Custom House

Custom House stands on the north bank of the Thames at Lower Thames Street in the City of London, commanding over 150 metres of uninterrupted river frontage with direct views across to Tower Bridge. A customs house has stood on this site since 1275, and the site itself has anchored London's customs and wharf trade for nearly two millennia, with origins on the line of the Roman quayside. The present building is one of the most architecturally significant in the capital and holds Grade I Listed status — a designation reserved for buildings of exceptional historic or architectural interest. Geoffrey Chaucer served as Comptroller of Customs here from 1374 to 1386, writing The Canterbury Tales during his tenure. Both Sir Christopher Wren and Sir Robert Smirke contributed to the building's design across successive centuries. Most recently occupied by HMRC, the building has now been vacated and stands ready for its next chapter.

The property comprises three principal sections: the East Wing, the Central Section (including the grand Long Room), and the West Wing — spanning 212K sq ft GIA and 150K sq ft NIA across four floors and a basement. The scale and quality of the internal volumes are extraordinary, with the Long Room in particular representing one of the finest Georgian civic interiors in England. Planning permission for conversion to a landmark riverside hotel of approximately 179 rooms has been unanimously approved by the City of London Corporation.

Custom House benefits from exceptional transport connectivity at the very heart of the Square Mile. Fenchurch Street station is moments away, while Monument, Tower Hill, and Tower Gateway DLR stations all lie within a short walk. The surrounding area — anchored by the Tower of London, HMS Belfast, and Billingsgate — positions this asset at the intersection of London's financial, cultural, and visitor economy. There is no comparable development opportunity of this character anywhere in the City.