Top 7 Tallest Buildings In London And What They’re For

London is a city with an incredible skyline, and that is due to the fact it has some of the most impressive skyscrapers in the world. The number of buildings in London is massive, and they all have fantastic uses, whether for offices, restaurants, or hotels. Each is an architectural delight and certainly something beautiful to look at.

Of course, you can walk through the city and just take in the beauty of each building, but it is always a good thing to know where the tallest buildings are. We have put together a detailed guide to help you learn about the largest buildings in London so you can see them during your next visit. 

The Shard

The Shard is the tallest building in the United Kingdom, the fourth tallest in all of Europe, and the 9th tallest in the world, coming in at 310 meters. Designed by Italian Architect Renzo Piano, it was officially opened to the public in 2009 and now hosts several offices, restaurants, and even hotels for people to stay in. 

This building gets its name based on the fact that it has been built using 11,000 glass panels covering 72 storeys. When you visit one of the higher storeys, you can see some fantastic views of the city. The Shard is located in Southwark and is definitely a building you shouldn’t miss when visiting London. 

22 Bishopsgate (TwentyTwo)

Next up on the list of London’s tallest buildings is 22 Bishopsgate, which was only built as recently as 2020. It isn’t far off from the height of The Shard as it comes in at 278 meters and has 62 storeys. It was originally supposed to be named The Pinnacle, but this construction was suspended in 2012, with only the first seven storeys being built. 

Following The Shard, 22 Bishopsgate is the second tallest building in the United Kingdom. It was reviewed and redesigned in 2013, but it wasn’t confirmed until 2016 that the building would start being rebuilt in 2019. It now offers around 120,000 square meters of space for restaurants, stores, and galleries that tourists can come and view. 

One Canada Square

Canary Wharf is London’s central business district, so there is no surprise that it is home to one of the tallest buildings in the city. Built in 1991, One Canada Square is the third-tallest building in the country at 235 meters and containing 50 storeys. Designed by Cesar Pelli and Frederick Gibberd, it offers a unique look to the rest of the city’s skyscrapers with a pyramid roof and stainless steel cladding. 
 

The main use of One Canada Square is for offices, which is not shocking since it is located in Canary Wharf. However, there are also some stores on the ground floor that passers-by are able to browse. People with a love for architecture strongly appreciate this building, and many people come to the area just to see it in person. 

The Landmark Pinnacle

The Landmark Pinnacle only just missed the third tallest building in London spot as it is two meters smaller than One Canada Square at 233 meters. It is located on the Isle of Dogs in the city and is the tallest residential building in Europe since it isn’t used as offices and restaurants like the previous buildings. 

This building was originally known as City Pride, but it was renamed The Landmark Pinnacle in 2016. It has 75 storeys and the most habitable floors on the continent. There are currently around 200 tenants residing in the building as of March 2021. Due to being such a unique building, it is certainly not one you’d want to miss out on seeing if you ever find yourself in the area. 
 

Salesforce Tower

We’ve already mentioned 22 Bishopsgate, so let us introduce you to 110 Bishopsgate, known as the Salesforce Tower. It was originally named the Heron Tower, and it currently stands at 230 meters, making it the fifth tallest building in the United Kingdom. If you include the 28-meter mast, it is also the second tallest building in the City of London financial district. 

It took a while to build the Salesforce Tower, as construction started in 2007 and was only completed four years later, in 2011. At first, it was hard to attract tenants to rent out spaces due to the Great Recession, but it is now fully let to a number of big names in business and some fantastic restaurants. 
 

The Leadenhall Building

The Leadenhall Building, also known as 122 Leadenhall, is the seventh tallest building in London and comes in as high as 225 meters tall. Designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners and built in June 2013, they nicknamed it the Cheesegrater due to the fact it looks like the commonly-known slanted kitchen utensil.

The site of the Leadenhall Building was originally home to a building owned by British Land, but this was demolished in preparation for this 48-storey skyscraper in 2009. It is now mainly home to a number of offices such as MS Amlin, OMERs, Brit Insurance, and DRW Trading Group. Its unique design is a sight to behold and isn’t something to miss if you love great architecture.
  

Newfoundland (Diamond Tower)

Another building on the Isle of Dogs, like the Landmark Pinnacle, is the Newfoundland, which is 220 meters tall. Similarly, it is also a residential skyscraper, providing homes to the citizens of London. This 58-storey building is the newest addition to this list as it was only completed in 2021, even though construction started as far back as 2015. 

While it is mainly known as a residential building, it also has some retail stores and a massive car park for people who are visiting the area. Designed by Horden Cherry Lee and WSP Global, it has been open for just over a year and is already an impressive location for people who want to see the top seven tallest buildings in the city.