List of tallest buildings and structures in Liverpool facts for kids

Architectural styles of Liverpool's tallest buildings vary greatly; most are found in the city centre.

This article lists the tallest buildings and structures in Liverpool, England. The tallest building in Liverpool right now is the 40-storey West Tower. It stands at 134 meters (440 feet) tall on Liverpool's waterfront. It's also the tallest building in the United Kingdom that people can live or work in, outside of big cities like London and Manchester. Liverpool is a city that is always changing, with older buildings being taken down to make space for new ones. For example, in the mid-2000s, ten apartment blocks from the 1960s that were over 50 meters (164 feet) tall were demolished.

The story of tall buildings in Liverpool began in 1911 with the Royal Liver Building. It was 98 meters (322 feet) tall and was often called Britain's first skyscraper. This was a time when Liverpool was very successful and saw itself as the "second city" of the British Empire. In 1965, after 54 years, the Royal Liver Building was no longer the tallest. The Radio City Tower was finished, standing at 125 meters (410 feet). It used to have a spinning restaurant and now has a radio station. In 2008, the West Tower became the tallest, taking the title from the Radio City Tower.

A big plan called Liverpool Waters was started in 2006 to rebuild Liverpool's northern docks. The government supported it in 2013. This plan includes many new tall buildings that will change the city's skyline a lot over the next few decades. The first building for this project started being built in 2018. Some very tall buildings were planned for Liverpool but never built. For example, the Otterspool Tower was meant to be 305 meters (1,001 feet) tall with 79 floors in 1998, but it was never constructed.

A wide view of Liverpool from Wallasey, the Wirral in July 2016. You can see the Three Graces, Anglican Cathedral, and tall buildings in the city center.

Liverpool's Tallest Completed Buildings

This list shows buildings and structures in Liverpool that are at least 49 meters (160 feet) tall and are already finished. Buildings that are still being built, are planned, or were canceled are not included. Also, things like radio masts or wind turbines are not on this list.

Keep in mind that this list might not include every tall building, as the exact heights of some are not known. We only include those with known heights. If two or more buildings have the same height, they share the same rank, shown with an equal sign (=). Heights are rounded to the nearest whole meter. The "Year" column shows when the building reached its current height. This is usually the year it was built, but sometimes it's when changes were made to an existing building.

Rank	Name (other names)	Image	Height		Floors	Year	Coordinates	Notes
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&01.&&&&&01	West Tower (Beetham West Tower)		134 m	440 ft	40	2008	53°24′36″N 2°59′48″W / 53.40987°N 2.99668°W / 53.40987; -2.99668
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02	Radio City Tower (St. John's Beacon, St. John's Tower)		125 m	410 ft	N/A	1965	53°24′23″N 2°58′55″W / 53.40639°N 2.98194°W / 53.40639; -2.98194
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&03.&&&&&03	The Lexington		113 m	371 ft	35	2021	53°24′36″N 2°59′55″W / 53.41000°N 2.99861°W / 53.41000; -2.99861
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04	Liverpool Cathedral (Cathedral Church of Christ in Liverpool, Anglican Cathedral)		101 m	331 ft	N/A	1978	53°23′51″N 2°58′23″W / 53.39750°N 2.97306°W / 53.39750; -2.97306
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05	Royal Liver Building (The Liver Building, Royal Liver Assurance)		98 m	322 ft	13	1911	53°24′21″N 2°59′45″W / 53.40583°N 2.99583°W / 53.40583; -2.99583
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.&&&&&06	Beetham Tower		90 m	300 ft	27	2004	53°24′36″N 2°59′49″W / 53.410°N 2.997°W / 53.410; -2.997
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07	Alexandra Tower		88 m	289 ft	27	2008	53°24′23″N 2°59′50″W / 53.40625°N 2.99726°W / 53.40625; -2.99726
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.&&&&&08	Unity Residential		86 m	282 ft	27	2007	53°24′27″N 2°59′42″W / 53.407478°N 2.995120°W / 53.407478; -2.995120
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&09.&&&&&09	Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral (Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King)		85 m	279 ft	N/A	1967	53°24′17″N 2°58′04″W / 53.404754°N 2.967725°W / 53.404754; -2.967725
&&&&&&&&&&&&&010.&&&&&010	X1 The Tower		77 m	253 ft	25	2018	53°23′37″N 2°58′57″W / 53.39355°N 2.98243°W / 53.39355; -2.98243
&&&&&&&&&&&&&011.&&&&&011	New Hall Place (The Capital, Royal & SunAlliance Building, The Sandcastle)		76 m	249 ft	13	1974	53°24′33″N 2°59′41″W / 53.409189°N 2.994693°W / 53.409189; -2.994693
&&&&&&&&&&&&&012.&&&&&012	Metropolitan House (City Tower, Post & Echo Building)		73 m	240 ft	18	1974	53°24′34″N 2°59′40″W / 53.409505°N 2.994565°W / 53.409505; -2.994565
&&&&&&&&&&&&&013.&&&&&013=	1 Princes Dock		68 m	223 ft	22	2006	53°24′39″N 2°59′58″W / 53.410893°N 2.999517°W / 53.410893; -2.999517
&&&&&&&&&&&&&013.&&&&&013=	Municipal Buildings		68 m	223 ft	3	1868	53°24′30″N 2°59′10″W / 53.408464°N 2.986221°W / 53.408464; -2.986221
&&&&&&&&&&&&&015.&&&&&015=	Royal Liverpool University Hospital Boiler House		67 m	220 ft	N/A	1978	53°24′37″N 2°57′48″W / 53.410414°N 2.963262°W / 53.410414; -2.963262
&&&&&&&&&&&&&015.&&&&&015=	Port of Liverpool Building (MDHB Building, Dock Office)		67 m	220 ft	7	1907	53°24′15″N 2°59′41″W / 53.40417°N 2.99472°W / 53.40417; -2.99472
&&&&&&&&&&&&&017.&&&&&017=	The Spine		65 m	213 ft	14	2021	53°24′24″N 2°57′39″W / 53.406588°N 2.960875°W / 53.406588; -2.960875
&&&&&&&&&&&&&017.&&&&&017=	Horizon Heights (UNITE Students – Horizon Heights)		65 m	213 ft	21	2019	53°24′24″N 2°58′41″W / 53.406754°N 2.978165°W / 53.406754; -2.978165
&&&&&&&&&&&&&017.&&&&&017=	Unity Commercial		65 m	213 ft	16	2007	53°24′27″N 2°59′42″W / 53.407478°N 2.995120°W / 53.407478; -2.995120
&&&&&&&&&&&&&017.&&&&&017=	The Plaza (Sir John Moores Building)		65 m	213 ft	18	1965	53°24′39″N 2°59′41″W / 53.410915°N 2.994734°W / 53.410915; -2.994734
&&&&&&&&&&&&&021.&&&&&021	Welsh Presbyterian Church (Toxteth Cathedral)		61 m	200 ft	N/A	1867	53°23′38″N 2°57′50″W / 53.39379°N 2.96383°W / 53.39379; -2.96383
&&&&&&&&&&&&&022.&&&&&022=	Wheel of Liverpool Ferris wheel		60 m	200 ft	N/A	2009	53°23′54″N 2°59′26″W / 53.3984°N 2.9905°W / 53.3984; -2.9905
&&&&&&&&&&&&&022.&&&&&022=	George's Dock Ventilation Building for Queensway Tunnel		60 m	200 ft	6	1934	53°24′17″N 2°59′38″W / 53.404614°N 2.993925°W / 53.404614; -2.993925
&&&&&&&&&&&&&022.&&&&&022=	North John Street Ventilation Station		60 m	200 ft	N/A	1935	53°24′25″N 2°59′22″W / 53.406874°N 2.989419°W / 53.406874; -2.989419
&&&&&&&&&&&&&025.&&&&&025	Novotel Paddington Village		59 m	194 ft	17	2022	53°24′25″N 2°59′22″W / 53.4070337°N 2.989419°W / 53.4070337; -2.989419
&&&&&&&&&&&&&026.&&&&&026	Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts (Liverpool Crown Court)		58 m	190 ft	9	1984	53°24′16″N 2°59′23″W / 53.4044288°N 2.9897608°W / 53.4044288; -2.9897608
&&&&&&&&&&&&&027.&&&&&027	Silkhouse Court		56 m	184 ft	15	1970	53°24′31″N 2°59′30″W / 53.408624°N 2.991682°W / 53.408624; -2.991682
&&&&&&&&&&&&&028.&&&&&028=	Mann Island Building 3		53 m	174 ft	13	2011	53°24′14″N 2°59′35″W / 53.403990°N 2.992947°W / 53.403990; -2.992947
&&&&&&&&&&&&&028.&&&&&028=	Victoria Building (Victoria Gallery & Museum)		53 m	174 ft	3	1892	53°24′22″N 2°58′00″W / 53.4061141°N 2.9666237°W / 53.4061141; -2.9666237
&&&&&&&&&&&&&028.&&&&&028=	Church of Our Lady and St. Nicholas (Liverpool Parish Church, the Sailors' Church, Landmark Tower)		53 m	174 ft	N/A	1815	53°24′25″N 2°59′41″W / 53.407028°N 2.994853°W / 53.407028; -2.994853
&&&&&&&&&&&&&028.&&&&&028=	Anfield		52 m	171 ft	N/A	2016	53°25′51″N 2°57′39″W / 53.430833°N 2.960833°W / 53.430833; -2.960833
&&&&&&&&&&&&&028.&&&&&028=	One Park West Block B		52 m	171 ft	17	2009	53°24′11″N 2°59′23″W / 53.402944°N 2.989612°W / 53.402944; -2.989612
&&&&&&&&&&&&&028.&&&&&028=	Bankfield Grain Silo (S & B Herba Foods Regent Mill)		52 m	171 ft	N/A	1950s	53°26′12″N 2°59′51″W / 53.4367195°N 2.9976306°W / 53.4367195; -2.9976306
&&&&&&&&&&&&&034.&&&&&034	Plaza 1821		51 m	167 ft	15	2020	53°24′38″N 2°59′57″W / 53.4105508°N 2.9990776°W / 53.4105508; -2.9990776
&&&&&&&&&&&&&035.&&&&&035	The Copper House (21 Strand Street)		50 m	160 ft	16	2021	53°24′13″N 2°59′27″W / 53.4036995°N 2.9909249°W / 53.4036995; -2.9909249
&&&&&&&&&&&&&036.&&&&&036=	One Park West Block A		49 m	161 ft	15	2009	53°24′11″N 2°59′25″W / 53.40313°N 2.990416°W / 53.40313; -2.990416
&&&&&&&&&&&&&036.&&&&&036=	Heysmoor Heights		49 m	161 ft	17	2007	53°23′22″N 2°57′01″W / 53.3894641°N 2.9501843°W / 53.3894641; -2.9501843
&&&&&&&&&&&&&036.&&&&&036=	Kingsway Tunnel Ventilation Station (Victoria Ventilation Station)		49 m	161 ft	N/A	1971	53°24′55″N 2°59′57″W / 53.4153978°N 2.9990369°W / 53.4153978; -2.9990369
&&&&&&&&&&&&&036.&&&&&036=	India Buildings		49 m	161 ft	11	1933	53°24′22″N 2°59′33″W / 53.4061°N 2.9926°W / 53.4061; -2.9926
&&&&&&&&&&&&&040.&&&&&040=	Wellington Buildings		49 m	161 ft	12	1925	53°24′21″N 2°59′37″W / 53.405707°N 2.993646°W / 53.405707; -2.993646
&&&&&&&&&&&&&040.&&&&&040=	Royal Insurance Building (Aloft Hotel Liverpool)		49 m	161 ft	4	1903	53°24′27″N 2°59′21″W / 53.4074°N 2.9893°W / 53.4074; -2.9893
&&&&&&&&&&&&&040.&&&&&040=	Cains Brewery Building		49 m	161 ft	5	1902	53°23′37″N 2°58′42″W / 53.3935132°N 2.9782797°W / 53.3935132; -2.9782797
&&&&&&&&&&&&&040.&&&&&040=	St. Mary's Church		49 m	161 ft	N/A	1856	53°26′00″N 2°54′31″W / 53.433463°N 2.908657°W / 53.433463; -2.908657
&&&&&&&&&&&&&040.&&&&&040=	Church of Saint Francis Xavier		49 m	161 ft	N/A	1848	53°24′48″N 2°58′11″W / 53.413219°N 2.969742°W / 53.413219; -2.969742

A height comparison of the ten tallest buildings and structures in Liverpool.

Tallest Buildings by Type

Here's a list of the tallest buildings and structures in Liverpool, grouped by what they are used for:

Canada Dock turbine

Huskisson Dock turbine

JLA control tower

Wellington's column

Royal Liverpool University Hospital

James Parsons Building

Everton water tower

• Air traffic control tower: Liverpool John Lennon Airport Control Tower – 43 meters (141 feet)
• Chimney stack: Royal Liverpool University Hospital Boiler House – 67 meters (220 feet)
• Church spire: Welsh Presbyterian Church – 61 meters (200 feet)
• Commercial building: Royal Liver Building – 98 meters (322 feet)
• Ferris wheel: Wheel of Liverpool – 60 meters (197 feet)
• Government building: Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts – 58 meters (190 feet)
• Hospital: Royal Liverpool University Hospital – 47 meters (154 feet)
• Hotel: Meliã Hotel Liverpool (Metropolitan House; changed from an office building) – 73 meters (240 feet)
• Industrial building: Bankfield Grain Silo – 52 meters (171 feet)
• Monument: Wellington's Column – 40 meters (131 feet)
• Museum / gallery: Victoria Gallery & Museum – 53 meters (174 feet)
• Power station: Port of Liverpool wind farm (Canada Dock & Huskisson Dock turbines) – 125 meters (410 feet)
• Radio mast: Radio City Tower – 125 meters (410 feet)
• Religious building: Liverpool Cathedral – 101 meters (331 feet)
• Residential building: West Tower – 134 meters (440 feet)
• Stadium: Anfield – 52 meters (171 feet)
• University building: James Parsons Building – 47 meters (154 feet)
• Ventilation shaft: George's Dock & North John Street Ventilation Stations – 60 meters (197 feet)
• Water tower: Everton water tower (no longer used) – 26 meters (85 feet)

Future Tall Buildings in Liverpool

This section looks at tall buildings that are either being built, have been approved, or are still just ideas in Liverpool.

Buildings Under Construction

These buildings are currently being built in Liverpool and are over 49 meters (160 feet) tall.

Approved Buildings

These buildings have been approved to be built in Liverpool but construction hasn't started yet. They are all over 49 meters (160 feet) tall.

Proposed Buildings

These buildings are ideas that have been suggested but haven't been approved for building yet. They are all over 49 meters (160 feet) tall.

Liverpool Waters Project

A model of the first plan for Liverpool Waters looking south from Bramley-Moore Dock (2007).

Liverpool Waters is a huge project that costs £5.5 billion. It aims to rebuild the old dock areas of Liverpool, near Vauxhall. This project is being developed by The Peel Group. It's a 30-year plan that will create 21.5 million square feet of new space for businesses and homes. It will include more than seventy buildings, many of which will be tall.

The project was first shown to the public in 2007. The plans were given to Liverpool City Council in 2010 and approved in 2012. The UK Government confirmed the approval in 2013. Building on the very first part of the project started five years later in 2018. The whole project is expected to be finished by 2041.

The first plans for Liverpool Waters included many very tall skyscrapers, like those you might see in New York or Shanghai. However, groups like Historic England and UNESCO were worried about how these tall buildings would affect Liverpool's World Heritage Status. Because of these concerns, the plans have been changed many times, making the buildings much shorter. Even with these changes, the current plan still includes several areas where notable tall buildings will be built. These will definitely change Liverpool's skyline in the coming decades.

The table below lists the areas that are planned to have buildings over 100 meters (328 feet) tall. Please note that these heights are the maximum allowed for any future building on that spot, not the height of a specific building that has been designed yet.

Timeline of Liverpool's Tallest Buildings

Liverpool's skyline has grown a lot in the last 20 years. The Royal Liver Building was the tallest structure in Liverpool for 54 years. Then, the Radio City Tower was finished in 1965 and took its place. The Radio City Tower was finally beaten in 2008 by the West Tower.

Period Tallest	Name	Image	Height		Floors	Coordinates	Notes
1815–1867	Church of Our Lady and St. Nicholas		53 m	174 ft	N/A	53°24′25″N 2°59′41″W / 53.407028°N 2.994853°W / 53.407028; -2.994853
1867–1868	Welsh Presbyterian Church		61 m	200 ft	N/A	53°23′38″N 2°57′50″W / 53.39379°N 2.96383°W / 53.39379; -2.96383
1868–1911	Municipal Buildings		68 m	223 ft	3	53°24′30″N 2°59′10″W / 53.408464°N 2.986221°W / 53.408464; -2.986221
1911–1965	Royal Liver Building		98 m	322 ft	13	53°24′21″N 2°59′45″W / 53.40583°N 2.99583°W / 53.40583; -2.99583
1965–2008	Radio City Tower		125 m	410 ft	N/A	53°24′23″N 2°58′55″W / 53.40639°N 2.98194°W / 53.40639; -2.98194
2008–present	West Tower		134 m	440 ft	40	53°24′36″N 2°59′48″W / 53.40987°N 2.99668°W / 53.40987; -2.99668

Tallest Buildings in the Wider Liverpool Area

The Triad in Bootle is the tallest building in urban Liverpool outside the city centre

This list includes the tallest buildings in the larger Liverpool Urban Area and the Wirral. This area is defined by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) as the urban region around Liverpool. Very tall structures like cranes are not included here. However, the tallest free-standing structures are the huge ship-to-shore cranes at the Liverpool2 container port in Seaforth. They are 92 meters (302 feet) tall and can reach 132 meters (433 feet) when fully raised.

Images for kids

• 

  Liverpool city centre in late-2008 viewed from Liverpool Cathedral; the financial district and historic waterfront can be seen to the left, whilst the most prominent structure to the right is St. John's Beacon

• 

  Liverpool's historic cityscape viewed from across the Mersey

• 

  Liverpool's ever changing skyline can be seen most obviously in the city's new financial district