This list of the tallest buildings and structures in London ranks skyscrapers and towers in London, United Kingdom by height. Since November 2010 the tallest structure in London is the Shard London Bridge, still under construction and due to reach 310m by 2012, when it will become the tallest building in the European Union. The tallest completed structure is the 50-storey One Canada Square, which rises 235 metres (771 ft) in Canary Wharf and was completed in 1991.[1] It also stands as the tallest building in the United Kingdom and the 15th-tallest building in Europe. The second-tallest building in London is Heron Tower in the City of London which was topped out in 2010, and stands at a height of 230 metres.
The history of tall structures in London began with the completion of the 27-metre (90 ft) White Tower, a part of the Tower of London, in 1098.[2][3] The first structure to surpass a height of 100 metres (328 ft) was Old St Paul's Cathedral. Completed in 1310, the cathedral stood at a height of 150 metres (493 ft).[4] It was the world's tallest structure until 1311, when its height was surpassed by Lincoln Cathedral in Lincoln, England.[4] It regained the title when the spire of the Lincoln Cathedral fell in 1549.[5] Although the spire of the Old St Paul's Cathedral was destroyed by lightning on 4 June 1561, it still stood as the tallest structure in London,[5] while the world's tallest structure became Strasbourg Cathedral in Strasbourg, France.[5] The Old St Paul's Cathedral was destroyed by the Great Fire of London in September 1666.[4] The title of tallest structure in London passed to Southwark Cathedral, which stands at a height of 50 metres (163 ft)[6] and no structure in London again rose above 100 metres (328 ft) until 1710, when the current St Paul's Cathedral was completed.[7] At 111 metres (365 ft), the cathedral remained the tallest building in London until overtaken by the BT Tower, completed in 1962.
Despite its long history and constant rebuilding, London does not have a large number of skyscrapers. This is due to restrictions on building heights originally imposed by the London Building Act of 1894, which followed the construction of the fourteen-storey Queen Anne's Mansions. Though restrictions have long since been eased, strict regulations remain to preserve protected views, especially those of St Paul's Cathedral, the Tower of London and Westminster Palace, as well as to comply with the requirements of the Civil Aviation Authority.
The lifting of height restrictions caused a boom in the construction of tall buildings during the 1960s. One of London's first notable tall buildings was the 117-metre (384 ft) Centre Point, completed in 1966. The NatWest Tower followed in 1980, which at 183 metres (600 ft) became London's first genuine "skyscraper" by international standards. It was followed in 1991 by the 235-metre (771 ft) One Canada Square, which formed the centrepiece of the Canary Wharf development. Following a 10-year gap, several new skyscrapers appeared on London's skyline: 8 Canada Square, 25 Canada Square, the Heron Quays buildings, the Barclays headquarters, the Broadgate Tower and the award-winning 30 St Mary Axe. Some of the awards given to 30 St Mary Axe include the Emporis Skyscraper Award in 2003[8] and the RIBA Stirling Prize for Architecture in 2004.[9]
With the precedent set by the towers of Canary Wharf and with the encouragement of former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, a renewed trend for building tall has been established in recent years. There are 9 structures actively under construction in London that will rise at least 100 metres (328 ft) in height. The tallest of these at 310 m (1,017 ft) is Shard London Bridge, which began construction in February 2009. The next tallest is the 288-metre "Pinnacle" which will form the centrepiece of the City skyscraper cluster.
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This list ranks externally complete London skyscrapers and free-standing towers that stand at least 100 metres (328 ft) tall, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts. An equal sign (=) following a rank indicates the same height between two or more buildings. The "Year" column indicates the year in which a building was completed. The Shard London Bridge, still under construction, overtook 1 Canada Square in November 2010, but will not reach its full height until early 2012.
Rank | Name | Image | Height metres / ft |
Floors | Year | Notes |
1 | One Canada Square | 235 / 771 | 50 | 1991 | 15th-tallest building in Europe. It is the tallest completed building in the UK. | |
2 | Heron Tower | 230 / 756 | 46 | 2011 | Tallest Building in the City of London. 202m + 28m spire. | |
3 | Crystal Palace Transmitter | 219 / 720 | N/A | 1950 | Tallest structure completed in London in the 1950s.[10] | |
4= | 8 Canada Square | 200 / 655 | 42 | 2002 | 26th-tallest building in Europe, third-tallest building in the United Kingdom.[11][12] | |
4= | 25 Canada Square | 200 / 655 | 42 | 2002 | 26th-tallest building in Europe, third-tallest building in the United Kingdom.[13][14] | |
6 | Tower 42 | 183 / 600 | 47 | 1980 | Also known as NatWest Tower. 39th-tallest building in Europe, fifth-tallest building in the United Kingdom. Tallest structure completed in London in the 1980s.[15][16] | |
7 | 30 St Mary Axe | 180 / 590 | 40 | 2003 | Also known as the Swiss Re building, or Gherkin. 44th-tallest building in Europe, sixth-tallest building in the United Kingdom.[17][18] | |
8 | BT Tower | 177 / 581 | 34 | 1962 | Tallest building completed in London in the 1960s, 177m + 12m antenna.[19][20] | |
9 | Broadgate Tower | 161 / 529 | 35 | 2008 | 71st-tallest building in Europe.[21][22] | |
10 | One Churchill Place | 156 / 513 | 32 | 2004 | Tenth-tallest building in the United Kingdom.[23][24] | |
11= | Croydon Transmitter | 153 / 502 | N/A | 1964 | [25][26] | |
11= | 25 Bank Street | 153 / 502 | 33 | 2003 | Eleventh-tallest building in the United Kingdom.[27][28] | |
11= | 40 Bank Street | 153 / 502 | 33 | 2003 | Eleventh-tallest building in the United Kingdom.[29][30] | |
14 | 10 Upper Bank Street | 151 / 495 | 32 | 2003 | Thirteenth-tallest building in the United Kingdom.[31][32] | |
15= | Pan Peninsula East Tower | 147 / 484 | 48 | 2008 | [33][34] | |
15 = | Strata | 147 / 484 | 43 | 2010 | [35][36] | |
17 | Guy's Tower | 143 / 469 | 34 | 1974 | Tallest all-hospital building in the world. Tallest structure completed in London in the 1970s.[37][38] | |
18 | 22 Marsh Wall East Tower | 140 / 458 | 40 | 2010 | ||
19 | London Eye | 135 / 443 | N/A | 1999 | The world's tallest Ferris wheel until the completion of the Star of Nanchang in 2006. Is now the world's third tallest Ferris wheel, after the Singapore Flyer opened in 2008. Contains the highest public viewing point in London.[39][40] | |
20 | Wembley Stadium | 133 / 436 | 6 | 2007 | 2nd Tallest stadium in the world.[41][42] | |
21 | CityPoint | 127 / 417 | 36 | 1967 | [43][44] | |
22 | Willis Building | 125 / 410 | 26 | 2007 | [45][46] | |
23 | Euston Tower | 124 / 408 | 36 | 1970 | [47][48] | |
24= | Cromwell Tower | 123 / 404 | 42 | 1973 | [49][50] | |
24= | Lauderdale Tower | 123 / 404 | 43 | 1974 | [51][52] | |
24= | Shakespeare Tower | 123 / 404 | 43 | 1976 | [53][54] | |
27 | Pan Peninsula West Tower | 122 / 400 | 39 | 2008 | [55][56] | |
28 | Millbank Tower | 119 / 390 | 33 | 1963 | [57][58] | |
29 | Aviva Tower | 118 / 387 | 28 | 1969 | Now known as St. Helen's [59][60] | |
30= | Centre Point | 117 / 385 | 35 | 1967 | [61][62] | |
30= | Empress State Building | 117 / 385 | 31 | 1961 | Originally stood at a height of 100 metres (328 ft) before a height extension in 2003.[63][64] | |
32 | ArcelorMittal Orbit | 115 / 377 | N/A | 2012 | Topped out.[65] | |
33 | Battersea Power Station | 113 / 370 | 10 | 1953 | [66][67] | |
34 | St Paul's Cathedral | 111 / 364 | N/A | 1710 | Tallest place of worship in London. Tallest structure completed in London in the 1700s.[7][68] | |
35= | King's Reach Tower | 108 / 354 | 34 | 1972 | Approval granted for height increase and recladding.[69][70] | |
35= | 1 West India Quay | 108 / 354 | 36 | 2004 | [71][72] | |
37 | Shell Centre | 107 / 351 | 26 | 1961 | [73][74] | |
38= | 33 Canada Square | 105 / 344 | 18 | 1999 | [75][76] | |
38= | 100 Middlesex Street | 105 / 344 | 34 | 2009 | Also known as Nido.[77] | |
38= | Pioneer Point North, Ilford | 105 / 344 | 31 | 2011 | Topped out.[78][79][80] | |
41= | 99 Bishopsgate | 104 / 340 | 26 | 1976 | [81][82] | |
41= | Ontario Tower | 104 / 340 | 29 | 2007 | [83][84] | |
43 | Victoria Tower | 102 / 336 | N/A | 1858 | Tallest non-religious building in the world upon completion. Tallest structure completed in London in the 1800s. Architectural height 102m, roof height 98.5m. [85][86] | |
44= | Portland House | 101 / 331 | 29 | 1963 | [87][88] | |
44= | London Hilton on Park Lane | 101 / 331 | 28 | 1963 | ||
44= | Royal London Hospital Tower 2 | 101 / 331 | 18 | 2010 | [89] | |
47 | Stock Exchange Tower | 100 / 328 | 27 | 1970 | [90][91] Reclad 2007. |
* Indicates still under construction, but has been topped out
This lists buildings that are under construction in London and are planned to rise at least 100 metres (328 ft). Under construction buildings that have already been topped out are listed above.
Name | Height metres / ft |
Floors | Year (est.) | Notes |
Shard London Bridge | 310 / 1,017 | 87 | 2012 | [92] Will become tallest building in the EU |
Bishopsgate Tower | 288 / 945 | 63 | 2014 | [93][94][95] Also known as The Pinnacle |
Riverside South Tower 1 | 237 / 776 | 45 | 2016 | [96][97][98] On hold |
The Leadenhall Building | 225 / 738 | 48 | 2014 | |
Riverside South Tower 2 | 186 / 610 | 37 | 2016 | [99][100][101] On hold |
St George Wharf Tower | 181 / 594 | 49 | 2014 | [102][103][104] |
20 Fenchurch Street | 160 / 525 | 39 | 2014 | [105][106] |
150 High Street Stratford | 133 / 433 | 41 | 2013 | [107][108] |
Arrowhead Quay | 114 / 374 | 25 | 2012 | [109][110][111] On hold |
The Heron | 112 / 367 | 35 | 2012 | [112][113][114] |
Kings Cross Plot T6 | 100 / 328 | 27 | 2013 | [115] Student housing |
This lists buildings that are approved for construction in London and are planned to rise at least 100 metres (328 ft).
Name | Height metres / ft |
Floors | Year* (est.) | Notes |
Columbus Tower | 237 / 794 | 61 | Approved by Mayor Boris Johnson, 2009 | |
North Quay Tower 1 | 221 / 708 | 40 | 2017 | [116][117] |
Heron Quays West Tower 1 | 214 / 702 | 40 | [118][119] | |
The Pride | 209 / 686 | 38 | [120][121] | |
Wood Wharf W07B | 206 / 676 | 51 | 2019 | |
North Quay Tower 3 | 203 / 666 | 38 | 2017 | [122][123] |
One Park Place | 197 / 647 | 45 | [124][125][126] | |
Wood Wharf W06 | 187 / 614 | 45 | 2019 | |
Wood Wharf W02 | 182 / 597 | 40+ | 2019 | |
100 Bishopsgate | 172 / 564 | 40 | 2014 | [127][128] |
Morello Tower | 171 / 561 | 53 | 2014 | [129] Cherry Orchard Road |
Principal Place | 164 / 538 | 51 | [130][131] Residential tower | |
Beetham Tower | 163 / 535 | 49 | 2013 | |
Ruskin Square Building | 159 / 522 | 26 | [132] Aka Croydon Gateway | |
Heron Quays West Tower 2 | 156 / 512 | 29 | [118][119] | |
Wood Wharf W07C | 154 / 505 | 30+ | ||
Baltimore Wharf Building 1 | 150 / 492 | 46 | 2013 | [133][134][135] |
Athletes' Village Tower | 149 / 489 | 41 | 2013 | [136] Plot N24 |
Newfoundland Tower | 145 / 475 | 37 | [137][138] | |
360-London | 142 / 466 | 44 | [139][140][141] London Park Hotel Tower | |
Doon Street Tower | 140 / 459 | 43 | [142] | |
1 Merchant Square | 140 / 464 | 41 | [143] Outline approval granted. | |
The Quebec Building | 136 / 446 | 44 | [144][145] | |
Heron Plaza | 135 / 448 | 44 | 2014 | [146] |
Croydon Vocational Tower | 134 / 440 | 29 | [147] | |
Saffron Square | 134 / 440 | 44 | 2016 | [148] Formerly Wellesley Square |
20 Blackfriars Road Residential Tower | 133 / 436 | 43 | [149][150][151] Approved after public inquiry | |
Wood Wharf W07A | 128 / 420 | 30+ | ||
25 Churchill Place | 124 / 406 | 23 | 2014 | [152] Building contract signed |
40 Marsh Wall | 124 / 406 | 39 | [153] | |
Broadway Chambers, Stratford | 123 / 403 | 38 | [154] | |
Helix-London Building B | 122 / 400 | 35 | [155][156] Trafalgar Way | |
Lots Road South Tower | 122 / 400 | 37 | [157][158][159] | |
North Quay Tower 2 | 120 / 394 | 18 | 2017 | [160][161] |
Vauxhall Sky Gardens | 120 / 394 | 36 | [162][163] | |
Wood Wharf W08 | 119 / 391 | 30+ | ||
Meridian Tower, Greenwich | 118 / 377 | 32 | [164] | |
Convoy's Wharf Tower 1 | 116 / 380 | 40 | [165] | |
City Road Basin Site C | 115 / 377 | 35 | [166][167][168] 259 City Road | |
Wood Wharf W05 | 113 / 371 | 25+ | 2019 | |
The Quill | 109 / 359 | 31 | 2014 | [169] |
Helix-London Building A | 105 / 345 | 29 | [156] Trafalgar Way | |
Trinity Building 3 | 100 / 328 | 25 | [170] On hold | |
One Angel Court | 100 / 328 | [171] Refurbishment of existing 97m building. |
* Table entries without text indicate that information regarding a building's expected year of completion has not yet been released.
This lists buildings that are proposed for construction in London and are planned to rise at least 100 metres (328 ft). Once a planning application has been submitted, a decision by the relevant authority may take over two years.
Name | Height metres / ft |
Floors | Year (Proposal) | Notes |
The Three Spires | 253 / 830 | 64 | 2009 | [172][173] Three towers at 253, 210 and 106 metres |
One Nine Elms East Tower | 200 / 660 | 58 | 2011 | [174][175] City Tower |
Lansdowne Road Tower | 199 / 656 | 51 | 2011 | [176] (Odalisk) Application 2011/10/18 |
Vauxhall Square Tower 1 | 170* / 560* | 53 | 2011 | [177] |
Vauxhall Square Tower 2 | 170* / 560* | 53 | 2011 | [177] |
Skylines Village Block B1 | 164 / 540 | 50 | 2010 | [178][179] Application 2010/01/28, refused |
One Nine Elms West Tower | 160 / 530 | 47 | 2011 | [174][175] River Tower |
Cuba Street Tower 1 | 157 / 515 | 52 | 2010 | [180] Application 2011/06/09 |
Millharbour West Building A | 150 / 492 | 46 | 2009 | [181][182] |
Vauxhall Bondway Tower | 149 / 489 | 43 | 2009 | [183] Appeal, rejected |
Vauxhall Cross Tower 1 | 140 / 464 | 41 | 2010 | [184][185] Application 2010/06/15 |
Millharbour East Building E | 140 / 464 | 46 | 2009 | [182][186] |
Skylines Village Block B | 138 / 458 | 40 | 2010 | [179][187] Application 2010/01/28, refused |
Angel House | 131 / 435 | 43 | 2008 | [188] Application 2009/09/11, refused |
Eileen House | 128 / 420 | 42 | 2009 | [189][190] Application 2009/02/23, refused |
Millharbour East Building A | 126 / 414 | 37 | 2009 | [182][191] |
Cuba Street Tower 2 | 122 / 401 | 40 | 2010 | [180] Application 2011/06/09 |
Millharbour West Buildings B, C | 121 / 398 | 37 | 2009 | [182][192] |
Vauxhall Sainsbury's Tower | 120* / 395* | 37 | 2011 | [193] |
Vauxhall Cross Tower 2 | 115 / 368 | 32 | 2010 | [184][185] Application 2010/06/15 |
1 Crown Place, Hackney | 114 / 365 | 24 | 2009 | [194] Application 2009/11/17 |
Dollar Bay Tower | 109 / 358 | 31 | 2011 | [195][196] Application 2011/07/29 |
Millharbour West Building D | 108 / 355 | 24 | 2009 | [182][197] |
2-12 High Street, Stratford | 105 / 340 | 35 | 2010 | [198] Application 2010/10/28 |
Poplar Business Park Block C | 103 / 337 | 31 | 2010 | [199] Application 2010/09/16 |
Stratford Gateway Towers 1 & 2 | 102 / 334 | 32 | 2011 | [200] Plot N06 |
* Approximate figure.
This lists proposals for the construction of buildings in London that were planned to rise at least 100 metres (328 ft), for which planning permission was rejected or which were otherwise withdrawn.
Name | Height metres / ft |
Floors* | Year | Notes |
London Millennium Tower | 386 | 92 | 1996 | |
London Bridge Tower (Old Design) | 366 | 87 | 2000 | [201] |
The Spark Plug (Battersea Eco-tower) | 300 | 40 | 2008 | [202][203] |
Minerva Building | 246 | 53 | 2002 | |
Elephant & Castle, Tower 1 | 228 | 55 | 2001 | [204] |
6-8 & 22-24 Bishopsgate Redevelopment (Original Design) | 216 | 50 | 2002 | [205] |
New London Bridge House Redevelopment | 211 | 50 | 2004 | [206] |
Stratford City Tower | 210 | 50 | [207] | |
Citypoint (Santiago Calatrava) | 203 | 27 | 1997 | [208] |
Ropemaker Place Tower | 200 | 38 | 2001 | [209] |
Elephant & Castle, Tower 2 | 182 | 35 | 2001 | [210] |
King's Cross Towers 1 & 2 | 180 | 44 | 1987 | [211][212] |
The Blade, Paddington | 150 | 44 | [213][214] | |
Ram Brewery Tower 1, Wandsworth | 145 / 476 | 42 | 2008 | [215][216][217] Rejected |
The Leaf Block F, Ealing | 138 | 49 | [218][219] | |
Victoria Interchange Buildings 2 & 7 | 134 | 42 | [220][221] | |
70-100 City Road Block A | 131 / 430 | 39 | 2008 | [222] |
Clapham Junction Towers 1 & 2 | 127 / 417 | 40 | 2008 | [223][224] |
Bishops Place Building 1 | 126 / 414 | 32 | 2006 | [130][225] |
St. John's Tower, Stratford | 116 / 381 | 30 | [226] | |
Ram Brewery Tower 2, Wandsworth | 114 / 374 | 32 | 2008 | [217][227] Rejected |
Walbrook Square Building 1 | 107 / 351 | 22 | 2006 | [228][229] Redesigned |
4-5 South Quay Square | 100 / 328 | 30 | 2006 | [230] Application withdrawn |
This lists all demolished buildings in London that stood at least 100 metres (330 ft) tall.
Name | Image | Height metres / ft |
Floors | Year built | Year demolished | Notes |
Drapers' Gardens | 100 / 328 | 30 | 1967 | 2007 | Designed by Richard Seifert, replaced by building 74 metres (243 ft) tall. | |
Southwark Towers | 100 / 328 | 25 | 1976 | 2009 | Replaced by Shard London Bridge. |
Name | Height metres |
Floors | Year | Notes |
Mile High Eco Tower | 1500 | 500 | 2007 | [231][232] |
Citygate Ecotower | 485 | 108 | 2002 | [233] |
Mallory Clifford Project | 470 | 100 | 1998 | [234] Aka Southwark Tower |
Green Bird | 442 | 83 | 1990 | [235] |
Wembley Park Tower | 353 | 1890 | [236] | |
Aldegate Tower | 325 | 85 | 1989 | [237] |
Glass Tower | 304 | 80 | 1852 | [238] |
Vortex Tower | 300 | 70 | 2004 | [239] |
Credit Suisse First Boston Building | 250 | 50 | 1989 | [240] |
Glengall View Place | 230 | 54 | 2006 | [241][242] Greenwich View Place |
Cricklewood Tower | 216 | 47 | [243][244] | |
80 & 88-104 Bishopsgate Redevelopment | 214 | 50 | [245] | |
Folgate Street (Project Cosmos) | 50 | [246] | ||
Skyhouse | 168 | 50 | [247][248] Originally 305m | |
Royal Courts of Justice | 165* | 1865 | [249] | |
Corporation of London Tower | 150* | 1944 | [250] |
* Estimated height.
Name | Height metres |
Floors | Year | Notes |
Goodmans Fields | 70 | [251] | ||
Firalia Tower | 300 | 80 | [252] | |
Rubix Tower | 200 | 50 | [253] | |
Echo Tower | 150 | 40 | [254] | |
Flower Tower | 100 | 20 | [255] |
This lists free-standing structures that once held the title of tallest structure in London.
Name | Location | Years as tallest | Height metres / ft |
Floors | Reference |
White Tower | Tower Hill | 1098–1310 | 27 / 90 | N/A | [3] |
Old St Paul's Cathedral[A] | City of London | 1310–1666 | [B] | 150 / 493N/A | [4] |
Southwark Cathedral | Southwark | 1666–1677 | 50 / 163 | N/A | [256] |
Monument to the Great Fire of London | City of London | 1677–1683 | 62 / 202 | N/A | [257] |
St Mary-le-Bow | City of London | 1683–1710 | 72 / 236 | N/A | [258] |
St Paul's Cathedral | City of London | 1710–1939 | 111 / 365 | N/A | [68] |
Battersea Power Station[D] | Kirtling Street | 1939–1950 | 113 / 370 | 10 | [66] |
Crystal Palace transmitting station[C] | Crystal Palace Park | 1950–1991 | 219 / 720 | N/A | [10] |
One Canada Square | Canary Wharf | 1991–2010 | 235 / 771 | 50 | [259] |
Shard London Bridge | Southwark | 2010— | 240+ | 87 | [260] |
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