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Tower of London

1080s

William the Conqueror began to build the Tower of London in the early 1080s.

Since then, the tower has been used as a fortress, royal palace, a prison, an armoury, the Royal Mint and a zoo, and it continues to be the home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.

Height: 27.4m

Westminster Abbey

1245

Since 1066, all English and British monarchs except Edward V and Edward VIII have been crowned in Westminster Abbey.

It has hosted 16 royal weddings, including the recent wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The abbey also serves as a burial ground for approximately 3,300 people including Charles Darwin, Sir Isaac Newton, Thomas Hardy and Sir Laurence Olivier.

Height: 68.7m

The Monument

1677

Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the Monument on Pudding Lane was built in 1677 to mark the Great Fire of London, which had taken place 11 years earlier.

The Monument stands 61 metres high and is positioned 61 metres from the spot where the Great Fire is believed to have started. The only way to reach the top is to climb the 311 steps of the spiral staircase.

Height: 61.57m

St Paul’s Cathedral

1710

St Paul’s Cathedral was the world’s first triple-domed cathedral and is London’s tallest building of religious worship. The present building is the fifth cathedral to stand on the site since 604 AD, after a Viking invasion and fires destroyed its predecessors.

Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and Sir Christopher Wren (the architect of the present-day cathedral) are some of the notable figures buried in the crypt at St. Paul’s

Height: 111m

Big Ben

1859

One of London’s most prominent landmarks, Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell (the largest of five bells) of the clock, located at the north end of the Palace of Westminster, although it is often used to describe the tower and clock as well. The clock tower, designed by Sir Charles Barry, was completed in 1859.

For two years during the First World War, the bells of Big Ben were silenced and its clock face was darkened at night to prevent attack from German airships. When the Blitz began during the Second World War, the clock face was darkened once again, but this time the bells were permitted to ring. Many people felt that hearing Big Ben’s chimes on the radio was a boost to morale.

Height: 96.3m

Royal Albert Hall

1871

The opening of the Royal Albert Hall was attended by Her Majesty Queen Victoria. Too overcome to speak, she had to rely on her son the Prince of Wales to announce: “The Queen declares this Hall is now open.”

Since then, the list of famous performers and world figures to perform at the Royal Albert Hall has ranged from Wagner and Verdi to Frank Sinatra and the Kaiser Chiefs. The Royal Albert Hall is probably best known for hosting the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941.

Height: 41m

Tower Bridge

1894

Until 1977 Tower Bridge was painted chocolate brown. It changed to its present colours – red, white and blue – to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee.

Today, traffic is stopped at least once a day when Tower Bridge’s bascules open for large ships, or for special and historic occasions.

In 1952, however, the bridge began to rise as the number 78 double-decker bus was crossing it. The bus driver, Albert Gunton, made a split-second decision to accelerate over the edge of the bascule, and succeeded in clearing a three-foot drop to the north side. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured.

Height: 65m

Battersea Power Station

1933

Battersea Power Station was built in two halves. Battersea A was completed in 1933 and the fourth chimney of Battersea B was in service by 1957.

Although operation ceased in 1983, the building remains one of London’s most famous landmarks and is classified as Grade II, which means it is listed as being of special architectural or historic interest.

In February 2011, children’s television presenter Helen Skelton crossed the 150-metre-long gap between the two disused chimneys of the power station by walking a 66-metre high wire to raise money for the charity Comic Relief.

Height: 103m

BT Tower

1964

The BT Tower became the tallest building in London when it was built in 1962. It has previously been called the Post Office Tower, the London Telecom Tower and the British Telecom Tower.

Serviced by two high-speed lifts that travel at seven metres per second, the BT Tower is one of the few buildings in London where evacuation by lift is permitted in the event of a fire.

Height: 189m

Tower 42

1980

Tower 42 was originally built to house the National Westminster Bank’s international division and the design is said to imitate NatWest’s triangular logo. Today, the building is multi-tenanted and is made up of high-quality offices and restaurants.

Celebrity chef Gary Rhodes runs one of the two restaurants in Tower 42, which is situated on the 24th floor. The other, a champagne and seafood bar, is on floor 42.

Height: 183m

One Canada Square

1991

One Canada Square (which is commonly known as Canary Wharf) was completed in 1991 and designed by architect Cesar Pelli, who used the World Financial Center in New York and Big Ben in London as inspiration.

The pyramid-shaped roof is its most distinctive feature, measuring 40 metres high and 30 metres square at the base. At the top of the roof lies an aircraft warning light that flashes 40 times a minute, 57,600 times a day.

Like many North American skyscrapers, there is no 13th floor.

Height: 235m

London Eye

1999

The London Eye, the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe, was erected on London’s South Bank in 1999 as a celebration of the new millennium.

The Eye is the UK’s most popular paid-for visitor attraction, welcoming an average of 3.75 million customers each year.

On a clear day it is possible to see Windsor Castle – 25 miles away!

Height: 135m

30 St Mary Axe

2003

Affectionately known as the Gherkin, 30 St Mary Axe has become one of London’s most iconic landmarks.

The building weighs 70,000 tonnes, contains 333 piles in foundations, 35 kilometres of structural steel at 11,000 tonnes, and 24,000 square metres of glass cladding. The only curved piece of glass is the top section that crowns the building.

Designed by the architect Norman Foster and Arup engineers, 30 St Mary Axe won the 2004 RIBA Stirling Prize for Architecture.

Height: 180m

Olympic Stadium

2011

As the centrepiece of London 2012, the Olympic Stadium is the most sustainable stadium ever built. It features surplus-gas pipes and low-carbon concrete, made from industrial waste containing 40% less embodied carbon than generated by previous Olympic stadiums or other large sporting venues.

After the Olympic Games, the Stadium will be used to host sporting, entertainment and cultural events and has the potential to be used for major international championships, athletics meetings and concerts.

Height: 53m

Shard London Bridge

2012

In December 2010 the Shard overtook One Canada Square at Canary Wharf as the UK’s tallest building. London Mayor Boris Johnson visited the top of the unfinished Shard to mark the event.

Johnson described it as “a tangible example of how the capital is powering its way out of the recession” and “a clear and inspiring example of confidence in the capital’s economy”.

The Shard was designed by Renzo Piano, his first UK commission. He has previously worked with Richard Rogers on the Pompidou Centre in Paris and designed the New York Times building.

Height: 310m