Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
3 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
4 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
5 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
6 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England London Trellick Tower

Trellick Tower

This iconic high-rise residential block was one of the last to be built in the Brutalist style.

London, England

Added By
Partridge
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Trellick Tower   Partridge / Atlas Obscura User
Trellick Tower   Partridge / Atlas Obscura User
Trellick Tower   Partridge / Atlas Obscura User
Trellick Tower   Partridge / Atlas Obscura User
Trellick Tower   Partridge / Atlas Obscura User
Trellick Tower   Partridge / Atlas Obscura User
  Snowdrop68 / Atlas Obscura User
  Snowdrop68 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Trellick Tower in west London was one of the last high-rise residential blocks to be built in the Brutalist architectural style. Designed by the Hungarian architect Ernő Goldfinger, construction began in 1968 and was completed in 1972. Its silhouette is immediately recognizable due to the separate elevator and service tower, which is linked every three stories to the main block.

The tower was intended to be a positive example of social housing with high-quality design and fittings, surrounded by green space. Goldfinger himself said, "the whole object of building high is to free the ground for children and grown-ups to enjoy Mother Earth and not to cover every inch with bricks and mortar."

But shortly after Trellick Tower was completed, the once-trendy concrete high-rise was no longer in fashion. In the first decade of its life, the tower became synonymous with antisocial behavior, crime, drugs, and prostitution, and was said to have been an inspiration for dystopian literature of the time. Yet to the surprise of many, the tower has survived and is enjoying a revival, including wide-ranging technical upgrades. In 1998 it was awarded  Grade II listed status, and its iconic facade has appeared in many movies and television shows.

Related Tags

Architecture Design Towers Brutalism

Know Before You Go

The closest underground station is Westbourne Park on the Hammersmith & City line, from which Trellick Tower is a five-minute walk along the Union Canal. The exterior can be freely accessed however the interior can only be accessed by residents.

Community Contributors

Added By

Partridge

Edited By

Rare, Snowdrop68

  • Rare
  • Snowdrop68

Published

May 23, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/photograph-of-trellick-tower-designed-by-erno-goldfinger
  • https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/1999/mar/11/features11.g28
  • https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-40728732
Trellick Tower
5 Golborne Rd
London, England
United Kingdom
51.523625, -0.205623
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Frank Gilbert Crichlow Plaque

London, England

miles away

Books for Cooks

London, England

miles away

Museum of Brands

London, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of London

London

England

Places 536
Stories 108

Nearby Places

Frank Gilbert Crichlow Plaque

London, England

miles away

Books for Cooks

London, England

miles away

Museum of Brands

London, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of London

London

England

Places 536
Stories 108

Related Stories and Lists

Harnessing the Dystopian Dread of the Brutalist Tower Block

architecture

By Phyllis Richardson

Related Places

  • Nørrelandskirkens Klokketårn (Nørreland Church Bell Tower)

    Holstebro, Denmark

    Nørrelandskirkens Klokketårn (Church of Nørreland Bell Tower)

    A unique, modernist church tower that appears to float above the ground.

  • Dzintaru Forest Park Watchtower

    Jūrmala, Latvia

    Dzintaru Forest Park Watchtower

    This seaside pine grove features an exclusive watchtower that presents amazing views.

  • Cedergrenska Tower

    Stockholm, Sweden

    Cedergrenska Tower

    Despite dreams of constructing this fairytale mansion, Albert Gotthard Nestor Cedergren never saw its completion.

  • The spiral staircase.

    Glasgow, Scotland

    The Lighthouse

    Climb this overlooked gem's spiral staircase and you'll be rewarded with spectacular views of Glasgow.

  • Spinnaker Tower

    Portsmouth, England

    Spinnaker Tower

    This striking observation tower shaped like a spinnaker sail is the newest icon in historic Portsmouth.

  • Walden 7

    Sant Just Desvern, Spain

    Walden 7

    A science fiction-inspired apartment building designed by a famous Spanish architect.

  • Brock Commons

    Vancouver, British Columbia

    Brock Commons Tallwood House

    The "plyscraper" is the world's tallest building made predominantly out of wood.

  • The Paternoster in Sheffield’s Arts Tower.

    Sheffield, England

    Paternoster Lift

    One of the last doorless, continuously moving elevators still in use in the U.K.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.