Liberal Democrat headquarters (UK)

The Liberal Democrat headquarters is the principal center of operations and offices of the British Liberal Democrats. As of January 2023, the current headquarters of the party are located at 1 Vincent Square, SW1P 3AE in London.

Locations

1988–2011: 4 Cowley Street

4 Cowley Street, used from 1988 to 2011

From its formation in 1988, the Liberal Democrats were based in 4 Cowley Street, a Grade II listed Edwardian mansion built in 1905. The party signed a new lease on the building in 2000. Prior to the Liberal Democrats occupying the building, it had been the headquarters of the Social Democratic Party since 1981, and before that had also been the London and North Eastern Railway headquarters.

In March 2011, the party announced they were planning to vacate Cowley Street. At the time, party had been removing members of staff since entering government, due to the loss of Short Money, though it denied that the move had been forced due to low finances, stating that "more modern and more appropriate buildings" were needed and that "Cowley Street does not meet the staff numbers we have got."

2011–: 8-10 Great George Street

The headquarters relocated to an office on a single floor of 8-10 Great George Street, Westminster in May 2011, close to Parliament Square. The Independent described the office as "minimalist" compared to the previous Cowley Street "rabbit warren", and compared it to offices seen in political comedy The Thick of It. The party intended for the open plan design to facilitate better communications. The building was first built in the 1930s with an 1800s Beaux-Arts exterior.

In October 2019, Westminster City Council gave planning permission for 8-10 Great George Street, which was still occupied by the Liberal Democrats at the time, to be converted into a 134-bed hotel.