Lloyd's Building, London

The futuristic shell of the Lloyds building, also known as the Inside-Out Building, houses Lloyds insurance and reinsurance market.

The futuristic shell of the Lloyds building, also known as the Inside-Out Building, houses Lloyds insurance and reinsurance market. Built from 1978-86, its main innovation lies in having its lifts, escalators and electricity on the outside of the building, leaving the inside an open, uncluttered workspace. The twelve glass lifts were the first of their kind in the UK.

The galleries of the 14-floor structure look down on the Underwriting Room on the ground floor, with the space under the massive vaulted glass roof criss-crossed with the escalators of the lower floors. Higher floors are only accessible by the outside lifts. The Underwriting room is home to the famous Lutine Bell, recovered from a foundered ship in 1858. It was traditionally rung for ships heading to England, once for bad news, twice for good, so that all underwriters would be informed at once. 

Lloyd's of London

1 Lime Street, London EC3M 7HA

Lloyd's Building, London
Lloyd's Building, London
Lloyd's Building, London
Lloyd's Building, London

Opening Hours

Monday:
07:30 - 18:00
Tuesday:
07:30 - 18:00
Wednesday:
07:30 - 18:00
Thursday:
07:30 - 18:00
Friday:
07:30 - 18:00
Saturday:
Closed
Sunday:
Closed
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