Guide: Billy Reading

Billy Reading is an architectural historian and author based in London. In his role as inspector of historic buildings with Historic England, he advises government departments on the care of their listed buildings, from Downing Street, the Foreign Office and Whitehall to Historic Royal Palaces and the Royal Household.

Reading has led walking and cycling tours of London for a variety of organisations including English Heritage, the Parliamentary Estate, London Festival of Architecture, the Building Exploratory, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings and many others.

As the recognised leading expert on the historic fire station Billy has written and lectured extensively, worked collaboratively with the London Fire Brigade and published a book on the subject. He has also published an introduction to British Brutalism, and his current project on the City of London Churches is due for publication next year.