If you’re not a fan of The Shard’s alien aesthetic, you might prefer 22 Bishopsgate, the second-tallest. This one is a chunky, 278-metre tower that locals call “the can of beans” because of its vertical stripes. It’s so new (opened in 2026) that it’s still smelling like fresh carpet and corporate dreams.
Third place goes to One Canada Square in Canary Wharf. That’s the one that looks like a giant Toblerone bar, standing at 236 metres. It used to be the tallest when it was built in 1991, but now it’s the grumpy old uncle of the skyline, constantly muttering about “the good old days.”
The Shard in London - The Tallest Building in Britain - Go Guides
The Surprising Also-Rans
Wait, you thought The Gherkin (30 St Mary Axe) was the tallest? Nope. It’s only 180 metres—adorable, really. It’s the cute, quirky cousin who shows up at family reunions and gets all the attention for being weirdly shaped. Same goes for the Walkie Talkie (20 Fenchurch Street), whose concave shape once melted a car. Yes, really. In 2013, its curved glass focused sunlight like a magnifying glass and fried a Jaguar’s wing mirror. The building now has a giant sunshade. You’re welcome, London.
