Millbank Tower

Millbank Tower is a 119-meter (390 ft) skyscraper located on Millbank in the City of Westminster, overlooking the River Thames in London. Built in 1963, it has been home to various high-profile political and international organizations. The tower is a notable landmark on the London skyline and stands half a mile upstream from the Palace of Westminster.

Originally known as Vickers House or the Vickers Tower, the building was constructed for Vickers by the architecture firm Ronald Ward and Partners and built by John Mowlem & Co. Its design is considered distinctive and won public affection, according to the 2003 Pevsner architectural guide, which praised its style compared to the more “boxy” Shell Tower at Waterloo. Before the completion of the BT Tower in 1964, Millbank Tower was the tallest building in the UK. It remains a significant piece of London’s architectural heritage and is a Grade II listed building.

The tower has had various owners over the years, with David and Simon Reuben acquiring it in 2002, while the property management remains under its former owner, Tishman Speyer Properties.

Millbank Tower has played a key role in UK politics. The Labour Party rented two floors from 1994 to 2002, using the space as their campaign hub for the 1997 General Election. After Labour’s victory, they moved headquarters from John Smith House on Walworth Road to Millbank Tower. However, by 2002, the Labour Party vacated the tower due to the high cost of rent, which had risen to £1 million per year, forcing them to relocate to more affordable premises in Old Queen Street. The Conservative Party also used the tower, running its campaign headquarters from the building between 2006 and 2014.

Aside from political parties, many international organizations have occupied Millbank Tower, including the United Nations, which had offices there until 2003. Like Labour, the UN left the building due to rising rents. Other notable occupants have included the Central Statistical Office (which later became the Office for National Statistics), the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, and the Ministry of Justice Records Management Service. Several other organizations, such as the Environment Agency, World First (a foreign exchange company), the World Bank (until 2022), and the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, have also made the tower their base.

In 2010, the tower became the focal point of student protests when thousands of demonstrators, rallying against a proposed tuition fee hike, surrounded and occupied the building. The Conservative Campaign Headquarters was based in the tower at the time, making it a natural target for student protests. The occupation of Millbank helped fuel further demonstrations across the country that year.

Millbank Tower has seen its share of other notable organizations and businesses. In recent years, it housed the London office of Medopad, Canonical Ltd, the Open Society Foundations, and the event caterers Salt and Pepper. It was also the location of the studios for RT UK before the channel’s closure in 2022. The now-defunct People's Vote campaign, which advocated for a second referendum on Brexit, was headquartered in the building for a time.

In 2016, the Reuben brothers received permission from Westminster City Council to redevelop Millbank Tower despite its listed status. Their plans include transforming the building into a mix of high-end apartments, a luxury five-star hotel with 150 rooms, and a cultural centre. The redevelopment project also includes adding three additional stories to the tower, alongside amenities such as a gym, spa, and swimming pool. Construction is set to begin in 2024 after the expiration of the existing tenancies.

With its rich history and prominent place on London’s skyline, Millbank Tower continues to evolve. It remains a symbol of the city’s changing landscape, reflecting its political and architectural heritage while adapting to modern needs with the upcoming redevelopment project.