The London Aquatics Centre in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park tops a new list celebrating England’s most iconic buildings, alongside Battersea Power Sation, Wembley Stadium, and the Gherkin – honoured for their cultural and community impact.
Research by the Department for Education shows overwhelming support with 97% of Londoners saying construction is vital to improving life in England.
With an ambition to train 60,000 more construction professionals by 2029, two-thirds believe attracting young people is essential, and over half say industry-experienced teachers are key.

The London Aquatics Centre in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has been named one of the nation’s favourite buildings, as a striking new mural celebrating the landmark and local construction heroes appears in Walthamstow, London, as part of a Department for Education (DfE) initiative to inspire for the new year.

Delivered by Teach in Further Education and Skills for Life campaigns, the activity supports the government’s pledge to secure England’s construction future by training an additional 60,000 construction professionals and delivering 1.5 million homes by 2029.

The campaign launches with new research that shows overwhelming public support – 97% of Londoners say construction is vital to improving life in England through providing better housing, transport, schools, hospitals. Yet the sector faces a major challenge – a growing skills gap.

The campaign calls on young people and career changers to explore construction careers, experienced workers – from engineers and electricians to carpenters and bricklayers – to bring their skills into further education (FE) teaching and employers to invest in training and future talent.

England’s favourite buildings and projects
The research explored the cultural and community impact of construction projects across England, with highlights for London including:

Battersea Power Station has been named London’s – and the nation’s – favourite modern construction project for its positive community impact, with nearly one in three people (32%) voting for the development.
London sweeps the competition when it comes to iconic sports venues, with 78% of respondents choosing Wembley, Wimbledon or the Aquatics Centre in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as England’s most iconic.
In music, the Royal Albert Hall was the clear favourite, with nearly half (47%) voting it England’s most iconic music landmark.
When it comes to distinctive architecture, The Gherkin leads the way, with 54% of adults naming it England’s most distinctive modern building.
Among new stadiums and arenas, one in five adults (20%) are most excited to visit the newly redeveloped Olympia in London.
Londoners feel the strongest sense of childhood nostalgia when thinking about the London Eye (31%), with the Natural History Museum a close second (28%).

‘Built to Inspire’ murals
Curated by community-led arts organisations Wood Street Walls and Withington Walls, the murals appear near construction sites and colleges in London and Manchester. Created in partnership with FE teachers, learners, and employers, they celebrate the vital role construction and education play in shaping England’s future.