World #1
for Architecture and the Built Environment. The Bartlett has also ranked #1 in the UK for the 12th year in a row.
QS World University Rankings (2026)Discover UCL Urban Laboratory
Established in 2005, Urban Lab investigates, proposes and disseminates critical solutions to a wide range of social, physical and technological urban and built environment issues, with a focus on the grand challenges of our time.
UCL Urban Laboratory comprises of the Urban Lab department – part of the UCL Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment – and the Urban Lab Collective, an extended network of cross faculty academics working on urban issues.
About
UCL Urban Laboratory is a cross-disciplinary centre for critical and creative urban thinking, teaching, research and practice.
People
Find out about our team and cross-faculty collective, made up of staff from across UCL.
Study
Our distinctive centre brings together students, academics and professionals to tackle the complexity of urban life.
Research
We explore a range of subjects across disciplinary boundaries using experimental research methods.
UCL Urban Room
We host exhibitions, events and student showcases connecting research, memory, heritage and community at UCL East.
Publications
We produce a range of accessible, open access publications, reports, pamphlets and digital media.
Urban Lab's 20th Anniversary
Urban Lab 20
In 2025, UCL Urban Laboratory proudly celebrated its 20th anniversary as a world-leading cross-disciplinary centre dedicated to critical, creative and collaborative inquiry into pressing urban challenges.
Discover the archiveWhat's on
Events
News
UCL Urban Lab and the African Centre for Cities co-convene Writing Southern Urbanism(s) workshop
The workshop, held in Cape Town, gathered 15 early career researchers for the workshop, the second in a three-part programme.
04 Aug 2026
National student survey places the Bartlett at #1 in the Russell Group for Building courses
The UCL Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment is ranked #1 in the Russell Group for student satisfaction in Building courses according to the National Student Survey (NSS) 2026.
30 Jul 2026
UCL Bartlett staff promotions announced for 2025–26
UCL confirms new Senior Academic, Research and Teaching appointments, effective 01 October 2026.
29 Jul 2026
Ruth Glass Scholarship
Applications for the Ruth Glass Scholarship are now open for UK home students applying to study Urban Lab's Global Urbanism MASc.
Apply hereUrban Circular
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UCL Urban Laboratory
Gordon House
29 Gordon Square
London
WC1H 0PP
