OXO Tower

The Oxo Tower stands on the south bank of the River Thames in the London Borough of Southwark. Its Art Deco design includes a prominent tower with three vertically aligned windows shaped like a circle, a cross and another circle. The building mixes shops, galleries, flats and a restaurant on the eighth floor. A riverside walkway passes in front of the tower, linking it to the Royal Festival Hall, the National Theatre and Tate Modern. Bernie Spain Gardens lie to the west and Sea Containers House to the east of the tower. The tower began as a power station in the late 19th century before becoming a cold store for Oxo beef stock cubes in the 1920s. After years of neglect, local opposition saved the building in the 1980s. The Greater London Council bought the site in 1984 and sold it to Coin Street Community Builders, who refurbished the tower in the 1990s. The project won several awards, including the RIBA Award for Architecture in 1997. The tower’s design still draws attention despite not being listed. Visitors find design shops and two galleries on the ground and first floors. The Oxo Gallery shows photography and contemporary art, while the Bargehouse hosts exhibitions and film shoots. The eighth floor houses the Restaurant, Bar and Brasserie with fine and casual dining, plus a public viewing gallery. The riverside walkway offers views of the Thames and the surrounding cultural sites. The green space behind the tower provides a quiet spot to pause.