No. 1 Croydon

No. 1 Croydon stands beside East Croydon station on Addiscombe Road. The 24-storey tower was designed by Richard Seifert & Partners and completed in 1970. Its unusual shape comes from octagonal floors stacked at alternating angles. The building was once known as the NLA Tower after its first tenant, Noble Lowndes Annuities. Local nicknames include the Wedding Cake and the 50p Building for its resemblance to stacked coins.

The tower is worth the journey for its striking architecture and role in Croydon’s growth. It was one of many tall buildings added during the 1960s expansion of the town. A £3.5 million refurbishment in 2007 cleaned the exterior and upgraded the lobby and upper floors. The building has also appeared in television and film, including the sitcom Terry and June and the Black Mirror film Bandersnatch.

Visitors find a modern office tower with a distinctive silhouette. The ground floor houses a Sainsbury’s Local shop on the north side. Inside, the top ten floors provide high-spec air-conditioned offices. The lobby and common areas were redesigned during the restoration. Despite calls for heritage listing, the tower remains a prominent landmark in the skyline.