The building, its design influenced by the Italian Renaissance and incorporating features of the American Beaux-Arts style, occupies an entire block in the city.

The competition for its design was won in 1923 by Arnold Thornely and Herbert J. Rowse, the assessor being Giles Gilbert Scott.

It was built by Dove Brothers of Islington, its steelwork being made and erected by Dorman Long of Middlesbrough.

[2] India Buildings was badly damaged by bombing in 1941, and was later restored to its original condition under the supervision of Herbert J. Rowse.

[4] The property became involved in one of the UK's largest fraud cases when it was used as collateral for large loans made by a company operated by Achilleas Kallakis and Alexander Williams.

[5] India buildings was sold to an Irish company called Green Property in 2009 who still owned it in January 2013 when the former owners, Kallakis and Williams were jailed for fraud.

[5] In August 2017 it was announced that British multinational financial services company, Legal & General had bought India Buildings.

In March 2021, due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and the government advice on home working, the May 2021 opening of floors 3-6 was cancelled.

The entrance itself consists of three tall arches that are flanked by four bronze lamps, made by the Bromsgrove Guild, their design being based on those at the Palazzo Strozzi in Florence.

At the basement level are four decorative shop fronts, and to the right of these is an entrance to the James Street underground station.

Each foyer has three painted and coffered saucer domes in the ceiling, supported by fluted Ionic columns in Travertine marble.

Elsewhere on the ground floor are larger areas originally occupied by the bank, the Post Office and the public hall.