London is a city of diversity, creativity, and culture. It’s a place that has many hidden gems within its walls. Many architectural masterpieces in London will take your breath away. Whether you’re an architecture enthusiast or just want to learn more about the city’s history, here are some of our favorite sites:
The Shard
The Shard is the tallest building in Europe. At 95 floors, it towers over London’s skyline, symbolizing the city’s growing economic power.
The building was designed by Renzo Piano, who also designed Paris’ Pompidou Centre and New York’s new Whitney Museum of American Art (which is currently under construction). The glass-and-steel structure stands 686 feet high. That is the equivalent height of an 81-story building!
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, England, over the River Thames. It was designed by Horace Jones and built between 1886 and 1894.
It became an iconic London symbol and was granted Grade I listed status in 1994.
The Tower Bridge Exhibition opened on 10 February 1991 within the towers, providing visitors with an understanding of its history, structure, and mechanical operation. The bridge consists of two towers tied together at the upper level by means of two horizontal walkways between them.
These were originally used for railway traffic but are now open to pedestrians as well as cyclists.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
St. Paul’s Cathedral is the second-largest cathedral in the world, and its dome is the third-largest. It’s also a working church with daily services, so you can attend a service if you’re lucky enough to be there during one!
St. Paul’s has been open to visitors since 1697 and has become an important part of London’s skyline (even though it was built before skyscrapers were invented). The cathedral is home to some important pieces of art and architecture, like Wren’s tomb inside St. Paul’s Churchyard Gatehouse.
This structure includes two statues representing Faith and Hope that were originally carved by Carlo Maratti but later replaced by John Bacon following damage caused by bombing during World War II.
The Gherkin
If you’re a Londoner, you might have heard of this building by its nickname: The Gherkin. It’s a 30-story tower in the City of London that stands out from its surroundings with its unique shape and color.
The Swiss Re Building was designed by Norman Foster and Arup Associates, who were awarded the prestigious Pritzker Prize for their efforts. This was the first time it had been given to an architectural firm rather than an individual architect.
The Lloyd’s Building
The Lloyd’s Building is a masterpiece of architecture and engineering. It was designed by Richard Rogers, who also designed the Pompidou Centre in Paris.
The people from London Transport Hub have described it as “London’s most spectacular example of postmodernism.” This means that it has elements from different periods of history that don’t fit together perfectly or are not all related to each other in any obvious way, like how you might mix stripes with polka dots on your clothes!
The building has a distinctive shape, meant to make it look like a ship from above (or even below). This was done because Lloyd’s is located right next to London Bridge Station, so passengers could see its sails as they arrived in town! Its most famous feature is probably its glass panels: they’re made up of over 44 million pieces!
London Eye
The London Eye is the world’s tallest Ferris wheel, reaching 443 feet high and carrying up to 1,100 passengers per hour. It was built in 2000 as part of the Millennium celebrations and has since become one of London’s most famous landmarks.
The 32 capsules of this giant observation wheel carry 25 people at a time. They rotate slowly enough for you to see all of London’s famous sights from above.
From Big Ben to Buckingham Palace and beyond! You can even take pictures from inside your capsule as it spins around (which makes for great holiday photos).
Southbank Centre
The Southbank Centre is a UK-based arts institution that hosts various events and exhibitions. It has three main venues: Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room, and Hayward Gallery. Queen Elizabeth Hall is a concert hall. The Purcell Room is a chamber music venue, and the Hayward Gallery houses contemporary art exhibitions.
The Southbank Centre is a popular tourist attraction with over 10 million visitors every year. It is also home to many restaurants, shops, and bars.
London is a city full of architectural wonders
London is a city full of architectural wonders. The Shard, for example, is the tallest building in Western Europe and can be seen from all over the city. Tower Bridge is another famous landmark that was built over 100 years ago and has become one of the most recognizable bridges in the world.
And then there’s St Paul’s Cathedral, one of London’s most famous churches, where many important events occurred during its construction, such as coronations or weddings (it even survived an air raid during World War II).
There are also countless other examples of impressive architecture throughout London, but these three were chosen because they represent some of our favorite examples!
Conclusion
So there you have it – the seven most iconic buildings in London. The city is full of architectural wonders, and its skyline is one of the most impressive in the world. It’s hard to believe that these buildings were once just ideas in someone’s head, but now they’re part of everyday life for millions worldwide!
