Climbing Great Buildings

Jonathan's journey takes him to the Lloyd's Building in the heart of the City of London. Built between 1978 and 1986, it is one of the finest examples of high-tech architecture in Britain and one of the great icons of London. Aided by top climber Lucy Creamer, Jonathan abseils over 300 feet to reveal how this ultra-modern building was inspired by a Gothic castle. He scales the iconic stainless steel exterior to reveal why it is known as the Inside-Out Building, and zip lines across a sheer drop to investigate the building's humble origins as a coffee shop. He also meets Lord Rogers, one of the greatest architects of his generation and the man behind the audacious building.

The next step of Jonathan Foyle's journey takes him to the Liver Building in Liverpool. Built from 1908, this behemoth in concrete was Britain's first skyscraper that influenced buildings all over the world. On his climbs Jonathan, aided by top climber Lucy Creamer, scales over 250 feet to reveal how this granite building isn't quite what it seems and investigates how a concrete boat paved the way for this immense skyscraper. He climbs up a disused lift shaft to literally get under the skin of this groundbreaking construction; comes face to face with the biggest clock in Britain; and tests the limits of his courage to traverse over a sheer drop of over two hundred feet to get up close and personal with a couple of beautiful birds.

The next step Jonathan's journey takes him to King Cross St Pancras, a masterpiece of Victorian design and without doubt London's most stunning and romantic station. With unprecedented access to St Pancras, aided by champion climber Lucy Creamer, Jonathan scales all over the buildings to investigate the innovations and techniques used to construct both the train terminal and the elegant Midland Hotel. On the Midland Hotel, Jonathan climbs over 240 feet up the immense clock tower to explain how Britain had different time zones until the advent of stations like St Pancras. He discovers water powered elevators, why penthouses used to be on the ground floor and how the hotel was almost doomed to failure by only providing 9 bathrooms for 400 bedrooms.

The next step of Jonathan's journey celebrating British architecture takes him to the epitome of the English stately home: Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire. Built in the early 1700's as a reward for the Duke of Marlborough's defeat of King Louis XIV of France it's the finest example of an English Baroque building in the country. With unprecedented access to Blenheim Palace, aided by champion climber Lucy Creamer, Jonathan scales the building to investigate the innovations and techniques used to construct it and to decipher the stories and propaganda carved all over the building. He climbs over 100 feet to reveal the story of how a bawdy playwright, a brave general and his strong willed wife combined and clashed to create this most audacious masterpiece, he zips across the courtyard to see how the Duke's epic victory is celebrated in stone through flamboyant and satirical sculpture and he dangles precariously inside the Great Hall trying not to break the £250,000 lamps to get a view of the spectacular hand painted ceiling.

The next step in Jonathan's journey takes him to Burghley House in Lincolnshire. Built to impress Queen Elizabeth I on her many trips around the country, it's the finest example of an Elizabethan House in Britain.

Jonathan's journey takes him to New College in Oxford. Built in 1379, this college set the blueprint for universities all over the world for the next 600 years.

The next step of Jonathan's journey takes him to Lincoln Cathedral, built in 1183. Once the tallest building in Britain, Lincoln Cathedral is one of the finest examples of gothic architecture in Britain.