Six years after my first visit, I returned to the Sky Garden in the City of London and took in the spectacular views from the top of the landmark skyscraper.
Located in the Walkie Talkie tower at 20 Fenchurch Street, the garden is open to the public for free, but you need to pre-book your visit.
Designed by architect Rafael Viñoly and costing over £200 million, the 37-storey building was opened in 2004 and stands 160 m (525 ft) tall.
Visitors have to go through airport-style security to get into the lift, with metal detectors and bag inspections.
The skyscraper hit the news in 2014, when it was discovered that reflections from the curved building were starting fires and causing damage to nearby businesses, and, famously, melting parts of a parked Jaguar car.
Old and new.
Happily, the outside terrace was open this time, but was soon closed again because of high winds.
The remodelled London Bridge railway station.
The BT Tower – see photos from my 2004 visit here.
Tower of London.
On the viewing platform.
Canary Wharf. Compare with my photo taken six years ago (below):
Railway tracks to the east.
London Bridge.
The totally pointless, rarely-spinning turbines of the Strata Tower in south London.
St Paul’s.
Ordering in the top floor restaurant.
Architectural details.
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