Update - Inside the 50p Building

Checking out the views from the 21st floor

A while back I blogged about one of my favourite London buildings No. 1 Croydon, otherwise known as the 50p Building. It's a one that divides opinion; you either love or hate it.

Well I love it, so when I read that it would be open to the public as part of Open House London I jumped at the chance to get inside and check out the views.

A bit about Open House London; for one weekend each year, Open-City (a not for profit architectural organisation) works with hundreds of buildings across London to see them open their doors to the public for free. A huge range of buildings are open to view; there are contemporary office blocks, London landmarks, private homes, schools, courts, hotels and palaces....the list can be viewed here. Last year i went to a windmill. In Croydon. It can't get more random than that.

So yesterday me and The Boy visited the 50p Building. They had opened up the 21st floor as a viewing gallery and also the location for a consultation on the development of the area around East Croydon Rail station (hopefully I'll blog on that at a later date). It was a perfect day for it - clear and sunny so the views were amazing. You could see as far as Wembley Arch and Canary Wharf. It's at times like this that I wish I had a better camera....

That's Canary Wharf in the distance...honest.

I love this picture too. Suburb-tastic or what?

Looking East from 50p building towards my street.

If you get the chance, get out today and discover a building in your area. Otherwise, get a date in the diary for next years event.