The city of London is renowned for its varied architectural style. It is home to Gothic-influenced, Roman-era, Baroque-inspired structures, and numerous contemporary buildings and skyscrapers.
Moreover, it is one of the world’s most financially and technologically advanced cities.
As a result, the city’s skyline is always evolving to accommodate expansion and development in the city’s core and financial sectors.
Here is a list of the biggest buildings in London now gracing the skylines of the beautiful city.
List of the biggest buildings in London:
- The Shard
- Heron Tower
- Leadenhall Building
- One Canada Square
- Tower 42
- One Blackfriars
- St George Wharf Tower
Contents
1. The Shard
With a height of 309.6 meters, it is the biggest building in London.
It was designed by the famous architect Renzo Piano in 2012. The building’s structure and external design are claimed to adhere to the contemporary architecture of Neo-Futurism.
The Shard was inspired by the church spires visible in the city’s ancient architecture and rises from the waters of the River Thames like a sculpture.
This 26-story building contains a variety of business premises, three eateries, a five-star hotel, and the most beautiful view from The Shard.
Contact info:
Email: enquiries@shardquarter.com
Website: https://www.the-shard.com/
Address: 32 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9SG, United Kingdom.
2. Heron Tower
The Heron Tower, as it was formerly known, is the third-tallest building in London. The height of its roof is more than 200 meters.
This structure, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, is situated in Bishopsgate.
Moreover, it is an excellent illustration of an ambitious global corporation that strived hard to show why London is the greatest major city through its works.
This biggest building is an excellent indication of trust in the city and will bring a welcome boost to employment and the broader economy.
Contact info:
Tel: +44 (0)20 3119 5300
Email: info@kpf.com
Website: https://www.kpf.com/
Address: 7a Langley Street, London, WC2H 9JA, United Kingdom.
3. Leadenhall Building
The Leadenhall Structure’s design is the product of a remarkable distillation of the essential elements of a successful office building.
The 122 Leadenhall Street or the Leadenhall Building as it is more popularly known, has a height of 225 meters above 122 Leadenhall street in London.
It was constructed by the famous architect Rogers Stirk Harbour in 2014.
The characteristic tapering shape of the structure was designed to address and protect the views of St. Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Palace.
The building contains 48 levels of efficient office units that diminish in square footage as they ascend.
Contact info:
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7636 1531
Email: london@arup.com
Website: https://www.arup.com/
Address: 122 Leadenhall Street, 122 Leadenhall St, London EC3V 4AB, United Kingdom.
4. One Canada Square
It was one of the biggest buildings in London till 2012 when The Shard surpassed it.
It is still one of the biggest buildings in the whole United Kingdom. It is 235 meters tall and has 50 floors.
This beautiful structure was designed by Adamson Associates, Cesar Pelli, and Frederick Gibberd Coombes.
The building’s roof has a pyramidal shape and is forty meters in height with a unique aircraft warning light which is its prominent feature.
Moreover, the pyramidal shape transforms two-dimensional planes into three-dimensional structures.
Contact info:
Website: https://onecanadasquare.co.uk/
Address: London E14 5AB, United Kingdom.
5. Tower 42
Tower 42, formerly known as the National Westminster Tower, has a height of 182 meters and 42 floors.
The tower alone contributes 3,24,000 square feet of compliant office space to the building’s total size of 5,000,00 square feet, which comprises six separate components on a 2,2-acre property.
Tenants have the option of selecting even the magnificent views that each of the three floors has to offer, as they are dispersed across three floors.
The structure, conceived by architects R Seifert & Partners, was completed in 1980. From 1980 to 1991, the structure was considered to be the tallest in the United Kingdom.
Contact info:
Tel: +44 800 060 8702
Website: https://www.tower42.com/
Address: 25 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1HQ, United Kingdom.
6. One Blackfriars
In the London Borough of Southwark, there is a 170-meter-tall residential skyscraper that vaguely resembles a boomerang.
The building is accompanied by two other structures that occupy the same site, notably the Podium and the Bankside Hotel, which are situated on a lively public square.
The Podium has restaurants and shops, as well as many gymnasiums, spas, swimming pools, and movie theatres for residents’ relaxation.
The project was designed by the architectural firm Simpsonhaugh in 2019.
To create a sense of proximity with the exterior, floor-to-ceiling windows are installed, which also allow great views of the neighborhood.
The tower’s unusual appearance is a result of its double-skin glass facade.
The inner layer of the facade offers excellent views of the building and features earthy hues towards the base and silver hues near the top.
The outer skin, meanwhile, is composed of 5,476 bent glass panels to create a dynamic, curved appearance.
Contact info:
Website: https://www.berkeleygroup.co.uk/
Address: 1-16 Blackfriars Rd, London SE1 9GD, United Kingdom.
7. St George Wharf Tower
The Vauxhall Tower, often known as the St. George Wharf Tower because of its location in the St. George Wharf waterfront development is the biggest residential building in London.
It was constructed by the internationally renowned engineering firm Broadway Malyan.
The distinctive circular layout, which somewhat resembles a ratchet, gives five condos per floor, each separated by a wall that protrudes from the building’s central core.
The building is completely encased in glass from ceiling to floor in order to provide spectacular views of the London skyline.
Although it appears contrary at first glance, the structure is environmentally conscious, as seen by the wind turbine on the top floor that powers the common area lighting.
Contact info:
Website: https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/
Address: Vauxhall, London, United Kingdom.