Architects in the United Kingdom

2,198 architects across the United Kingdom, each compared on their portfolio, credential evidence, past work and reviews: the evidence that matters before a project you'll live with. Add your area below to compare their work near you.

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Architects

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What to check when hiring architects in the United Kingdom

MyTrustedTraders ranks on independent public evidence. No ads, no paid placement. Use these checks alongside the evidence on each profile before you decide who to contact.

  • Only someone on the Architects Registration Board (ARB) register may legally call themselves an 'architect' in the UK. Ask for their ARB number and check it free at arb.org.uk. An 'architectural designer' or 'technologist' is a different, unregistered role (often capable, but not the same protection).
  • Agree how they charge before any work starts (a percentage of the build cost, a fixed fee, or an hourly rate) and exactly which stages it covers (concept design, planning application, building-regulations drawings, work on site), so there are no surprises later.
  • Confirm what they will actually handle versus what is excluded (the planning application, the building-control drawings, and whether they will administer the builder's contract on site), and get it, and a portfolio of similar projects, in writing.
  • Ask to see a portfolio of completed work like yours, plus recent references you can contact.
  • Check the credentials and registrations that matter for this work, and that they are current.

Which credentials should an architect have? See the guide →

How to judge an architect

Independent, no-ads guidance. The trade-specific checks that matter most, the warning signs, and what to ask before you hire. Use it alongside each trader’s public evidence above.

Verify before you hire

  • Check they appear on the ARB register at architects-register.org.uk: the title "architect" is legally protected in the UK.
  • Ask to see completed UK projects similar to yours, with photos; for a taste-driven commission this is the primary signal.
  • Confirm they hold Professional Indemnity Insurance: ARB registration requires it, but ask for the current certificate.
  • Look up their planning track record at your local council, especially if you are in London, a conservation area, or a national park.

Warning signs of a cowboy

  • They use the title "architect" but cannot give you an ARB registration number: this is illegal in the UK.
  • No portfolio of real completed projects, or only CGI visuals with no planning approvals behind them.
  • A vague, all-in quote with no breakdown of stages or what happens if planning is refused.
  • Pressure to sign before you have seen their planning approval history or spoken to a past client.

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Can I have your ARB registration number so I can verify it on the architects-register.org.uk?
  • How many planning applications have you submitted at my local council, and what was your approval rate?
  • Do you carry Professional Indemnity Insurance and can I see your current certificate?
  • Can you show me two or three completed projects similar to mine, including the planning outcome?

Frequently asked questions

How do I choose a trustworthy architect?
Compare the public evidence on each profile: how many independent reviews they have and across how many named sources, the rating and how recent it is, any credential evidence, and the company status. An architect backed by several named sources is harder to fake than one found in only one place.
Does MyTrustedTraders rank or recommend architects for payment?
No. There are no ads and no paid placement. Architects are ranked only by the strength of independent public evidence. No one can pay to rank higher, add a badge, or change their reviews.
Where do the reviews come from?
They're imported from named public review sources and always shown with the source named. They aren't reviews written on MyTrustedTraders. We cross-check the same business across sources rather than creating new reviews.
What should I check before hiring an architect?
Confirm credentials and insurance directly with the architect, get a written quote, and run the Cowboy Checker on the business first. MyTrustedTraders helps you shortlist on the evidence. It doesn't replace your own checks before you hire.

More ways to check who to trust

Free, independent checks. No ads, no paid placement.

  • Cowboy Checker

    Spot the warning signs of a dishonest business before you hire.

  • Company Health Check

    Check whether the company behind a business is active, dissolved, or in liquidation.

  • Licence Check

    A licence number from a van or quote, checked against every public register included here in one search.

Or browse traders by tradeAll checks and tools

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