List of tallest buildings and structures in London facts for kids

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. 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 2016, there are 18 skyscrapers in London that reach a roof height of at least 150 metres (492 ft), with 19 in Paris (compared to 15 in Frankfurt, eleven in Warsaw and five each in Madrid and Milan).

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. 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). St Paul's was the world's tallest structure until 1311, when its height was surpassed by Lincoln Cathedral in Lincoln. It regained the title when the spire of Lincoln Cathedral fell in 1549. Although the spire of the Old St Paul's was destroyed by lightning in 1561, it still stood as the tallest structure in London, while the world's tallest structure became Strasbourg Cathedral in Strasbourg, France. St Paul's was severely damaged by the Great Fire of London in 1666. The title of the tallest structure in London passed to Southwark Cathedral, which stands at a height of 50 metres (164 ft) and no structure in London again rose above 100 metres until 1710, when the current St Paul's Cathedral was completed. 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 late 20th 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 and the RIBA Stirling Prize for Architecture in 2004.

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. As of September 2016, there were 79 structures under construction or proposed in London that will rise at least 100 metres in height, including the South Bank tower which has been increased in height by 11 storeys, architecturally topping out in 2016. 1 Undershaft, planned to form the centrepiece of the City of London's skyscraper cluster, is the tallest skyscraper currently proposed for London. Also in the City, a skyscraper at 100–112 Leadenhall Street, to be designed by SOM architects, is in the early stages of design and planning.

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	Location	Notes
1	The Shard		309.6 / 1,016	01.087	2012	Mixed	Southwark	Tallest building in the UK and also the tallest in the EU.
2	One Canada Square		235 / 771	02.050	1991	Office	Isle of Dogs	Tallest building in the Canary Wharf business district.
3	Heron Tower		230 / 756	04.046	2011	Office	City of London	Tallest building in the City of London financial district.
4	122 Leadenhall Street		225 / 737	04.046	2014	Office	City of London	Second-tallest building in the City of London. Nicknamed "The Cheesegrater".
5	Crystal Palace Transmitter		219 / 720	35.0N/A	1950	Transmitter	Crystal Palace	Tallest structure in London completed in the 1950s.
6=	8 Canada Square		200 / 655	05.042	2002	Office	Isle of Dogs	Joint fifth-tallest building in the UK. Also known as the HSBC Tower.
6=	25 Canada Square		200 / 655	04.042	2002	Office	Isle of Dogs	Joint fifth-tallest building in the UK. Also known as the Citigroup Tower.
8	Tower 42		183 / 600	07.047	1980	Office	City of London	Seventh-tallest building in the UK. Tallest structure in London completed in the 1980s. Formerly known as the NatWest Tower.
9	St George Wharf Tower		181 / 594	01.049	2013	Residential	Vauxhall / Nine Elms	The crown of the building includes a small wind turbine which helps to generate power for the building.
10	30 St Mary Axe		180 / 590	09.040	2003	Office	City of London	Formerly known as the Swiss Re Building. Nicknamed "The Gherkin".
11	BT Tower		177 / 581	16.034	1964	Transmitter	Borough of Camden	Tallest building in London completed in the 1960s.
12	Broadgate Tower		164 / 539	14.035	2008	Office	City of London
13	20 Fenchurch Street		160 / 525	14.037	2014	Office	City of London	Nicknamed "The Walkie-Talkie".
14	One Churchill Place		156 / 513	22.032	2004	Office	Isle of Dogs	Twelfth-tallest building in the UK.
15=	25 Bank Street		153 / 502	19.033	2003	Office	Isle of Dogs
15=	40 Bank Street		153 / 502	20.033	2003	Office	Isle of Dogs
17	Croydon Transmitter		152 / 499	36.0N/A	1964	Transmitter	Croydon
18	10 Upper Bank Street		151 / 495	23.032	2003	Office	Isle of Dogs
19	South Bank Tower		150 / 492	45	2015	Residential	South Bank	Built 1972; height increase from 108m to 150m completed May 2016.
20	Baltimore Wharf Tower*		149 / 489	46	2016	Residential	Isle of Dogs	Topped out.
21=	Pan Peninsula East Tower		147 / 484	02.048	2008	Residential	Isle of Dogs
21=	Strata		147 / 484	43	2010	Residential	Elephant & Castle	Nicknamed "The Razor".
23	Guy's Tower		143 / 469	17.034	1974	Hospital	Southwark	Tallest all-hospital building in the world. Tallest structure in London completed in the 1970s.
24	22 Marsh Wall East Tower		140 / 458	44	2010	Residential	Isle of Dogs
25	Providence Tower		136 / 446	44	2015	Residential	Blackwall	Formerly The Quebec Building. Topped out 2015. Completed September 2016.
26	London Eye		135 / 443	37.0 44	1999	Ferris wheel	South Bank	The world's tallest Ferris wheel from 1999 to 2006.
27	Saffron Square		134 / 440	44	2015	Residential	Croydon
28=	150 High Street, Stratford		133 / 436	42	2013	Residential	Stratford
28=	Wembley Stadium		133 / 436	34.06	2007	Stadium	Wembley	Second-tallest stadium in the world.
30	25 Churchill Place		130 / 428	10.023	2014	Office	Isle of Dogs
31	CityPoint		127 / 417	11.036	1967	Office	City of London
32	Willis Building		125 / 410	29.026	2007	Office	City of London
33=	40 Marsh Wall*		124 / 406	39	2016	Hotel	Isle of Dogs	Topped out. Set to be the tallest all-hotel building in the United Kingdom.
33=	One The Elephant		124 / 406	37	2015	Residential	Elephant & Castle	Formerly St. Mary's. Completed June 2016.
33=	Euston Tower		124 / 408	12.036	1970	Office	Euston
36=	Cromwell Tower		123 / 404	08.042	1973	Residential	City of London
36=	Lauderdale Tower		123 / 404	06.043	1974	Residential	City of London
36=	Shakespeare Tower		123 / 404	05.043	1976	Residential	City of London
39	Pan Peninsula West Tower		122 / 400	10.039	2008	Residential	Isle of Dogs
40	Vauxhall Sky Gardens*		120 / 394	35	2016	Residential	Vauxhall	Topped out.
41	Millbank Tower		119 / 390	21.033	1963	Office	Westminster
42	St. Helen's		118 / 387	28.028	1969	Office	City of London	Formerly known as the Aviva Tower.
43=	Centre Point		117 / 385	15.035	1967	Office	West End	As of 2015, it is undergoing conversion to residential use.
43=	Empress State Building		117 / 385	24.031	1961	Office	Earls Court	Originally stood at a height of 100 metres (328 ft) before a height extension in 2003.
45	Lexicon Tower		116 / 380	36	2015	Residential	Islington	261 City Road. Topped out 2015.
46	ArcelorMittal Orbit		115 / 377	37.02	2012	Viewing platform	Stratford
47	Battersea Power Station		113 / 370	33.010	1953	Industrial	Battersea
48	The Heron		112 / 367	35	2013	Residential	City of London	Also known as Milton Court.
49	St Paul's Cathedral		111 / 364	38.0N/A	1710	Religious	City of London	Tallest place of worship in London. Tallest structure completed in London in the 1700s.
50	Dollar Bay Tower		109 / 358	31	2016	Residential	Isle of Dogs
51	1 West India Quay		108 / 354	13.036	2004	Office	Isle of Dogs
52	Shell Centre		107 / 351	30.026	1961	Office	South Bank
53=	33 Canada Square		105 / 344	32.018	1999	Office	Isle of Dogs
53=	Sky View Tower*		105 / 345	35	2016	Residential	Stratford	Tallest of the Capital Towers development. Topped out.
53=	Nido Spitalfields		105 / 344	34	2009	Residential (student)	City of London
53=	Pioneer Point North, Ilford		105 / 344	31	2011	Residential	Ilford
57=	99 Bishopsgate		104 / 340	31.026	1976	Office	City of London
57=	Ontario Tower		104 / 340	25.029	2007	Residential	Blackwall
59	Victoria Tower		102 / 336	39.0N/A	1858	Government	Westminster	Tallest non-religious building in the world upon completion. Tallest structure completed in London in the 1800s. Architectural height 102m, roof height 98.5m.
60=	Portland House		101 / 331	26.029	1963	Office	Westminster
60=	London Hilton on Park Lane		101 / 331	26.028	1963	Hotel	West End
60=	Skyline, Woodberry Down		101 / 331	31	2015	Residential	Hackney
60=	One Angel Court		101 / 331	24	2017	Office	City of London	Refurbishment of 97m building.
64	Stock Exchange Tower		100 / 328	26.027	1970	Office	City of London

* 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

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.

Name		Height metres / ft	Floors	Year (est.)	Primary use	Location	Notes
22 Bishopsgate		255 / 837	59	2019	Office	City of London	Old proposal cancelled, new proposal approved April 2016. Work under way, possible pause suggested following EU referendum result, however, work has continued since. New design, approved February 2017, reduces height by 23 metres and to 59 floors.
Spire London		237 / 778	74		Residential	West India Quay	Replaces two proposals on this site - Columbus Tower and Hertsmere Tower. Application 8 October 2015, approved 2016
Landmark Pinnacle		233 / 765	75	2018	Residential	Isle of Dogs	Formerly called City Pride. Was on hold, foundation works underway.
Newfoundland (London)		220 / 722	60	2018	Residential	Isle of Dogs	Core rising.
South Quay Plaza 1		215 / 705	68	2020	Residential	Isle of Dogs	Approved Nov 2014. Phase one under way.
One Nine Elms City Tower		200 / 660	58	2018	Residential	Vauxhall / Nine Elms	City Tower. Foundation work under way.
52-54 Lime Street		190 / 623	35	2017	Office	City of London	Application 2012/06/22, approved 2013/01/15. Core rising.
The Madison		184 / 604	53	2019	Residential	Isle of Dogs	Previously Meridian Gate. Approved 2015. Foundation works ongoing.
Wardian London (East Tower)		183 / 600	55	2019	Residential	Isle of Dogs	Application 2013/01/17 Approved Nov 2014 Core rising.
100 Bishopsgate		172 / 564	40	2018	Office	City of London	Core rising.
Wardian London (West Tower)		170 / 558	50	2019	Residential	Isle of Dogs	Approved Nov 2014 Core rising.
1 Blackfriars		163 / 535	49	2018	Residential	South Bank	1 Blackfriars Road. Structure rising.
Principal Place		161 / 528	51	2018	Residential	Shoreditch	Residential tower. Core rising.
One Nine Elms River Tower		160 / 525	47	2018	Hotel	Vauxhall / Nine Elms	River Tower. Foundation work under way.
250 City Road, Tower 1		155 / 508	42	2017	Residential	Islington	Application 2013/04/26, City Forum site, Approved Core rising.
1 Merchant Square		150 / 492	42	2018	Office	Paddington	Tallest building in the City of Westminster
10 Park Drive (Wood Wharf A3)		150 / 492	43	2019	Residential	Isle of Dogs	Foundation works ongoing.
Heron Quays West 2		147 / 482	28	2019	Office	Isle of Dogs	1 Bank Street. Application 24 December 2013. Core rising.
Harbour Central Block D (Maine Tower)		145 / 476	42	2018	Residential	Isle of Dogs	Maine Tower. Foundation works ongoing.
Manhattan Loft Gardens		143 / 472	42	2018	Residential	Stratford	Plot N24, athletes' village. Core rising.
Highpoint		142 / 468	44	2018	Residential	Elephant & Castle	Core rising.
Canada Water Building C4		140** / 462	40	2018	Residential	Canada Water	Carrying out foundation works.
250 City Road, Tower 2		137 / 454	36	2017	Residential	Islington	Application 2013/04/26, City Forum site. Foundation works ongoing.
150 Bishopsgate		135 / 448	44	2019	Hotel	City of London	Foundation work under way. Previously called Heron Plaza.
Two Fifty One		134 / 440	42	2017	Residential	Elephant & Castle	Formerly Eileen House. Structure rising.
The Atlas Building, 145 City Road		134 / 438	40	2018	Residential	Hackney	Crown House. Core rising.
GRID Building (Wood Wharf E2)		129 / 423	35			Wood Wharf	Application 19 December 2013. Approved 2014.
Keybridge Lofts		128 / 420	37	2019	Residential	Vauxhall / Nine Elms	Replaces ex-BT building called Keybridge House
Harbour Central Block C		126 / 412	36	2018	Residential	Isle of Dogs	Core rising.
Nine Elms Point		126 / 411	37	2019	Residential	Vauxhall / Nine Elms	Formerly Vauxhall Sainsbury's Tower G. Structure rising.
Chelsea Waterfront Tower 1		122 / 400	37	2017	Residential	Chelsea Harbour	Formerly called Lots Road. Foundation works ongoing.
Stratosphere		122 / 400	38	2017	Residential	Stratford	Formerly called Broadway Chambers. Structure rising.
The Stage, Shoreditch		115 / 377	38	2018	Residential	Shoreditch	Foundation works ongoing.
East Village E20, Site N08 Tower 2		113 / 371	30	2018	Residential	Stratford	Part of the East Village London E20 development. Core rising.
One Casson Square, Southbank Place		113 / 371	37	2019	Residential	South Bank	Foundation works ongoing.
Ram Quarter Tower		113 / 371	36	2017	Residential	Wandsworth	Foundation works ongoing.
Imperial West Residential Building		105 / 344	35	2019	Residential	White City	Foundation works ongoing.
Upper Riverside Building A		104 / 341	31	2018	Residential	Greenwich Peninsula	Foundation works ongoing.
Stratford Central		101 / 331	33	2018	Residential	Stratford	Core topped out, cladding in progress.
East Village E20, Site N08 Tower 1		100 / 327	28	2018	Residential	Stratford	Part of the East Village London E20 development. Core rising.

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)

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

In Spanish: Anexo:Edificios más altos de Londres para niños