20 Fenchurch Street

City of London, United Kingdom

Exterior only

Visible from the street; the inside is private.

Wheelchair access: Accessible

From OpenStreetMap — confirm before travelling

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ReferenceCTBUH Skyscraper Center↗

At 160 metres tall, 20 Fenchurch Street is a 38-storey commercial skyscraper in London's City of London financial district, designed by Rafael Viñoly and completed in spring 2014. The building earned the nickname "The Walkie-Talkie" for its distinctive top-heavy form, which appears to burst upward and outward, a striking silhouette that sets it apart from its surroundings. The tower combines office space across 34 floors with a prominent three-floor sky garden featuring a large public viewing deck and restaurants and a bar on the upper floors. Originally proposed at nearly 200 metres, the design was scaled down after concerns about its visual impact on nearby heritage landmarks, particularly St Paul's Cathedral and Tower of London. Despite this reduction, the building faced continued scrutiny from heritage groups and required a public inquiry in 2007 before receiving full planning permission. Since completion, the building has been owned by Lee Kum Kee Groups, and in 2015 it was awarded the Carbuncle Cup for the worst new building in the UK.