London's first university
University College London
UCL's main building took 158 years to finish: William Wilkins started it in 1827, the money ran out in 1829 with only the portico and dome complete, and the full U-shaped plan was not finished until 1985.
- 4Buildings
- 3Traditions
- 1829Oldest · UCL Main Building
- 1976Newest · Institute of Education building
Campus map and Look Around
Tap a numbered pin to see that building from the street with Apple Look Around.
Planning the visit
- Fly intoHeathrow Airport (LHR)
Heathrow lies west of central London. The Piccadilly line runs straight from the airport to Russell Square, a short walk from UCL's Bloomsbury campus.
- Getting aroundWalking / London Underground
The Bloomsbury campus is compact and easy to explore on foot. Euston Square, Warren Street and Goodge Street Underground stations are all on its doorstep.
- Colors and teams
Founded in 1826 as the first university in England open to students of any religion, UCL still gets teased by King's students as the 'Godless' college of Gower Street.
4 buildings to stamp
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Photo: LordHarris at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons UCL Main Building
Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT
William Wilkins, architect of the National Gallery, gave UCL its grand classical portico and ornate dome facing Gower Street. Beneath the dome, the Octagon and Flaxman Gallery hold John Flaxman's sculpture casts, and the oldest parts of the building are Grade I listed.
- Built
- 1829
- Architect
- William Wilkins
- Style
- Neoclassical
- Today
- Main library, Octagon and university offices
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Photo: Txllxt TxllxT, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Cruciform Building
Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT
Alfred Waterhouse's last commission, a red-brick Gothic hospital laid out as a cross, with operating theatres at the centre and airy wards in the wings to keep patients apart. Built for University College Hospital, it now houses UCL's Wolfson Institute and parts of the Medical School.
- Built
- 1906
- Architect
- Alfred Waterhouse (completed by Paul Waterhouse)
- Style
- Gothic Revival
- Today
- Biomedical research and medical school
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Photo: Philafrenzy, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Institute of Education building
20 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AL
Denys Lasdun, architect of the National Theatre, built this long Grade II* listed concrete block along Bedford Way between 1970 and 1976. Its Brutalist bulk cutting through Bloomsbury's Georgian squares made it one of London's most debated buildings.
- Built
- 1976
- Architect
- Denys Lasdun & Partners
- Style
- Brutalist
- Today
- UCL Institute of Education
-
Photo: stevecadman, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Senate House
Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU
Next door to UCL, Charles Holden's Portland stone Art Deco tower is the headquarters of the University of London, which UCL belongs to. Its 19 floors rise 64 metres, and George Orwell's Ministry of Truth in Nineteen Eighty-Four is often read as a portrait of it.
- Built
- 1937
- Architect
- Charles Holden
- Style
- Art Deco
- Height
- 64 m (210 ft)
- Stories
- 19
- Today
- University of London headquarters and Senate House Library
3 traditions to check off
Stamped! keeps these as a checklist, so you can tick each one off on the visit.
Jeremy Bentham's auto-icon
The preserved skeleton of philosopher Jeremy Bentham, UCL's 'spiritual founder', sits dressed in his own clothes (with a wax head) in a glass case at the entrance of the Student Centre; in 2013 it was even brought to a UCL council meeting. Visitors can see it on public display.
Photo at the Portico
The Portico of the Wilkins Building in the Main Quad is UCL's most photographed and most iconic spot. Visitors can take the classic photo of its columns and dome from the Quad.
Flaxman Gallery under the dome
Beneath the Octagon dome, the Flaxman Gallery holds the largest single collection of works by sculptor John Flaxman, including the full-scale St Michael Overcoming Satan, and appeared in Christopher Nolan's film Inception. Visitors can view the sculptures.
Know University College London well?
Students and alumni know the traditions best. Suggest one we're missing, a building worth a stamp, or a fix. Every suggestion is checked against a source before it goes into the app.
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Stamp all 4 on your visit.
Tour University College London in 3D before you go, add it to a college road trip and earn a passport stamp at every building. Free on iPhone and iPad.
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