[hnlmorg]

I used to work on a top floor of the building next to it so had a first class view of the estate. Been there a few times and a friend used to live there too.

He would rave about the place but I’m not a fan of it personally.

Aesthetically it’s out of place and (in my personal opinion) a bit of an eye sore.

The maze like design seems fun at first but it’s less amusing if you’re the one who’s actually lost in there and have somewhere to be.

The apartments are small and impossible to get the temperature right (too hot in summer, too cold in winter).

But because its iconic people still pay an obscene amount to live there.

The on-site amenities are pretty good, but its central London, you’re not far from literally anything you could imagine or desire. So I’m not sure that’s as much a selling point now than it was when the estate was built.

It’s one of those places you’d have to really love in spite of its warts because it’s so impractical by modern standards.

[dreghgh]

> The on-site amenities are pretty good, but its central London, you’re not far from literally anything you could imagine or desire.

This is totally inaccurate. It's the business district. If not for the Barbican, the nearest serious art gallery, repertory cinema, music auditorium, are all around half an hour away.

[NoboruWataya]

Half an hour is pretty much nothing in London. But if you factor public transport or cycling into the mix then there are loads of places you can get to in less than half an hour. For example about 10 minutes cycle to the south you have the Southbank Centre, BFI, Tate Modern etc.

[hnlmorg]

I know the area well. It’s actually more like 15 minutes. Quicker if you take the tube.

But even half an hour isn’t a long walk. ;)

[dreghgh]

Go for it, which major art galleries, auditoriums and cinemas are 15 minutes from the Barbican?

[lmm]

No single big name (although the Guildhall gallery is underrated) but there are a lot of trendy small galleries in the Old Street/Shoreditch area. Sadler's Wells Theatre is extremely reputable and just up the road. There's an Everyman in broad street and two full-on arts cinemas by Shoreditch High Street. That whole area has changed a lot over the last 20 years or so.

[hnlmorg]

Tottenham Court Rd is 10 mins by bike, 30mins to walk and less than 15 mins by tube.

It’s also a route I’ve done often, hence how I know.

And if you cannot find an art gallery, auditorium nor cinema in Soho then you’re doing something very wrong.

[dreghgh]

There are many cultural centers in the West End, Kensington, and boroughs outside the City, but none of them are 10 or 15 minutes from the Barbican center (hence your not being able to name a single one).

There is a theatre at Tottenham Court Road. It is over 30 minutes away from the Barbican centre by foot (but about 10 minutes by Elizabeth line).

The nearest major art gallery to TCR is not in Soho, but 15-20 minutes from Tottenham Court Road. There are two other major galleries closer to the Barbican than anywhere near Soho. Both are at least 25 minutes by foot and at least 25 minutes by tube.

There isn't an auditorium in Soho, unless you can name one? St-Martin-in-the-fields is no closer than the National portrait gallery, 20 min by foot or 15 by bus from TCR. Easily 25-30 minutes from the Barbican centre by any means of transport.

Likewise there are several repertory cinemas in Soho but none of them are 0 minutes from Tottenham Court Road.

Your claim of 15 minutes by foot was completely laughable. My claim of around 30 minutes in each case was accurate.

[hnlmorg]

The problem isn’t naming them, the problem is you shifting goal posts by saying “major”. Which could just as easily exclude the amenities at the Barbican too, given “major” is an entirely subjective term.

Also I never claimed 15 minutes by foot. And given how good public transport is in London, it’s a silly argument for you to make that we can only talk about out walking somewhere.

Plus even if we were just talking about walking, as myself and others have pointed out to you, half an hour isn’t far to walk in central London. Londoners do it all the time.

There really isn’t any need for you to be taking such an aggressive tone here.

[philipwhiuk]

I mean there's a cinema, art gallery and auditorium in the Barbican Centre itself.

In theory Leicester Square is a 15 minute drive. In practice you'd have to be mad to drive yourself but you could Uber it.