London has been named the world’s best city in the latest World’s Best Cities ranking produced by Resonance in partnership with Ipsos. It is an impressive achievement, but not a surprising one.
The capital retained the top spot for the 11th consecutive year, ranking highly in prosperity, liveability and global appeal.
Beyond these metrics there’s a more immediate explanation for London’s continued dominance: how the city looks and feels at street level. Its building facades reveal why London continues to exert such a strong and lasting appeal.
London feels like several great cities at once
The world’s most desirable cities tend to offer a distinct identity shaped by history, beauty and diversity.
London does this better than almost anywhere. It combines global business infrastructure, culture, heritage, green space and tourism into one place. That diversity is visible in the city’s architecture, and more specifically, in its building facades.
Georgian terraces sit alongside Victorian civic buildings. Brutalist structures stand near contemporary glass towers. Historic warehouses have been repurposed into modern offices without losing their original character.
The facades of these buildings are the visible expression of each era, giving London its character, its desirability and its global appeal for decades.
A city built in stone, glass and invention
Historic London is dominated by stone facades. Portland stone, limestone and traditional brickwork define many of the capital’s most recognisable buildings. These materials were chosen for durability and prestige, but over time they are exposed to pollution, moisture and biological growth that gradually affect their appearance.
Modern London, by contrast, is shaped by glass facades. Curtain wall systems have transformed the skyline, bringing light, transparency and a distinctly contemporary identity. But glass requires its own form of maintenance. Mineral deposits, pollutants and surface damage can quickly reduce clarity if left untreated.
Alongside these, innovative cladding systems have introduced new materials and possibilities. Rainscreen facades, metals, composites and engineered panels now allow architects to push both design and performance further. These systems improve insulation, manage moisture and create distinctive visual identities.
This mix of materials is what gives London its layered character. It’s also what makes maintaining the city’s appearance more complex than in more uniform urban environments.
Three London facades that tell the story
You can see this layered architectural history clearly in the facades of some of London’s most recognisable buildings.
St Paul’s Cathedral
St Paul’s remains a defining image of London. Built in the early 18th century using Portland stone, its facade reflects the craftsmanship and permanence that shaped post-Great Fire London.
Its weathered stone exterior tells a story of age, pollution and resilience. Maintaining buildings like this requires careful, specialist restoration systems like DOFF Steam Cleaning to preserve the material while removing decades of accumulated grime.
The iconic stone facade at St Paul’s Cathedral on a clear night.
The Gherkin
At the other end of the spectrum, The Gherkin represents modern London’s embrace of glass architecture.
Its distinctive curved, fully glazed facade is not just aesthetic. It was designed to improve natural light and ventilation while reducing energy use. The result is a building that reflects both innovation and the city’s shift towards more performance-driven design.
London’s famous Gherkin glass facade at 30 St Mary Axe. The building has featured in dozens of TV shows and films including Harry Potter and The Apprentice.
However, maintaining this level of clarity and visual impact requires ongoing care. Glass facades are particularly susceptible to environmental staining and surface contamination in dense urban environments like London.
Bloomberg European Headquarters
Bloomberg’s European headquarters demonstrates how contemporary facades are evolving beyond simple glass or stone.
Its exterior combines sandstone with large bronze fins that provide shading and support natural ventilation. The building blends traditional materials with modern engineering, reflecting a broader trend in London architecture towards high-performance, hybrid facade systems.
These types of facades are visually striking but also technically complex. Their long-term performance depends on precise maintenance and restoration strategies.
Bloomberg HQ in London, known for its unique modern facade and views over St. Paul’s Cathedral. Image credit: Wikipedia.
Why facade condition shapes perception
Facade condition is often treated as an aesthetic concern. In reality, it has a direct impact on how buildings and even cities are perceived.
A study by facilities management specialist ServiceChannel found that 95% of consumers say a business’s exterior influences their decision to enter or engage with it, while more than half would avoid a business altogether if the exterior appeared poorly maintained.
At a city level, that effect compounds. Clean, well-maintained facades signal investment, care and quality. Neglected exteriors suggest the opposite. In a city like London where millions of daily interactions happen at street level, building facades can shape perception at scale.
The latest World’s Best Cities ranking highlights London’s strength in areas such as liveability, prosperity and overall appeal. But those attributes are not experienced in the abstract. They are reinforced through the built environment and more specifically through the condition of the buildings within it.
The environmental case for restoration
There is also a growing sustainability argument behind facade maintenance. Replacing facades carries a significant carbon cost due to the embodied carbon in extracting and manufacturing materials. Restoration, by contrast, retains existing materials and extends their lifespan.
See Brilliance project data consistently shows that refurbishment can cost as little as 5% of full facade replacement, while avoiding the significant carbon impact associated with manufacturing, transporting and installing a new facade.
As sustainability standards tighten across the UK, this approach is becoming increasingly important.
Preserving London’s facades for the future
Nick Down, Director at See Brilliance, explains the importance of facade preservation:
“London’s skyline tells the story of a city that constantly reinvents itself. You can stand on one street and see Victorian stonework, modern glass towers, and carefully restored heritage buildings all sharing the same skyline. From a facade perspective, that mix is what makes the city unique and exciting. Maintaining and restoring these modern and historic facades helps to preserve the much-loved character and history of London.”
London’s position as the world’s most desirable city is built on many factors including economic strength, culture, infrastructure and global influence.
But it is also built on something more immediate. The city’s stone, glass, metal and composite facades are what people actually see every day. They shape first impressions, define character and signal whether a city is thriving or neglected.
Supporting commercial facade restoration for 30+ years
With over 30 years of experience, See Brilliance specialises in cost-effective facade restoration as an alternative to respraying, rebuilding, or replacement.
If your building is showing signs of wear, staining or deterioration, early intervention can prevent more extensive and costly work later.
Using accredited techniques, our specialists restore metal, glass, and stone facades to their original factory-standard finish, enhancing appearance and protecting your property while delivering a clean, professional finish.
From DOFF Steam Cleaning and TORC Cleaning to restorative cleaning, our experienced team is here to help. Contact us today to discuss your project.