Canary Wharf (Tall Buildings Part 1)

As recently as twenty years ago there was nothing much to see in the area known as Docklands. Although much of London's wealth came originally from it's docks and import/export businesses by the middle/end of the Twentieth Century technology had overtaken the docks. New types of shipping using super-sized vessels and giant containers rendered the docks in London useless as they were too small for the new ships. The area fell into disuse and dereliction. That was until a number of initiatives to redevelop the land were put in place. Given the multiple land-owners and the fact that the area spanned some five Boroughs things were never going to be easy; but the development did get under way, and the area was regenerated into what is today Canary Wharf, Canada Water, Surrey Quays etc.

Part of this re-development meant that London got a new tallest building. The iconic One Canada Square was finished in 1991 rising about the previous tallest building Tower 42 (NatWest Tower) by some 50 metres.

One Canada Square is not only the tallest building in London, but in the UK and briefly (until beaten by a building in Frankfurt) in Europe.

One Canada Square (235m tall with 50 floors)

 

Where there is one, more will surely follow. After ten years in lonely splendour One Canada Square was joined by the next two tallest buildings in London, one either side.

8 Canada Square (200m tall with 45 floors)

  25 Canada Square (200m tall with 45 floors)

London's tallest buildings 4 through 7 are located over in Central London (mostly the City). However numbers 8 through 11 are immediate neighbours back in Docklands.

25 Bank Street (153m tall with 33 floors)

  40 Bank Street (153m tall with 33 floors)

10 Upper Bank Street (151m tall with 32 floors)

A little further away across the water is the building that comes it at number 12 and again at number 21. The East and West towers of the Pan Peninsula - London's tallest all residential development (although the West tower is one metre shorter than the three towers of the Barbican, the previous holders!).

Pan Peninsula's East Tower is 147m tall with 47 floors

Pan Peninsula's West Tower is 122m tall with 39 floors

Pan Peninsula shines at night, literally, when it is lit by neon lighting strips.

 

 

There are five more buildings in and around Docklands that feature in London's top 50 (well, sometimes - it depends on how you measure and what you include on the list!).

Number 28
One West India Quay (108m tall with 36 floors)

This building houses a hotel and apartments.

 

 

 

Number 30
Ontario Tower, New Providence Wharf (106m tall with 31 floors)

Residential use only - once again lit up at night with a blue neon ring around the ellipse.

 

 

Number 31
33 Canada Square (105m tall with 18 floors)

Linked to its immediate taller neighbour 25 Canada Square.

 

 

 

Number 47
One Cabot Square (89m tall with 21 floors)

 

 

 

 

Number 50
5 Canada Square (88m tall with 16 floors)

 

 

 

 

This list is correct at time of writing - but constant construction in progress means that several of these buildings will soon be knocked off London's 50 tallest building's list.