These New Images Show The City Of London Skyline In 2026

Will Noble
By Will Noble Last edited 62 months ago
These New Images Show The City Of London Skyline In 2026

London. In a not-so-distant future. Shiny, isn't it.

This glimpse into tomorrow's world — just released by the City of London Corporation — shows the City skyline as it should appear in 2026.

At first glance, it's exactly the same as the image released around this time last year. Namely this one:

But hang on a second — where's the Gherkin gone? While there was a mere sliver of it in the original image...

...it's now totally obscured by 100 Leadenhall Street. This tapering skyscraper — nicknamed 'Cheesegrater 2', is due to be topped out in 2026, at a height of 263.4 metres. That'll make it the third tallest building in the Square Mile (after 22 Bishopsgate and 1 Undershaft aka The Trellis).

The poor old Gherkin, meanwhile — once cock of the City Cluster — will be dwarfed out of existence, from this angle across the Thames, at least.

From the east — and particularly if you've got a helicopter — you'll still be able to admire Norman Foster's millenium-era glass-terpiece. That might be cold comfort to those who agree it's effortlessly the best-looking 21st century building in the Square Mile.

Then again Foster may have the last laugh: his 'Tulip' will trump all of the above, height-wise, pending final consent.

While the future aesthetics of the City are more or less set in stone steel, two public consultations are open: The Transport Strategy (closes 13 January 2019) and The City Plan 2036 (closes 28 February).

Images © GMJ and City of London Corporation.

Last Updated 07 January 2019