List of tallest buildings and structures in London

London in 2014, featuring the Shard and the City of London skyline

Canary Wharf pictured at night

Tallest buildings in London.

This list of the tallest buildings and structures in London ranks skyscrapers and towers in London by their height. Since 2010, the tallest structure in London has been The Shard, which was topped out at 309.6 metres (1,016 ft), making it the tallest habitable building in Europe at the time. The second-tallest is One Canada Square in Canary Wharf, which rises 235 metres (771 ft) and was completed in 1991.^[1] The third-tallest is the Heron Tower in the City of London financial district, which was topped out in 2010 and stands at a height of 230 metres (755 ft), including its spire.

The Greater London area is currently about level with the Paris Metropolitan Area as the metropolitan area in the European Union with the most skyscrapers. As of 2015, there are 16 skyscrapers in London that reach a roof height of at least 150 metres (492 ft), with 17 in Paris (compared to 15 in Frankfurt, eight in Warsaw and five in Madrid).

The history of tall structures in London began with the completion of the 27-metre (89 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 the Old St Paul's Cathedral. Completed in 1310, it stood at a height of 150 metres (492 ft).^[4] St Paul's was the world's tallest structure until 1311, when its height was surpassed by Lincoln Cathedral in Lincoln.^[4] It regained the title when the spire of Lincoln Cathedral fell in 1549.^[5] Although the spire of the Old St Paul's was destroyed by lightning in 1561, it still stood as the tallest structure in London,^[5] while the world's tallest structure became Strasbourg Cathedral in Strasbourg, France.^[5] St Paul's was severely damaged by the Great Fire of London in 1666.^[4] The title of the tallest structure in London passed to Southwark Cathedral, which stands at a height of 50 metres (164 ft)^[6] and no structure in London again rose above 100 metres until 1710, when the current St Paul's Cathedral was completed.^[7] At 111 metres (364 ft), the cathedral remained London's tallest building until it was overtaken in 1962 by the BT Tower, which was topped out in 1964 and officially opened in 1965.

Few skyscrapers were built in London before the end of the last century, owing to restrictions on building heights originally imposed by the London Building Act of 1894, which followed the construction of the 14-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, the Tower of London and Palace of Westminster, 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 National Westminster Tower (now called Tower 42) followed in 1980, which at 183 metres (600 ft) became London's first genuine "skyscraper" by international standards. It was followed in 1991 by 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 (both also at Canary Wharf), the Heron Quays buildings, One Churchill Place, the Broadgate Tower and the gherkin-shaped 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 nine structures actively under construction in London that will rise at least 100 metres in height, besides the South Bank Tower, which is being increased in height by 11 storeys. The Pinnacle, planned to form the centrepiece of the City of London's skyscraper cluster, has been on hold since 2012.

Tallest buildings and structures

This list ranks externally complete London skyscrapers and free-standing towers that stand at least 328 feet (100 m) tall, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts. An equals 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.

Rank	Name	Image	Height metres / ft	Floors	Year	Primary use	Notes
1	The Shard		306 / 1,004	01.087	2012	Mixed	Tallest building in the UK and also the tallest in the EU.[10]
2	One Canada Square		235 / 771	02.050	1991	Office	Tallest building in the Canary Wharf business district.
3	Heron Tower		230 / 756	04.046	2011	Office	Tallest building in the City of London financial district.
4	122 Leadenhall Street		225 / 737	04.046	2014	Office	Second-tallest building in the City of London. Nicknamed "The Cheesegrater".[11]
5	Crystal Palace Transmitter		219 / 720	35.0N/A	1950	Transmitter	Tallest structure in London completed in the 1950s.[12]
6	8 Canada Square		200 / 655	05.042	2002	Office	Joint fifth-tallest building in the UK. Also known as the HSBC Tower.[13][14]
7	25 Canada Square		200 / 655	04.042	2002	Office	Joint fifth-tallest building in the UK. Also known as the Citigroup Tower.[15][16]
8	Tower 42		183 / 600	07.047	1980	Office	Seventh-tallest building in the UK. Tallest structure in London completed in the 1980s. Formerly known as the NatWest Tower.[17][18]
9	St George Wharf Tower		181 / 594	01.049	2013	Residential	The crown of the building includes a small wind turbine which helps to generate power for the building.[19][20]
10	30 St Mary Axe		180 / 590	09.040	2003	Office	Formerly known as the Swiss Re Building. Nicknamed "The Gherkin".[21][22]
11	BT Tower		177 / 581	16.034	1964	Transmitter	Tallest building in London completed in the 1960s.[23][24]
12	Broadgate Tower		164 / 539	14.035	2008	Office	[25][26]
13	20 Fenchurch Street		160 / 525	14.037	2014	Office	Nicknamed "The Walkie-Talkie".
14	One Churchill Place		156 / 513	22.032	2004	Office	Twelfth-tallest building in the UK.[27][28]
15=	Croydon Transmitter		460/ n/a	36.0N/A	1964	Transmitter	[29][30]
15=	25 Bank Street		153 / 502	19.033	2003	Office	[31][32]
15=	40 Bank Street		153 / 502	20.033	2003	Office	[33][34]
18	10 Upper Bank Street		151 / 495	23.032	2003	Office	[35][36]
19=	Pan Peninsula East Tower		147 / 484	02.048	2008	Residential	[37][38]
19=	Strata		147 / 484	43	2010	Residential	[39][40][41]
21	Guy's Tower		143 / 469	17.034	1974	Hospital	Tallest all-hospital building in the world. Tallest structure in London completed in the 1970s.[42][43]
22	22 Marsh Wall East Tower		140 / 458	44	2010	Residential
23	London Eye		135 / 443	37.0 44	1999	Ferris wheel	The world's tallest Ferris wheel from 1999 until 2006.[44][45]
24=	150 High Street, Stratford		133 / 436	42	2013	Residential	[46]
24=	Wembley Stadium		133 / 436	34.06	2007	Stadium	Second-tallest stadium in the world.[47][48]
26	CityPoint		127 / 417	11.036	1967	Office	[49][50]
27	Willis Building		125 / 410	29.026	2007	Office	[51][52]
28=	Euston Tower		124 / 408	12.036	1970	Office	[53][54]
28=	25 Churchill Place		124 / 408	10.023	2014	Office	[55][56]
30=	Cromwell Tower		123 / 404	08.042	1973	Residential	[57][58]
30=	Lauderdale Tower		123 / 404	06.043	1974	Residential	[59][60]
30=	Shakespeare Tower		123 / 404	05.043	1976	Residential	[61][62]
33	Pan Peninsula West Tower		122 / 400	10.039	2008	Residential	[63][64]
34	Millbank Tower		119 / 390	21.033	1963	Office	[65][66]
35	St. Helen's		118 / 387	28.028	1969	Office	Formerly known as the Aviva Tower.[67][68]
36=	Centre Point		117 / 385	15.035	1967	Office	[69][70] As of 2015, it is undergoing conversion to residential use.[71]
36=	Empress State Building		117 / 385	24.031	1961	Office	Originally stood at a height of 100 metres (328 ft) before a height extension in 2003.[72][73]
38	ArcelorMittal Orbit		115 / 377	37.02	2012	Viewing platform	[74]
39	Battersea Power Station		113 / 370	33.010	1953	Industrial	[75][76]
40	The Heron		112 / 367	35	2013	Residential	Also known as Milton Court.[77][78]
41	St Paul's Cathedral		111 / 364	38.0N/A	1710	Religious	Tallest place of worship in London. Tallest structure completed in London in the 1700s.[7][79]
42	1 West India Quay		108 / 354	13.036	2004	Office	[80][81]
43	Shell Centre		107 / 351	30.026	1961	Office	[82][83]
44=	33 Canada Square		105 / 344	32.018	1999	Office	[84][85]
44=	Nido Spitalfields		105 / 344	34	2009	Residential (student)	[86]
44=	Pioneer Point North, Ilford		105 / 344	31	2011	Residential	[87][88]
47=	99 Bishopsgate		104 / 340	31.026	1976	Office	[89][90]
47=	Ontario Tower		104 / 340	25.029	2007	Residential	[91][92]
49	Victoria Tower		102 / 336	39.0N/A	1858	Government	Tallest non-religious building in the world upon completion. Tallest structure completed in London in the 1800s. Architectural height 102m, roof height 98.5m.[93][94]
50=	Portland House		101 / 331	26.029	1963	Office	[95][96]
50=	London Hilton on Park Lane		101 / 331	26.028	1963	Hotel
50=	Royal London Hospital Tower 2		101 / 331	32.018	2010	Hospital	[97]
53	Stock Exchange Tower		100 / 328	26.027	1970	Office	[98][99]

* Indicates still under construction, but has been topped out

Selection of buildings that dominate the London Skyline, including some still under construction or on hold.

Tallest under construction, approved, and proposed

Under construction

Bishopsgate Tower as seen in November 2010

This lists buildings that are under construction in London and are planned to rise at least 328 feet (100 m). Under construction buildings that have already been topped out are listed above.

Approved

This lists buildings that are approved for construction in London and are planned to rise at least 328 feet (100 m).

* Table entries without text indicate that information regarding a building's expected year of completion has not yet been released.

** Approximate figure.

Proposed

This lists buildings that are proposed for construction in London and are planned to rise at least 328 feet (100 m). Once a planning application has been submitted, a decision by the relevant authority may take two or three years.

* Approximate figure.

Scale models of the skyscrapers planned for Central London. (2012)

Cancelled constructions

This lists proposals for the construction of buildings in London that were planned to rise at least 328 feet (100 m), for which planning permission was rejected or which were otherwise withdrawn.

Demolished buildings

This lists all demolished buildings in London that stood at least 328 feet (100 m) 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 The Shard.

Visions of skyscrapers

* Estimated height.

Timeline of tallest buildings and structures

The White Tower stood as the tallest structure in London from 1098 until 1310.

This lists free-standing structures that have at some point held the title of tallest structure in London.

See also

• Architecture of London
• List of tallest buildings and structures in Croydon
• City of London#Skyscrapers
• List of tallest buildings in the United Kingdom
• List of tallest structures in the United Kingdom

Notes

Footnotes

A.^{^} This structure was destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666, allowing a shorter structure to become the tallest in the city.^[260]

B.^{^} The exact height of the Old St. Paul's Cathedral remains unknown. Heights ranging between 140 metres (460 ft) and 150 metres (490 ft) have all been reported.^[260] The spire was destroyed by fire in 1561.

C.^{^} If counting the tallest habitable floors in buildings, then the record would be held between 1961 and 1962 by the Shell Centre, at 107 metres (351 ft) and having 26 floors; and before it by the Victoria Tower at 98.5 metres (323 ft), completed in 1858 and having 14 floors.^[261][262]

D.^{^} If the Crystal Palace Transmitter is excluded as a "building", then the record was held by the "Post Office Tower" (later The British Telecom Tower) from 1962 to 1980, at a height excluding antenna of 177 metres (581 ft) and containing 34 floors, and from 1980 to 1991 by Tower 42 at 183 metres (600 ft).

Citations

References

• "High-rise Buildings of London". Emporis.com. Retrieved 30 June 2008. 
• "The Taller, The Better? List Of London's Tallest Buildings". Joanne Watson. Retrieved 10 April 2014. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Buildings in London.

• Diagram of London skyscrapers on SkyscraperPage
• Info graphic of London's Top 10 Tallest skyscrapers
• "Interim strategic planning guidance on tall buildings, strategic views and the skyline in London" (PDF). Greater London Authority. October 2001. 
• "London Skyline 2012". WillFox.com.