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List of tallest buildings in the United Kingdom by settlement facts for kids

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This article is about the tallest buildings in different cities and towns across the United Kingdom. It focuses on places with more than 100,000 people. When we talk about 'tall buildings' or 'skyscrapers', we follow rules from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. This means we don't count things like TV towers or church spires, even if they are very tall. For example, the tallest building in a smaller town (under 100,000 people) is The Triad in Bootle, Merseyside, which is 88.7 meters (291 feet) tall.

What Makes a Building Tall?

A building is usually considered 'tall' if it has many floors and is designed for people to live or work in. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat helps set these definitions. They make sure we compare similar types of structures. This way, we can fairly list the highest buildings where people spend their time.

UK's Super Tall Buildings

Some cities in the UK have incredibly tall buildings that stand out in their skylines. These buildings are often modern and used for homes or offices.

London's Giant: The Shard

The Shard from the Sky Garden 2015
The Shard, London's tallest building.

The tallest building in the entire United Kingdom is The Shard in London. It reaches an amazing 310 meters (1,017 feet) into the sky! It has 87 floors and was finished in 2012. From its top, you can see incredible views of the city.

Manchester's High Rises

Deansgate square south tower
Deansgate Square South Tower in Manchester.

Manchester is home to the Deansgate Square South Tower. This building is 201 meters (659 feet) tall and has 65 floors. It was completed in 2018. Manchester has many other tall buildings, making its city center look very modern.

Liverpool's West Tower

West Tower, Liverpool, England
The West Tower in Liverpool.

In Liverpool, the West Tower stands tall at 140 meters (460 feet). It has 40 floors and was built in 2008. It's a key part of Liverpool's waterfront skyline.

Birmingham's Modern Mercian

Mercian Birmingham
The Mercian in Birmingham.

Birmingham's tallest building is The Mercian. It's 132 meters (433 feet) high with 42 floors. This modern building was completed in 2021.

Tallest Buildings in Other UK Cities

Many other cities across the UK also have their own impressive tall buildings. These often include historic structures like cathedrals or town halls, as well as newer residential or office towers.

  • Aberdeen: Marischal College is 72 meters (236 feet) tall, built in 1906.
  • Basingstoke: Fanum House reaches 85 meters (279 feet), completed in 2010.
  • Belfast: The Obel is 88.31 meters (289.7 feet) tall, finished in 2010.
  • Blackburn: Blackburn Town Hall is 53 meters (174 feet) high, built in 1969.
  • Blackpool: Walter Robinson Court is 64 meters (210 feet) tall, from 1972.
  • Bradford: Bradford City Hall stands at 66 meters (217 feet), completed in 1914.
  • Brighton: Sussex Heights is 102 meters (334 feet) tall, built in 1968.
  • Bristol: Castle Park View is 98 meters (322 feet) high, finished in 2022.
  • Cambridge: Our Lady and the English Martyrs Church is 65 meters (213 feet) tall, from 1890.
  • Cardiff: Bridge Street Exchange is 85 meters (278 feet) high, completed in 2018.
  • Carlisle: Carlisle Civic Centre is 44 meters (145 feet) tall, built in 1967.
  • Chelmsford: Parkside Court is 43 meters (141 feet) high, from 1962.
  • Cheltenham: Eagle Tower is 49 meters (161 feet) tall, built in 1968.
  • Colchester: University of Essex North and South Towers are 43 meters (141 feet) high.
  • Coventry: CODE Fairfax Street is 76.2 meters (250 feet) tall, finished in 2019.
  • Derby: University of Derby is 40 meters (131 feet) high.
  • Doncaster: Silverwood House is 46 meters (151 feet) tall, from 1969.
  • Dudley: Darley House is 52 meters (171 feet) high, built in 1969.
  • Dundee: Various buildings are 44 meters (144 feet) tall, built around 1967-1970.
  • Eastbourne: South Cliff Tower is 58 meters (190 feet) high, from 1965.
  • Edinburgh: Martello Court is 64 meters (210 feet) tall, built in 1967.
  • Exeter: Exeter Cathedral is 44 meters (144 feet) high, from around 1400.
  • Glasgow: The Gilbert Scott Building is 85 meters (278 feet) tall, built in 1891.
  • Gloucester: Gloucester Cathedral is 67 meters (220 feet) high, from 1541.
  • Huddersfield: Holme Park Court and Bishops Court are 48 meters (157 feet) tall, built in 1967.
  • Ipswich: The Mill is 71 meters (233 feet) high, finished in 2009.
  • Kingston upon Hull: Hull Royal Infirmary is 57 meters (187 feet) tall, built in 1967.
  • Leeds: Altus House is 114 meters (374 feet) high, completed in 2021.
  • Leicester: Cardinal Telephone Exchange is 84 meters (276 feet) tall, from 1970.
  • Luton: Luton Town Hall is 50 meters (160 feet) high, built in 1936.
  • Maidstone: The Creswick is 60 meters (187 feet) tall, completed in 2020.
  • Middlesbrough: Centre North East is 71 meters (233 feet) high, from 1974.
  • Milton Keynes: Mellish Court is 49 meters (161 feet) tall.
  • Newcastle upon Tyne: Vale House is 80 meters (260 feet) high, built in 1968.
  • Newport: Newport Civic Centre is 55 meters (180 feet) tall, from 1964.
  • Northampton: Northampton House is 46 meters (151 feet) high.
  • Norwich: Norwich City Hall is 63 meters (206 feet) tall, built in 1938.
  • Nottingham: Victoria Centre Flats A is 75 meters (246 feet) high, from 1972.
  • Oldham: Oldham Civic Centre is 53 meters (175 feet) tall, built in 1976.
  • Oxford: Magdalen Tower is 44 meters (144 feet) high, from 1509.
  • Peterborough: Cumberland House is 43 meters (141 feet) tall.
  • Plymouth: Beckley Point is 78 meters (255 feet) high, completed in 2018.
  • Poole: Longfleet Nurses Home is 43 meters (141 feet) tall.
  • Portsmouth: 1 Gunwharf Quays is 101 meters (331 feet) high, from 2008.
  • Preston: Guild Centre is 61 meters (200 feet) tall.
  • Reading: The Blade is 59 meters (194 feet) high, built in 2009.
  • Rotherham: Clifton Flats are 40 meters (130 feet) tall.
  • Sheffield: St Paul's Tower is 101 meters (331 feet) high, from 2010.
  • Slough: Octagon is 46 meters (151 feet) tall, built in 2010.
  • Southampton: Centenary Quay is 90 meters (295 feet) high, completed in 2022.
  • Southend-on-Sea: Alexander House is 63 meters (207 feet) tall, from 1973.
  • Stoke-on-Trent: Telecom Building is 42 meters (138 feet) high.
  • Sunderland: Planet House, Astral House, and Solar House are 60 meters (200 feet) tall, from 1969.
  • Swansea: The Tower, Meridian Quay is 107 meters (351 feet) high, built in 2010.
  • Swindon: David Murray John Tower is 83 meters (272 feet) tall, from 1976.
  • Telford: Telford Plaza One is 48 meters (157 feet) high.
  • Watford: Abbey View and Munden View are 52 meters (171 feet) tall.
  • Woking: Victoria Square Tower 1 is 117 meters (384 feet) high, completed in 2022.
  • Wolverhampton: Victoria Halls (Building 1) is 75 meters (246 feet) tall, from 2009.
  • Worthing: Bayside is 52 meters (172 feet) high, completed in 2021.
  • York: York Minster is 66 meters (216 feet) tall, from 1472.

Images for kids

  • Mitchell Tower - geograph.org.uk - 220981

    Marischal College in Aberdeen

  • Brooke house tq7088

    Brooke House in Basildon

  • Fanum House (The AA) - geograph.org.uk - 816078

    Fanum House in Basingstoke

  • Obel Tower completed

    Obel Tower in Belfast

  • Blackburn Town Hall (modern)

    Blackburn Town Hall

  • Walter Robinson Court 236

    Walter Robinson Court in Blackpool

  • Bradford City Hall by John Illingworth

    Bradford City Hall

  • Sussex Heights, Brighton (from St Nicholas' Garden of Rest)

    Sussex Heights in Brighton

  • Castle Park View Tower

    Castle Park View in Bristol

  • Our Lady and the English Martyrs catholic church

    Our Lady and the English Martyrs Church in Cambridge

  • Bridge Street, Cardiff, December 2018

    Bridge Street Exchange in Cardiff

  • Carlisle Council Offices

    Carlisle Civic Centre

  • Parkside Court

    Parkside Court in Chelmsford

  • The Eagle Tower, Cheltenham

    Eagle Tower in Cheltenham

  • South towers with snowy ground, University of Essex, from the south

    University of Essex North and South Towers

  • Coventry CODE FairFax

    CODE Fairfax Street in Coventry

  • University of Derby

    University of Derby building

  • South Cliff Tower April 2018

    South Cliff Tower in Eastbourne

  • High rise housing at Pennywell - geograph.org.uk - 1047224

    Martello Court in Edinburgh

  • South tower, Exeter Cathedral - geograph.org.uk - 252429

    Exeter Cathedral

  • Gloucester Cathedral - 2004-11-02

    Gloucester Cathedral

  • Ipswich waterfront, the old and the new - geograph.org.uk - 1467986

    The Mill in Ipswich

  • Hull Royal Infirmary

    Hull Royal Infirmary

  • Altus House

    Altus House in Leeds

  • Clouds in the Cardinal Tower, Leicester - geograph.org.uk - 220577

    Cardinal Telephone Exchange in Leicester

  • Luton Town Hallb

    Luton Town Hall

  • Cne Building and Town Hall Clock - geograph.org.uk - 680869

    Centre North East in Middlesbrough

  • Mellish Court

    Mellish Court in Milton Keynes

  • Vale House, Newcastle upon Tyne

    Vale House in Newcastle upon Tyne

  • Newportciviccentre

    Newport Civic Centre

  • City Hall, Norwich - geograph.uk - 113273.jpg

    Norwich City Hall

  • Oldham Civic Centre3

    Oldham Civic Centre

  • Magdalen Tower

    Magdalen Tower in Oxford

  • Beckley Point - geograph.org.uk - 5778848

    Beckley Point in Plymouth

  • Longfleet Nurses Home

    Longfleet Nurses Home in Poole

  • Portsmouth Number One Tower

    1 Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth

  • Guild Centre Preston

    Guild Centre in Preston

  • The Blade, Abbey Square, Reading

    The Blade in Reading

  • Rotherham - Flats on Clifton Lane - geograph.uk - 956847.jpg

    Clifton Flats in Rotherham

  • St Pauls Tower View

    St Paul's Tower in Sheffield

  • Alexander House, Victoria Avenue (geograph 4279482)

    Alexander House in Southend-on-Sea

  • The Tower, Meridian Quay 2015

    The Tower, Meridian Quay in Swansea

  • A view up the David Murray John Tower (1) - geograph.org.uk - 339006

    David Murray John Tower in Swindon

  • Offices, Telford - geograph.org.uk - 258724

    Telford Plaza One

  • Victoria Halls, Wolverhampton

    Victoria Halls (Building 1) in Wolverhampton

  • Western face of York Minster

    York Minster

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List of tallest buildings in the United Kingdom by settlement Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.