Contemporary architecture United Kingdom

Coming to London and not climbing The Shard is like going to Paris without visiting the Eiffel Tower. This extraordinary construction by Renzo Piano is the modern pride of Britain. The building is imposing and magnificent, and the sensation you get once you reach the top is a unique experience. It is the tallest building in Western Europe. When you take the elevator, look up and admire the beautiful images that flash before your eyes. Once at the top, you'll enjoy panoramic views for up to 40 miles around.

From the Scottish Dene meaning deep valley, Dean Village, first known as Water of Leith Village, was a community of millers first mentioned in 1128. At the beginning of the 18th century, eleven mills were maintained here and the baxters of the bakers' guild conducted a flourishing trade. Nowadays, the district is appreciated for its setting below the city. Follow the Water of Leith Walkway or join the Gallery of Modern Art via the Dean Path, cutting through the picturesque Dean Cemetery.

As its original name suggests, the Millennium Dome was created to celebrate the turn of the millennium, and was inaugurated on January¹, 2000. Built on the line of the Greenwich meridian, this immense dome - the largest in the world - lends a futuristic allure to the landscape. In 2005, the Millennium Dome became The O2 and underwent a veritable renaissance. It is now a vast complex comprising a shopping mall outlet, cinema, restaurants and a concert hall hosting the world's greatest artists.

The oval balloon buffs will be right at home here. The stadium of anthology was inaugurated in 1925, when the national team won its first grand slam. It is an integral part of Scotland's heritage and occupies a special place in the imagination of fans around the world. Between 1942 and 1944, it was even requisitioned to serve as a Royal Air Force depot. Although it can now accommodate more than 67,000 spectators, it had a much larger capacity, which had to make way for certain security arrangements. Yet it holds the world record for attendance at a rugby match, with an attendance of 104,000 at a Scotland-Wales match in 1975. U2, James Brown and David Bowie have each filled it, but it is when the players flanked by a thistle on their hearts enter the pitch that the stadium vibrates in unison, singing the famous 'Flower of Scotland'. The visit lasts 1h30 and plunges into the bowels of the enclosure, from the changing rooms to the players' tunnel, including the royal box, the press areas and the TV studios...

You'll visit areas that are usually inaccessible and you'll be told many stories about the history of rugby, Scottish exploits, stadium sights, but also about the sport and the preparation of international matches. Visits can be privatized and adapted on request. Reservations are required as visits are limited in place or may be cancelled depending on current events.

Built for the 1999 Rugby World Cup in place of the old Arms Park sports arena, the Millennium Stadium is a Welsh legend! This huge, modern, saucer-shaped stadium can accommodate up to 74,500 spectators! Imposing and modern, it's the second largest stadium in the world with a fully retractable roof. Since January¹, 2016, and for the next ten years, the Millennium Stadium has been renamed Principality Stadium, after the Cardiff-based Principality Building Society. The Welsh rugby union signed the naming contract (a kind of sponsorship) for a total of £15 million.
Rugby matches are the most impressive international events. You need to have seen Cardiff on the day of a national rugby team match! You can feel the Welsh fervor in the streets as the day progresses. There are also soccer matches, motorcycle rallies, car races and concerts that attract huge crowds. The program is extensive and exhaustive. It is published on the stadium's website.

Visit the Principality Stadium: home of the "Red Devils". It's possible (and highly recommended!) to explore this magnificent stadium, one of the most impressive icons of modern Wales, with a visit to the press conference room, VIP lounge, changing rooms, players' tunnel to the "sacred turf"... Impressive!

This huge shopping and leisure area of Mermaid Quay (14,000 ^m2) is one of the spearheads of the new image of Cardiff Harbour. A symbol of the refurbishment of the dock area, opened in 1999, it now offers a wide range of shops, restaurants, cafes and services. Many of the centre's restaurants, such as Las Iguanas and Bill's, are also located here. And if you are ever in search of a good hairdresser or barber, Ken Picton's salon is very well known!

Norman Foster has done it again! Here, he has imagined a glass building on the banks of the Thames to house London's City Hall. How would you describe it? It's as if a glass egg had been hit by a giant tornado... Take a tour and see for yourself. Don't miss the interior of City Hall either: the spiral staircase is simply astonishing. Take a break at the Kitchen Café and enjoy this surprising place, which has been a symbol of modern London since its creation in 2002.

It's impossible to miss this giant giant in the skyline of Liverpool. Inaugurated in 1969 by Queen Elizabeth, it was the highest building in the city, peaking at 138 metres. There was a restaurant on a rotating platform, but following a fire, the kitchens were moved to the ground floor. Then there was another problem: The dishes were not hot enough when they arrived on plates… All this sounds like a joke, and it is true! In the absence of any food, there are still uninterrupted panoramic views to Wales and Blackpool, in a clear time. Today, the tower hosts the studios of Radio City station, landed in 2000 after major renovations. And if it was détrônée by the West tower in 2008, it remains a landmark for all the city's tourists and night.

Legend attributes the discovery of this source to Bernard de Clairvaux, founder of the Cistercian order. This water would have cured him. Later, chemical analyses attest to its medical interest in soothing intestinal disorders. In 1788, a lord bought the spring and built a small neoclassical-inspired temple dedicated to the goddess of health, Hygieia. This picturesque building has been the subject of many paintings. Steps lead up to a terrace below the temple, from which there are beautiful views of the river.

Soar high to see Brighton and the beautiful south coast as you glide up to 138 metres in a futuristic-looking glass capsule. Designed by Marks Barfield Architects, creators of the London Eye, the tower can accommodate up to 175 visitors. A visualization map is available, a multilingual application can be downloaded and the Sky Bar, nestled in the centre of the gondola, serves drinks throughout the flight. Free exhibition on the construction of the tower and souvenir shop. A must-see during a stay in Brighton!

The architecture of this concert hall is unprecedented, with its combination of metal, wood, glass and slate. Its façade is composed of words, in Welsh on the left (" Creu Gwir Fel Gwydr O Ffwrnais Awen ") and English on the right (" In These Stones Horizons Sing "), forming a verse written for the occasion by Gwyneth Lewis, the great Welsh poet born in Cardiff in 1959. To give you an idea of the translation, it would be "In these stones, horizons sing". Featuring a vast auditorium with ideal acoustics, it can accommodate both opera and theater.

Senedd (pronounced "Senn-eth") is the seat of the National Assembly for Wales. The National Assembly was formed in 1999, following the 1997 referendum on devolution. In 1997, more than 50% of voters were in favor, whereas in 1979, 80% voted no in the same referendum. This second vote represents a significant milestone in the centuries-old history ofdevolution .

Since its inauguration in 2006, it has become one of the country's most symbolic buildings. It is a model of ecology and transparency, designed by architect Richard Rogers. It features glass walls and a focus on renewable energies. For example, ventilation is natural, and rainwater is recycled to supply the toilets. Its magnificent wooden roof, reminiscent of the movement of waves, is made from red cedar from the sustainably managed forests of British Columbia, and South Wales steel.

The galleries (on the first floor) are open to the public: you can attend a plenary session attended by the Assembly's sixty members. Don't worry, headphones are available to listen to the English translation of any debate in Welsh. It's a great opportunity to immerse yourself in Welsh politics!

From 1999 to the opening of the Senedd in 2006, plenary sessions of the Assembly were held at Crickhowell House (behind the Senedd).