These iconic landmarks may have started life as factories, football arenas or prisons, but they have been converted into some truly spectacular housing complexes.
For homes with a bit of history, look no further than these remarkable remodels, which have taken some of Britain’s most beloved builds from an obsolete past into a bright future.
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Designed in the early 1920s, Ten Trinity Square in the heart 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.
The Beaux Arts-style building, designed by renowned architect Sir Edwin Cooper, has earned a Grade II designation.
Perhaps its most distinctive feature is its central rotunda, which was destroyed by a bomb during the Blitz. However, when the building was restored, the old rotunda was rebuilt and topped with a magnificent glass dome designed to mirror that of the nearby St Paul’s Cathedral.
Bought by Chinese investors in 2010, the building has now been converted into 41 luxury apartments, as well as a Four Seasons hotel.
The apartments have been styled around the ideals of privacy and luxury, offering all the high-end amenities of a five-star hotel but with the autonomy and independence of private accommodation.
Residents enjoy a concierge service, private lifts and in-residence dining.
The Royal Victoria Patriotic Home in Wandsworth, southwest London was originally designed as an orphanage for girls who lost their parents in the Crimean War. It has since served as an interrogation room for MI6 and a field hospital.
However, the spectacular Gothic Revival-style building looks more like a medieval castle than anything else, combining elements of the Scottish Baronial and French Château architectural styles.
The Grade II-listed building was designed by architect Major Rohde Hawkins in 1859.
Sold in 1980 for just £1 on the proviso that it would be repaired and restored, Royal Victoria Patriotic Home is now 27 flats, 20 studios, 15 workshops and a bar and restaurant, as well as two large office units.
The building was designed to cater to an eclectic mix of residents including artists, architects, craftsmen, designers and students of the drama school it houses.
Bridewell Prison in Liverpool’s Cheapside housed prisoners from 1859 until 1999 as the city’s main jail. From its austere brick façade, it’s easy to see that the building was designed to strike fear into those who passed it, warning them not to run afoul of the law.
It was originally comprised of roughly 60 cells, each equipped with a heavy wooden door, stone floors and a wooden bench with a hole at one end that would have served as both a bed and, horribly, a toilet for the prisoners.
In a total transformation, most of the prison has been converted into upmarket student accommodation for the University of Liverpool.
Following a £2.6 million ($3.3m) conversion, students are now housed in a collection of 87 modern rooms, which still feature the exposed brickwork of the original prison.
However, residents can now come and go as they please!
Made up of two individual power stations dating to the 1930s, Battersea Power Station ceased generating electricity in 1983. Debates raged for years over the best way to use the Grade II-listed building.
However, one of the southwest London skyline’s most iconic landmarks has now taken on an entirely new life as a mixed-use neighbourhood designed for locals and tourists alike. It holds over 150 shops, bars, restaurants, entertainment venues and leisure centres.
The complex also houses an exclusive number of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, all elegantly decorated, furnished and ready to move into.
Residents have access to a range of resort-style amenities including rooftop gardens, state-of-the-art gyms, lounges, bars, dedicated workspaces and cinema rooms. It’s like living in an upscale hotel!
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.
Known colloquially both as ‘Highbury’ for its location and as ‘the home of football’ for its storied reputation, the beloved stadium was built on the site of a local college’s recreation grounds.
Over the years, it underwent two significant redevelopments. However, further structural changes to accommodate large matchday crowds were ultimately blocked by the community, leading to the construction of the new high-capacity Emirates Stadium.
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 structures and these were retained as part of the development, while the pitch was turned into gardens.
To give a sense of price range for these apartments, the bright and modern two-bed, two-bath flat pictured here was last listed as a rental with estate agent Dexters for £2,700 ($3.4k) per month in 2025.
The leader of what became known as the 'Madchester' scene of the 1980s and 90s, the Hacienda was easily Manchester’s most famous nightclub, playing host to artists as varied as The Smiths, Happy Mondays, The Stone Roses and even Madonna.
Mainly bankrolled by the band New Order, the club operated from 1982 until 1997. A riotous centre for dancing and nightlife, the venue attracted the best and brightest of England's musical aficionados until it was finally forced to shut its doors as the wild 90s neared their finish.
The nightclub was demolished and turned into 161 high-quality apartments by Crosby Homes in the early 2000s. The new complex was named ‘The Hacienda’ in honour of its fallen predecessor, but no other traces remain of the infamous hotspot.
As of 2025, a flat in the new complex, like the one pictured here, rents out for approximately £1,350 ($1.7k) a month.
Established in 1890 and constructed by Joseph Rowntree, the Cocoa Works is a former chocolate factory in York. The complex followed the modern ‘garden factory’ model, providing open spaces and educational facilities for the betterment of factory workers and their families.
The factory was built in the traditional brick industrial style and is considered a site of cultural and historical significance to the city.
Today, a sensitive restoration has transformed the building into a collection of studio, one- and two-bed apartments, all of which benefit from the high ceilings and large windows featured in the factory’s original design.
Now updated for industrial chic living, the apartments have details harkening back to the building’s industrial origins, with an added touch of Art Deco in the kitchen and bathroom finishings.
The long-term home of the BBC after being officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1961, the Television Centre in White City became the flagship site for all things British entertainment.
The iconic landmark saw the launch of countless historic programmes, including the start of Sir David Attenborough’s prolific presenting career with his first TV series Life in 1979.
However, in 2012, the site was acquired by Mitsui Fudosan, AimCo and Stanhope, which had a different future in mind for the building.
In 2024, the Television Centre entered a new chapter. It's now reimagined as 432 design-led apartments, a collection of penthouses and townhouses, 300,000 square feet (27,870sqm) of office space and a range of amenities.
Renamed 'The Ariel', the Television Centre’s only tower now offers 23 storeys of studio, one-, two- and three-bed apartments, all expertly outfitted by MSMR Architects and featuring breathtaking views of the surrounding city.
With its clock tower and distinctive conical chimney emblazoned with the Horlicks name in red lettering, Slough’s iconic Horlicks factory has remained a beloved landmark since its construction in 1908.
The sweet, malted milk powder for hot drinks, a staple for many British cupboards, was invented by a Congregationalist minister James Horlicks in the 1860s.
During the Second World War, it really took off, advertising itself as a nutritional supplement for infants, patients and the elderly during rationing.
When the factory closed its doors in 2018, it was immediately acquired by Abri Homes, which aimed to repurpose the building into flats while retaining its architectural integrity and history, including the listed war memorial on its grounds.
The £40 million ($51m) renovation resulted in 161 apartments, a gym, a cinema room, a cafe, a lounge, a nursery and a coworking space housed in the old clocktower.
The iconic lettering from the chimney has also been preserved and now adorns a pedestrian walkway through the site.
Located in the heart of the city of London adjacent to the Barbican Arts Centre, the Barbican Estate, or simply 'Barbican', is a prime example of Brutalist architecture.
Construction began in 1965 and took 11 years to complete, with the final product consisting of three tower blocks, 13 terrace blocks, two mews and a central water garden that stretched across 40 acres (16ha). It has earned a Grade II listing thanks to its innovative design and historical value.
Unlike many of the properties featured, the Barbican was always intended to be residential. Today, it comprises 2,014 flats occupied by over 4,000 residents.
However, the Barbican complex also plays host to the Barbican Centre, the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, the City of London School for Girls and the Barbican library, making it quite the Bohemian artistic mecca.
Empire House in Cardiff played a crucial role in the city’s industrial coal business. Built in 1926, its historical significance meant the building achieved listed status in 1991.
The Grade II-listed neo-Georgian-style building has been meticulously preserved, making it one of the best examples of this interwar architectural style in South Wales.
In 2014 Empire House was turned into 37 luxury one- and two-bedroom apartments, boasting an on-site concierge service and fully equipped gym.
An additional rear two-storey upper extension also hosts Wales’s largest duplex penthouse. In refurbishing the property, an effort was made to retain its historic architectural integrity.
The main entrance features black and white marble flooring, mahogany panelling and a large brass lantern, paying tribute to the building’s neo-Georgian roots.
One of central London’s most distinctive and beloved structures, St Pancras Chambers (formerly the Midland Grand Hotel) at St Pancras Station by King’s Cross was constructed between 1868 and 1876 by architect George Gilbert Scott.
The Gothic Revival-style structure is quintessentially Victorian, with an imposing clocktower, brick façade and dramatically arched and dormered windows.
Originally constructed as a rest stop for wealthy rail travellers, the Midland Grand Hotel was forced to shut its doors in 1935, though it has since been revived by hotel chain Marriot.
The spectacular building houses a more permanent residence hidden in the former water tower, a spectacular penthouse spanning over 6,000 square feet (557sqm) with vaulted ceilings, exposed Victorian beams and original brickwork.
The triplex offers three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a breathtaking family space equipped for entertaining on a grand scale. Perched high above the city of London with extraordinary views out over Pancras Square, the unique apartment lets you feel like you’re living in the sky.
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