Who owns London's Iconic Landmarks?

You’d be forgiven if you thought the Royal Family owned half of London; it makes sense that they would.

However, you’d be wrong. Although if you want to get technical, all land in the UK belongs to the ‘Crown’, but not the Queen personally. The Crown Estate, which manages a large percentage of the portfolio is in fact a public body. The parks and palaces have their own management companies and it all just becomes one confusing mess of real estate.

It is expected that historical buildings have a murky past with complicated ownership, after all British history has never been simple.

What about more recent additions to the London skyline, where do the Gherkin, Shard and Canary Wharf fall in terms of ownership? The Queen does not own these structures, so the republicans can breathe a sigh of relief. But, as we discovered, neither does the City of London. The truth might surprise you, that much of London’s most valuable commercial real estate is not owned by Londoners at all. So who does have their hands on our skyscrapers?

Let’s take a look at some of London’s most iconic new builds and see who the landlords really are.

Canary Wharf - home of the financial sector

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The Canary Wharf estate is privately managed by the Canary Wharf Group. In 2015 it was acquired by Qatar Holding for over 2 billion pounds. In fact the Qataris own a substantial portion of London, making them the largest overseas investor in our capital.

Battersea Power Station - London’s hippest new neighbourhood

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The new Malaysian owners of Battersea Power Station promised that despite having to demolish the chimneys, the heritage building would be preserved as much as possible as part of its redevelopment. Parts of the area are already open to the public and there is great anticipation surrounding the high-end living spaces that have been designed with luxury in mind.

The Shard - London’s tallest building

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The city’s latest architectural masterpiece is also Qatari owned, and apparently almost full. Housing offices, residences, hotels, restaurants and an observatory, the multi-purpose building has quickly become a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.

Adding to their sizeable portfolio, the Qataris are the proud owners of the Olympic Village. Developing affordable rental housing for a new East London neighbourhood has seen them accepted into the local landscape and the estate continues to grow.

As the Olympic Park has proved, it is not only buildings that are owned by investors and business men. The City of London Corporation owns Epping Forest and Hampstead Heath, two of the city’s green expanses.

Where is your favourite space in the City and do you know how truly public it is?

At Office-Experts we pride ourselves on our passion for London. Our knowledge and understanding of the City allows us to stay up to date with what’s happening in the most desirable buildings. So if you are looking to move office quickly and need help sourcing office space that suits your business, we can help. If you have more time on your hands and would like to peruse your options, one of our team will work to ensure all your needs are met. Call us today.

A full list of who owns what in London can be found here.