30 St Mary Axe aka ‘The Gherkin’ was opened on the 28 April, 2004, yet is still under construction in the satellite photo (I’ve been saying that a lot recently). Wikipedia goes into detail of all the clever designs incorporated into the 180m tall building and has a few ground level photos.

Just down the road is Tower 42 which, at 183m, is the tallest building in the City of London. It was formerly know as the NatWest tower (when it housed the bank’s head office) and was designed to resemble the NatWest logo when viewed from above.

Thanks: Stephen Train & Jonathan Rawle

The metal structure in the middle of the traffic island is a memorial to the factory and industrial area of Castle Bromwich near Birmingham which produced the famous WWII fighter plane the mighty Supermarine Spitfire.

The Supermarine Spitfire was a single-seat fighter used by the RAF and many Allied countries in WWII. The Spitfire’s elliptical wings gave it a very distinctive look; their thin cross-section gave it speed; the brilliant design of Chief Designer R.J. Mitchell meant the Spitfire was loved by its pilots. It saw service during the whole of World War II, in all theatres of war, and in many different variants. The aircraft was dubbed Spitfire by Sir Robert MacLean, director of Vickers at the time, and on hearing this, Mitchell is reported to have said, “…sort of bloody silly name they would give it.”

The original works have long since been replaced by new housing. The large factory that can be seen to the north-west is a Jaguar Motor Car factory.

Thanks: Alastair Booker!

Nice large type here on the roof of Fuller’s Brewery in London. Fuller, Smith and Turner PLC are famous for their award-winning beers and ales which are brewed in this, the oldest brewery in London. There’s a been a brewery here for over 350 years, and Fuller’s brewery is also famous for having the oldest wisteria in the UK, a plant which has been growing there for 186 years!

Thanks to Giles Turnbull

The BBC Television Centre in London was the first purpose built television production building in the world and the filming location for many of the BBC’s great shows including Doctor Who and Fawlty Towers. In the centre of the ‘concrete doughnut’ there is a statue of Helios, the Greek god of the sun.

Thanks: Paul Dias & Si Calcutt

This is the world famous Royal Albert Hall, London’s most famous concert venue. It’s the home of The Proms and the largest pipe organ in the UK. Opened in 1871, its official name is ‘The Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences’, and was built as a part of a memorial to Queen Victoria’s husband and consort, Prince Albert (Wikipedia page).

Thanks to Ian Bourke and Greg Askins.