He studied the style of the French Gothic cathedral and was interested in the ideas of French architect Pugin, who favoured Gothic style and traditional craftsmanship over the increasing mechanisation of 19th century society. Scott designed around 800 Gothic style buildings. It was the style he thought most suited to the materials of his time.

Scott was dedicated to the preservation of medieval buildings, especially churches. Examples of his work can be seen in Salisbury, Lichfield and Ely cathedrals and also Westminster Abbey. In 1844 he won the commission for the design of the Nikolai Church in Hamburg, Germany. The work gained him an international reputation.

One of the best examples of Victorian Gothic architecture is the Midland Grand Hotel at St. Pancras station. Scott won the commission for the design of the hotel in 1865 and created one of the most opulent hotels in London. He used fourteen different granites and limestones in its construction.

The Albert Memorial was originally conceived to celebrate The Great Exhibition of 1851. However, after the Prince Consort’s, death, in 1861, it was turned into a memorial to the Prince and his work. Scott's design was inspired by medieval shrines and King Edward I’s ‘Eleanor Crosses’, as seen in front of Charing Cross station today. The 175 foot high Albert Memorial houses a statue of Albert beneath a Gothic canopy, a frieze of 169 carved figures representing the Continents, Industrial Arts and Sciences. The Monument was not seen in its full glory in modern times until 1998, as Prince Albert’s statue had to be blackened for safety reasons during the First World War. It was only cleaned in the recent restoration.

Scott worked on more than 850 buildings in England and Scotland - cottages, stately homes, gaols, university buildings, town halls and government offices. However, his most important legacy is the restoration of almost 500 churches and 39 cathedrals.