There is British architecture, and there is architecture in Britain. The two are not necessarily the same thing. Many well known British architects undertake far more work overseas than they do in the UK. Contrariwise there are many excellent architects who are so far commissioned only in Britain, and have yet to make their mark on the international stage.

The British have in the past given the world two architectural approaches: Arts and Crafts, in the second half of the 19th century, and 'high tech' a century later. High tech - the mechanistic architecture of steel and glass - is still very influential around the world, but today it is just one approach among many: there is no single 21st century 'British style'.

This is partly to do with the very international nature of architectural training in Britain, with a remarkable mix of nationalities present in the leading architecture schools, many of whom go on to work in British firms of architects or establish their own firms based in Britain.

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