on the proviso that it would be repaired and restored, the building is now home to more than 40 flats and studio apartments, with businesses calling it home too.
Peter Church via Wikimedia Commons
The Chocolate Works, York
The Chocolate Works was the home of the chocolate brand Terry’s, most famous for Terry’s Chocolate Orange. Located in York, the factory opened in 1926 and was closed in 2005 when owner Kraft Foods moved production into mainland Europe.
The Chocolate Works, York
The site began redevelopment into a mixed-use space in 2011, winning the Best Design award at the 2016 Housebuilder Awards. Two-, three- and four-bedroom properties are available for up to £475,000.
Bridewell Prison, Liverpool
Bridewell Prison, found in Liverpool’s Cheapside, housed prisoners from 1859 up until 1999 and was the city’s main jail.
Bridewell Prison, Liverpool
These days, the prison now exists as a series of luxury student flats which retain some of the old prison’s features. However, residents can now come and go as they please!
Yulia_Bogomolova/Shutterstock
Battersea Power Station, London
Made up of two individual power stations dating back to the 1930s, Battersea Power Station ceased generating electricity in 1983, with debates raging ever since then of the best way to make use of the Grade II-listed building.
Battersea Power Station, London
It's finally being turned into a mixed-use development, housing 3,500 homes, offices, shops and a theatre. Apple has announced plans to renovate and eventually house 1,400 employees on the site by 2021.
Ewan Munro via Wikimedia Commons
Hoover Building, London
The Hoover Building is difficult to miss if you drive out of West London, and was built back in 1933 as a factory for the famous vacuum brand.
Hoover Building, London
The main section of the Hoover Building is being turned into 66 flats, with prices beginning at £295,000. It's due to be completed next year, with English Heritage overseeing the restoration of a host of original features including the entrance foyer’s wrought-iron bannisters and marble floors.
Highbury Stadium, London
Highbury was the home of Arsenal Football Club between 1913 and 2006. In addition to Arsenal games, Highbury played host to 12 England internationals, many FA Cup semi-finals and even the 1966 boxing bout between Henry Cooper and Muhammad Ali.
Highbury Stadium, London
The stadium was converted into Highbury Square, boasting 650 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Some older parts of the stadium are Grade II-listed buildings and retained as part of the development, while the pitch was turned into gardens. In April a two-bedroom apartment within the complex sold for £740,000.
The Hacienda, Manchester
Manchester’s most famous nightclub, the Hacienda played host to artists as varied as the Smiths, the Happy Mondays, the Stone Roses and even Madonna. The club was mainly bankrolled by New Order, and ran from 1982 until 1997, despite a host of issues including security and drug use.
The Hacienda, Manchester
The nightclub was demolished and turned into 161 high-quality apartments by Crosby Homes in the early 2000s. The last apartment sold within the building fetched £285,000 back in November 2015.