Walk past the towering white facade of 60 Victoria Embankment and you might think it’s just another stuffy corporate headquarters. It’s got that "don’t look at me" energy that most major investment banks cultivate. But honestly, this building has a much weirder, more layered history than the glass towers of Canary Wharf.
You’ve probably seen the signs for J.P. Morgan if you’ve ever walked from Blackfriars toward Temple. It’s an imposing, grey granite block that looks like it belongs in 1920s New York, even though a huge chunk of it was actually finished in 1991. Most people don't realize they're walking over millions—sometimes billions—of dollars in physical gold.
What’s actually inside 60 Victoria Embankment?
While the firm’s investment banking giants are mostly based out at 25 Bank Street in the Docklands, the JPMorgan Victoria Embankment office is the primary nerve center for their Asset and Wealth Management business. Basically, if you’re a high-net-worth individual or an institutional investor with J.P. Morgan, your money is likely being managed from right here.
But the real "secret" is what’s happening underground.
For years, rumors swirled about the location of J.P. Morgan’s legendary London gold vault. For a long time, people assumed it was under their Canary Wharf tower. Nope. Evidence from groups like the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) and various investigative reports has confirmed that the vault is actually a subterranean fortress beneath the Victoria Embankment site.
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It’s an L-shaped structure that stretches deep into the basement, sitting partially under 60 Victoria Embankment and extending toward Carmelite Street. We’re talking about one of the largest commercial gold vaults in the world. It’s one of the few places in London—alongside the Bank of England and HSBC—that can actually handle the massive "Good Delivery" bars used in international trade.
A building of two halves
Architecturally, the place is a bit of a Frankenstein’s monster, but in a cool way. The front section—the part actually facing the river—is the former City of London School for Boys. That building dates back to the 1880s and was designed by Davis and Emanuel. If you look closely at the facade, you’ll see statues of Bacon, Shakespeare, Milton, and Newton.
In the late 80s, J.P. Morgan (operating then as Morgan Guaranty Trust) moved in and basically bolted a massive, modern office complex onto the back of the old school.
- The Old Part: Classic Victorian architecture with deep history.
- The New Part: A ten-story granite block that the Pevsner architectural guide describes as "reminiscent of early 20th-century American simplified classicism."
- The Connection: A glass-roofed atrium that links the two eras.
Refurbishments by firms like TP Bennett and Gensler have kept the interior from feeling like a cave. They recently installed massive 10-meter by 10-meter glass curtain walls that are flush with the building's exterior. There’s even a walkable glass roof on the top level. I’m told the view from the reclaimed roof terrace over the Thames is one of the best in the City, though good luck getting an invite to a meeting there unless you're moving some serious capital.
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Why it’s been in the news lately
It hasn't all been quiet wealth management and gold stacking. The JPMorgan Victoria Embankment office has become a lightning rod for protests. In May 2025, the building was famously targeted by Palestine Action. They sprayed the facade with red paint and smashed the glass revolving doors, forcing staff to use side entrances for weeks.
Before that, Extinction Rebellion did something similar back in 2021. Because J.P. Morgan is such a massive financier of fossil fuels and various global industries, this specific building—sitting so prominently on the river—is an easy target for groups looking to make a statement.
The future of the site (It’s changing)
If you follow London real estate, you know J.P. Morgan is currently building a massive new 3-million-square-foot tower in Canary Wharf. This new "Riverside" development is going to be the biggest office building in London, even bigger than the Shard in terms of floor space.
Naturally, everyone is asking: is Victoria Embankment closing?
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The short answer is no. While the bank plans to consolidate most of its 12,000 London employees into the new tower once it's finished (around 2030 or so), they have explicitly stated they intend to keep 60 Victoria Embankment. It’s too central, too iconic, and—let's be real—you don't just move a massive subterranean gold vault because you got a new office across town.
Practical insights for visitors or job seekers
If you have a meeting here or you’re starting a role in Asset Management, here’s the ground truth:
- Commuting: Blackfriars is your best bet. It’s literally a 2-minute walk. If you’re coming from the south, Waterloo is about a 15-minute trek across the bridge.
- Security: It is incredibly tight. Because of the aforementioned protests and the gold vault, don't expect to "just pop in" to the lobby. You’ll need photo ID and a pre-registered host just to get past the first set of barriers.
- The Vibe: Unlike the Canary Wharf office, which feels like a high-octane trading floor, the Embankment office is a bit more "old school." It’s quieter, more focused on long-term wealth strategy and private banking.
The building is a weird intersection of Victorian education history, 90s corporate ambition, and the literal bedrock of the global gold market. It’s a reminder that even in a digital world, the most powerful institutions still want to sit on top of something physical, heavy, and very, very secure.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the route: If you're visiting, use the Blackfriars station "North Bank" exit; it puts you almost at the front door.
- Architectural tip: If you're a fan of "PoMo" (Post-Modern) architecture, take a walk down John Carpenter Street to see how the 1991 granite addition mimics the scale of the surrounding 19th-century buildings.
- Career focus: If you're looking for J.P. Morgan roles in London, filter for "Asset & Wealth Management" to find positions specifically based at this Victoria Embankment location rather than the Canary Wharf hub.