Grade II* listed · Tower Hamlets

Whitechapel Art Gallery

Whitechapel Art Gallery is a Grade II* listed building in Tower Hamlets, first listed on 27 September 1973. It is one of 39 Grade II* entries among 904 listed buildings in Tower Hamlets; 16% of Tower Hamlets’s current entries were listed before it.

List entry
Field	Value
Name	Whitechapel Art Gallery
Grade	Grade II* — particularly important, more than special interest
List entry number	1065820
Date first listed	27 September 1973
Local planning authority	Tower Hamlets
Location	51.51615, -0.07041 (map)
Official record	Historic England list entry 1065820

Planning works on this listed building?

Planium checks which consents Tower Hamlets will require for your works on Whitechapel Art Gallery, lists what the heritage statement must cover and drafts the application text.

Ask Planium what consent you need

What the grade means for works

Grade II* buildings are particularly important buildings of more than special interest — about 5.8% of listed buildings. Applications for listed building consent are notified to Historic England.

The protection covers the whole building, inside and out, plus fixtures and attached structures. Typical works that need consent: replacing windows or doors, removing walls or historic fabric, changing roof coverings, installing solar panels or external insulation, and adding extensions.

Listed buildings near Whitechapel Art Gallery

Name	Grade	Distance
Whitechapel Public Library	II	23 m
88, Whitechapel High Street	II	36 m
Drinking Fountain Set in Wall of Former St Mary'S Churchyard	II	77 m
K2 Telephone Kiosk at Junction with Whitechapel Road	II	81 m
Wall of Former St Mary'S Churchyard	II	123 m
Toynbee Hall	II	149 m
32 and 34, Commercial Road E1	II	159 m
Tomb in South East Corner of Former St Mary'S Churchyard	II	161 m
John Walker and Sons Ltd Warehouse	II	199 m
St George'S German and English Infants' School	II	203 m

Frequently asked questions

Is Whitechapel Art Gallery listed?

Yes. Whitechapel Art Gallery is on the National Heritage List for England as a Grade II* listed building, list entry number 1065820, first listed on 27 September 1973. The full list entry with its description and map is on Historic England’s website.

Do I need consent for works to Whitechapel Art Gallery?

Works that affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest — inside or out — need listed building consent from Tower Hamlets, in addition to any planning permission or building regulations approval. Like-for-like repairs often do not, but confirm with the council’s conservation officer before you start.

Source: National Heritage List for England, © Historic England 2026, via planning.data.gov.uk. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Retrieved 12 October 2026. Local authority assigned from the list entry point. This page is a summary — the legal record is the official list entry.