Radio City Tower

The Radio City Tower stands in Liverpool’s Metropolitan Borough as a 138-metre communications and observation tower. Designed by James A. Roberts Associates, it was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1969 and is the second-tallest free-standing structure in the city. A 10-metre antenna on the roof makes it the tallest structure when antennas are included. The tower’s design was praised by Historic England in 2020 for embodying the technological spirit of the space age. It was originally built to house a revolving restaurant and observation deck before becoming a home for local radio stations. The tower’s history includes a period of dereliction after the restaurant closed in 1979. In the 1990s, blue neon lights were added to improve its appearance, though these were later removed. A major refurbishment in 1999–2000 transformed it into the headquarters for Radio City and Magic 1548. The building’s design allows it to sway in heavy winds, a feature intended to prevent structural damage. The tower also houses a 10C Digital Audio Broadcasting multiplex for Liverpool. Visitors once reached the observation deck via a revolving restaurant that rotated as a single unit. The tower now contains a viewing gallery on the first floor, offering a 360-degree panoramic view of Liverpool. The crow’s nest at the top is illuminated with changing colours, while the Radio City sign was once lit yellow at night. The building’s advertising framework has displayed artworks, including one celebrating Liverpool’s 2008 European Capital of Culture. Maintenance teams clean the exterior using a roof-mounted Building Maintenance Unit.