I would like to be an architect. How can I become one?

Architecture is a balance of art and science. If you have an aptitude for both then this could be the profession for you. The key skills you will need / develop are creative problem solving, communication - both written, graphic and spoken, and spatial understanding.

There are ongoing discussions to change the way architecture is taught in the UK to make it quicker to qualify. At the moment the minimum length of time it takes to qualify is 7 years and the average is 9 years.

The RIBA maintains an overview of architectural education in the UK to ensure that all schools cover the same minimum syllabus. You can find out more about how to become an architect on the RIBA website.

Also this WikiHow article is a very good summary of how to become an architect.