Where to find London’s most spectacular and intriguing staircases
London's architecture spans centuries, presenting us with numerous historically significant buildings, many showcasing spectacular staircases. From Britain's first geometrically self-supporting staircase to those within award-winning structures honoured by RIBA. Even if you're not a die-hard architecture fan, a staircase can steal the show in a building. Here, we've picked out some of the most spectacular and intriguing staircases across London.
Queen’s House
The Tulip Stairs at. Queen's House, Royal Museums Greenwich. ©MTotoe.
#FLODown: The Tulip Stairs at Queen's House, designed by Inigo Jones is Britain's first self-supporting spiral staircase. Once home to Queen Anne of Denmark, this house marked Jones's inaugural major commission after his influential architectural tour. The staircases blue tulip motif, is said to be a nod to the 17th-century 'Tulip-mania.'
Location: Romney Rd, Greenwich, London SE10 9NF.
Somerset House
Nelson or Navy Stairs at Somerset House. ©MTotoe
#FLODown: Somerset House is widely celebrated as a hub of arts and culture. Among its hidden treasures is the Nelson or Navy Stairs, named after Lord Nelson, who frequented the Navy Boardroom located on its top floor.
Location: Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN.
Courtauld Gallery
Courtauld Gallery Staircase. © MTotoe.
#FLODown: The Courtauld Gallery's staircase, designed by Sir William Chambers in the 18th century as the first home of the Royal Academy of Arts, is as renowned as the art within. At its top sits a striking work by Cecily Brown, which perfectly complements the staircase's grandeur.
Location: The Courtauld Gallery, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN.
Newport Street Gallery
Newport Street Gallery staircase. © MTotoe
#FLODown: Damien Hirst's Newport Street Gallery, crafted by Caruso St John, showcases three expansive galleries on both floors, extending seamlessly across the building. A striking staircase links the two gallery levels. The design garnered the gallery the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize in 2016.
Location: Newport St, Lambeth, London SE11 6AJ.
Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum. © Patxi Olaeta.
#FLODown: The Natural History Museum's Hintze Hall, stands out for its exquisite Romanesque entrance, the iconic Dippy the Dinosaur, and a magnificent grand staircase meticulously designed by architect Alfred Waterhouse after the passing of Francis Fowke.
Location: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD.
Asprey Store
Asprey Store London. Photo by Foster + Partners.
#FLODown: Designed by Foster + Partners, this self-supporting sweeping helical staircase is installed at the Asprey Store on New Bond Street, adding yet another elegant feature to the store.
Location: 167 New Bond St, Mayfair, London W1S 4AY.
Canada Water Library
Canada Water Library Staircase. © MTotoe.
#FLODown:The Canada Water Library, crafted by architect Piers Gough of CZWG, is an exceptional architectural marvel in London. Its striking inverted pyramid design, with a perforated aluminium facade, leads to a visually pleasing timber-lined spiral staircase linking the ground and first floor. While some criticise the staircase for taking up ample space, we appreciate it as a standout feature of the building.
Location: 21 Surrey Quays Rd, London SE16 7AR.
Tate Britain
Tate Britain Staircase. Photo by Ion Glass,
#FLODown: Tate Britain features a remarkable staircase which is best seen from their upper café. As part of a £45 million renovation completed in 2013, Tate Britain's staircase, nestled in the rotunda's centre, boasts an Instagram-worthy design with patterned terrazzo floor, and meticulously crafted geometry make it a visual beauty.
Location: Tate Britain, Bankside, London SE1 9TG.
Bevin Court
Bevin Court. Photo by TOR Coatings.
#FLODown: Bevin Court, a modernist post-war housing complex completed in 1954 by architect Berthold Lubetkin, hides an exceptional staircase. Tucked away on private property in Finsbury, this Grade II-listed gem arose from a bomb-destroyed site. The staircase, a distinctive vortex with walkways at various angles and a restored striking red colour, showcases Lubetkin's innovative design.
Location: Bevin Court, Cruikshank St, Kings Cross, London WC1X 9HB.
Heal's Department Store
Heal's Department Store Staircase. Photo by Ryan Searle.
#FLODown: Heal’s Furniture Store on Tottenham Court Road houses a renowned spiral staircase, designed in 1916 by Cecil Brewer, which at the time lead to an art gallery. This staircase gained fame hosting the groundbreaking exhibition of French Modern Art, featuring Matisse and Picasso, as the first showcase to the British public.
Location: The Heal's Building. 196 Tottenham Court Road. London. W1T 7LQ.
London City Hall
London City Hall. Photo by Foster + Partners.
#FLODown: City Hall, designed by Norman Foster, stands out along the River Thames with its distinctive bulbous shape. Despite varying nicknames like 'Helmet' and 'Glass Testicle,' its remarkable interior features a striking, winding staircase that has graced several movies and TV productions and is impressive to see in person.
Location: City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, London E16 1ZE.
Wellcome Collection
The Wellcome Collection staircases. © MTotoe.
#FLODown: The Wellcome Collection in London, founded by Sir Henry Wellcome, houses a medical collection of nearly 2 million objects. The building is home to a striking staircase designed by Wilkinson Eyre in 2015.
Location: Wellcome Collection,183 Euston Rd, London NW1 2BE.
Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace Staircase. Photo by Kensington Palace.
#FLODown: The staircase at Kensington Palace, crafted by William Kent, serves as a vibrant testament to the era of George I. This magnificent piece of artistry replaced the simple wood panels originally installed by Christopher Wren. Kent's vivid mural not only brought life to the court of George I but also garnered him a handsome fee at the time of £500 for his remarkable work.
Location: Kensington Palace,Kensington Gardens, London W8 4PX.
St Pancras Renaissance Hotel
St Pancras Renaissance Hotel Staircase. © MTotoe.
#FLODown: The staircase at St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, featured in the Spice Girls' ‘Wannabe’ music video, is a stunning example of Victorian Gothic architecture. While it's a nostalgic spot for fans of the video, access to the stairs is limited to hotel guests due to its popularity among Tik Tok and Instagram users trying to recreate the scene.
Location: St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, Euston Road, London, NW1 2QR.
Tate Modern Blavatnik Building
Tate Modern Staircase. Photo by The Blowup.
#FLODown: The Blavatnik Building in Tate Modern features a unique curved concrete staircase, a standout element of the 2016 extension by Herzog & de Meuron. It's become one of London's most captured staircases for its striking design.
Location: Tate Modern Bankside London SE1 9TG.
HIDE London
HIDE London. © HIDE London/
#FLODown: The staircase at Ollie Dabbous’ HIDE restaurant in Mayfair stands out in London's staircase scene. Crafted by Atmos Studio, this swirling design is an elegant feature.
Location: HIDE, 85 Piccadilly, London W1J 7NB.
Lloyd’s of London
Lloyd’s Underwriting Room © Lloyd's London
#FLODown: The Lloyd’s Building in London, designed by Richard Rogers, showcases radical 'bowellism' architecture. Its exterior, besides being one of the most recognisable in the city, displays the building's inner workings, while the interior features a vast atrium flooded with light and criss-crossing escalators. It is accessible only during Open House London, unless, of course, you work there.
Location: Lloyd's building, One Lime Street, London EC3M 7HA.
32 St George Street
Staircase at 32 St George Street. © MTotoe.
#FLODown: The historic building, formerly the home of Shapero Rare Books, is now a cultural hub—32 St. George—founded by Lucinda Bellm of Lamb Arts. It features a beautiful staircase that's as worthy of a visit as the arts showcased at LAMB Gallery.
Location: 32 St George St, London W1S 2FJ.
The Morlaix staircase
STAIRCASE FRENCH (Breton); early 16th century Given by J. M. Fitzherny Esq. From a house at Morlaix, Brittany.(pre January 2001). V&A Museum.
#FLODown: On display at the V&A Museum is this intriguing staircase from Morlaix, Brittany, featuring intricate carvings of figures such as a bishop, St. Clement, a French king, and St. John the Baptist.
Location: V&A Museum, Cromwell Rd, Knightsbridge, London SW7 2RL.
Artists Anna Pianim and Adriana Wynne unveil their first collection, blending fine art and functional design with handcrafted sculptural light fixtures, in a dynamic, immersive event celebrating creativity and craftsmanship.