This Iconic London Riverside Building Is Being Transformed Into the City’s Next Big Dining and Shopping Destination

Why It Matters

The project transforms a vacant iconic landmark into a vibrant commercial hub, boosting local employment and tourism while showcasing sustainable urban design. It signals confidence in post‑pandemic retail recovery in central London.

Key Takeaways

• 110 Queen’s Walk, former City Hall, to become retail and dining hub
• Gensler leads redesign with green terraces, plant‑covered balconies
• Project adds five new café/restaurant spaces and a food hall
• Sunken amphitheatre “The Scoop” will be repurposed for events
• Construction began Aug 2025; aims to boost tourism and jobs

Pulse Analysis

The former City Hall, a striking bulbous structure on the Thames, has sat empty since 2021, its glass façade stripped to reveal a skeletal metal shell. Gensler’s redesign reimagines the building as a green‑focused destination, adding rounded terraces and plant‑covered balconies that blend the structure with the riverfront landscape. By preserving key architectural elements while inserting modern mixed‑use spaces, the project aligns with London’s broader push for adaptive reuse of iconic buildings.

Beyond aesthetics, the redevelopment targets economic revitalisation. Five ground‑floor units will host cafés, boutique retailers and a food hall, while the adjacent Scoop amphitheatre will be converted into a flexible events venue. These additions are expected to create hundreds of jobs and draw both locals and tourists, reinforcing London Bridge City’s status as a cultural and commercial hotspot. The emphasis on operational carbon reduction—retaining the core structure and integrating sustainable systems—reflects growing investor and consumer demand for environmentally responsible developments.

The timing is notable: construction kicked off in August 2025 after Southwark Council’s approval, signalling confidence in the city’s post‑COVID retail recovery. As London seeks to balance heritage preservation with modern amenities, the 110 Queen’s Walk project serves as a benchmark for future riverfront transformations, illustrating how strategic design and mixed‑use programming can rejuvenate underutilised urban assets. Stakeholders—from property investors to hospitality operators—should watch the rollout closely for insights into demand trends and sustainability standards in high‑profile city projects.