Shakespeare, Lauderdale and Cromwell Towers (part of th Barbican complex)

Location: London

Architect: Chamberlin, Powell and Bon

Completed: 1973-1976

Photo: nicoimages

Now a Grade II listed building, London's Barbican complex is one of the city's most iconic brutalist buildings, containing housing, an arts centre, public library, the City of London School for Girls, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Museum of London.

Photo: the Barbican Centre

Its complex multi-level layout with numerous entrances, can be confusing for visitors, and numerous projects over the years have aimed at improving accessibility. Even so, the Barbican remains one of the most striking and successful brutalist buildings in the UK and a pioneer of mixed use architecture development.