The site was once occupied by a gallows,[2] and the tower sits directly over the former route of St Giles High Street, which had to be re-routed for the construction.

[12] On completion, the building remained vacant for many years, leading to its being referred to as "London's Empty Skyscraper".

At that time skyscrapers were rare in London, and Centre Point's prominence led to its becoming a rallying symbol for opponents.

[14] In 1974 an umbrella group of Direct Action housing campaigners, including Jim Radford, Ron Bailey and Jack Dromey, organised a weekend occupation of Centre Point from 18 January to 20 January to draw attention to its being deliberately left empty during a housing crisis in London.

)[15] From July 1980 to March 2014, Centre Point was the headquarters of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) which became, at 33 years and seven months, the building's longest-standing tenant.

[4] In October 2005, Centre Point was bought from the previous owners, Blackmoor LP, by commercial property firm Targetfollow for £85 million.

[17] Much as had been the case at its original opening, the refurbished tower remains largely empty, with few windows lit in the evenings, the rest in darkness, despite at least half its units being sold.