Black Cats of the Carreras Factory
egyptian cats guarding a cigarette factory
A vast Egyptian-style 1920s cigarette factory guarded by two giant black cats, a free Art Deco showstopper at Mornington Crescent.
Free to visit · Mornington Crescent · Mornington Crescent · NW1 7AX
Opening: Exterior viewable any time
Riding the Egyptomania that swept the world after the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb, the Carreras company built a spectacular cigarette factory in 1928 styled like an ancient temple, its long facade lined with lotus columns and painted in vivid colour. Guarding the entrance sit two enormous black cats, a nod to the company's Black Cat brand and to the Egyptian goddess Bastet.
Now an office building called Greater London House, its Egyptian glory was restored in the 1990s, including the giant cats. It is free to admire from the street, an astonishing and joyful piece of 1920s fantasy architecture in an unexpected corner of north London.
Getting there: On Hampstead Road by Mornington Crescent station.
Best time to go: A bright day to take in the long Egyptian facade and the cats.
Insider tip: Stand back across the road to take in the full sweep of the long Egyptian facade and the two giant cats flanking the entrance. Smaller black cat motifs run along the building too, so look closely as you pass.
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide