Eighty Strand, Grade II listed Art Deco building on the Strand, City of Westminster, United Kingdom
Eighty Strand is a listed office building in Art Deco style along the Thames in the City of Westminster. The twelve-storey structure reaches 58 meters tall and carries a large clock face measuring 7.62 meters in diameter on its facade.
The tower opened in 1932 on the site of the former Hotel Cecil and became the headquarters for Shell-Mex and BP joint marketing operations in Britain. This partnership shaped the use of the location for several decades.
The nickname Big Benzene plays on the famous clock tower and the chemical term benzene, a nod to the petroleum industry. The four large marble figures beside the clock face show classical themes that visitors can see from the pavement today.
The tower sits between the Strand and the Thames with a gated archway set back from the main road. Visitors can view the facade and clock face well from outside, as it remains an active office building.
The clock face surpasses the famous Big Ben in diameter and is the largest timepiece in the United Kingdom. Passersby often notice its unusual size only when looking closely at the tower.
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