List of tallest buildings and structures in London

This list of the tallest buildings and structures in London ranks skyscrapers and towers in the city of London, United Kingdom by height. The tallest structure in London is the 50-storey One Canada Square, which rises convert|235|m|ft|0|lk=on in Canary Wharf and was completed in 1991.Cite web |title=One Canada Square |url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=1canadasquare-london-unitedkingdom |publisher=Emporis.com |accessdate=2008-06-28] It also stands as the tallest building in the United Kingdom and the 11th-tallest building in Europe. The second-tallest structure in London is the convert|219|m|ft|adj=on Crystal Palace transmitting station, which was completed in 1950.cite web|url=http://212.85.26.243/WAM/pas/externalCasefile.do?councilName=London%20Borough%20of%20Bromley&appNumber=08/01463/FULL1 |title=NGW planning application|publisher=Bromley Council planning portal|date=2008-04-23|accessdate=2008-09-13|]

The history of structures in London began with the completion of the 27-metre (90 ft) White Tower, a part of the Tower of London, in 1098. [Cite web |title=The White Tower |url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=streetwhitetower-london-unitedkingdom |publisher=Emporis.com |accessdate=2008-07-06] Cite web |title=The Tower of London |url=http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=9756 |publisher=SkyscraperPage.com |accessdate=2008-07-06] The first structure to surpass a height of convert|100|m|ft|0 was Old St Paul's Cathedral. Completed in 1310, the cathedral stood at a height of 150 metres (493 ft).Cite web |title=Old St. Paul's Cathedral |url=http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=10083 |publisher=SkyscraperPage.com |accessdate=2008-07-06] It was the world's tallest structure until 1311, when its height was surpassed by Lincoln Cathedral in Lincoln, England. It regained the title when the spire of the Lincoln Cathedral fell in 1549.Cite web |title=Old St. Paul's Cathedral |url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=oldstreetpaulscastreetdral-london-unitedkingdom |publisher=Emporis.com |accessdate=2008-07-06] 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, while the world's tallest structure became the Strasbourg Cathedral in Strasbourg, France. The Old St Paul's Cathedral was destroyed by the Great Fire of London in September 1666. The title of tallest structure in London passed to the Southwark Cathedral, which stands at a height of 50 metres (163 ft). [Cite web |title=Southwark Cathedral |url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=southwarkcastreetdral-london-unitedkingdom |publisher=Emporis.com |accessdate=2008-07-06] No structure in London rose above convert|100|m|ft|0 until 1710 when the current St Paul's Cathedral was completed. Rising 111 metres (365 ft), the cathedral is the tallest place of worship in London and the largest Protestant cathedral in the world.Cite web |title=St. Paul's Cathedral |url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=streetpaulscastreetdral-london-unitedkingdom |publisher=Emporis.com |accessdate=2008-07-06] It remained as the tallest structure in London for 229 years until the construction of the Battersea Power Station in 1939.Cite web |title=Battersea Power Station |url=http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=6694 |publisher=SkyscraperPage.com |accessdate=2008-07-06]

Despite its long history, London has not been the location of many skyscrapers. This is due to strict regulations on building heights to preserve its protected views, especially those of St Paul's Cathedral, the Tower of London and Westminster Palace.

The lifting of the height restriction caused a boom in the construction of tall buildings during the 1960s. One of London's first notable tall buildings was the convert|117|m|ft|adj=on Centre Point, completed in 1966. The NatWest Tower followed in 1980, which at convert|183|m|ft became London's first genuine "skyscraper" by international standards. It was followed in 1990 by the convert|235|m|ft|adj=on 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 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 [Cite web |title=Winning Design |url=http://awards.emporis.com/?nav=award2003winner&lng=3 |publisher=Emporis Awards |accessdate=2008-07-06] and the RIBA Stirling Prize for Architecture in 2004. [Cite web |title=Winner 2004 |url=http://www.architecture.com/Awards/RIBAStirlingPrize/Winner2004/Winner2004.aspx |publisher=Architecture.com |date=Winter 2004 |accessdate=2008-07-06] As of June 2008, there are 1,384 completed high-rises in the city.Cite web |title=High-rise Buildings of London |url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/ci/bu/sk/?id=100637 |publisher=Emporis.com |accessdate=2008-06-28] This is more than any other city in the United Kingdom, and third in Europe behind Moscow and Istanbul.Cite web |title=Emporis Skyline Ranking |url=http://www.emporis.com/en/bu/sk/st/sr/ |publisher=Emporis.com |accessdate=2008-06-28]

There are 13 structures under construction in London that will rise at least convert|100|m|ft|0 in height. The tallest of these is the Bishopsgate Tower, which is expected to rise convert|288|m|ft|0 upon completion in 2012.Cite web |title=The Pinnacle |url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=streetbishopsgatetower-london-unitedkingdom |publisher=Emporis.com |accessdate=2008-08-22] It would become the tallest building in London and the United Kingdom. Out of the 26 buildings approved for construction in London, the tallest is the 310-metre (1,017 ft) Shard London Bridge which will rise 72 floors upon expected completion in 2012.Cite web |title=Shard London Bridge |url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=shardlondonbridge-london-unitedkingdom |publisher=Emporis.com |accessdate=2008-08-22] As of July 2008, there are 426 high-rise buildings under construction, approved for construction, and proposed for construction in London.

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Tallest buildings and structures

This list ranks London skyscrapers and free-standing towers that stand at least convert|100|m|ft|0 tall. Existing structures are included for ranking purposes based on present height.

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

Proposed

This lists buildings that are proposed for construction in London and are planned to rise at least convert|100|m|ft|0.

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

Timeline of tallest buildings and structures

This lists free-standing structures that once held the title of tallest structure in London.

Notes

:A.note label|note01|A|^This structure was destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666, allowing a shorter structure to become the tallest in the city.Cite web |title=Old St. Paul's Cathedral |url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=oldstreetpaulscastreetdral-london-unitedkingdom |publisher=Emporis.com |accessdate=2008-06-28] :B.note label|note02|B|^The exact height of the Old St. Paul's Cathedral remains unknown. Heights ranging between convert|140|m|ft and 150 metres (493 ft) have all been reported.

References

;General
*;Specific

See also

* Architecture of London
* List of tallest buildings and structures in Croydon
* List of tallest buildings in the United Kingdom
* List of tallest structures in the United Kingdom

External links

* [http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=807 Diagram of London skysrcrapers] on SkyscraperPage
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