The City of London is becoming so filled with tall buildings that views across the Square Mile are becoming increasingly rare. Now and then, you walk across the familiar ground in the City and suddenly notice a view that either you had not noticed before or a view that is of interest because new buildings have sprung up that were not there before. The land around St Paul’s Cathedral is relatively open with large trees being the reason for reduced visibility rather than tall office blocks. The view to most people in the City is so familiar that you hardly give it a second thought.
The above view was taken in November 2021 and looks almost due east from the south side of the cathedral. Its pillars on the south side can be seen on the left of the picture. To the east of the cathedral stands the modern buildings of the Choir School and beside it stands the lone church tower of St Augustine. The church was destroyed during the Second World War and the tower has graced any views looking east ever since that time. To the right of the white stone tower is part of the modern shopping centre called One New Change.
Now for the skyline. Behind and to the right of the church spire is a building that has was recently completed in 2020. Called 22 Bishopsgate which is the name of the building as well as being its address, it is the tallest office block in the City, standing at 912 feet (278 m). Further to the right is an office block with a sloping side called 122 Leadenhall Street or the Leadenhall Building but its nickname is ‘The Cheesegrater’. It rises to 738 feet (225 m). Between those two tall blocks, another concrete lift shaft is starting to rise. Further to the right is a piece of open sky which will, no doubt, be filled in by another skyscraper before long. There is then an office block that comes to a point – whose address is 52-54 Lime Street, nicknamed ‘The Scalpel’. Rising to a height of 623 feet (190 m), it was completed in 2018.
Something pleasing to see is that the view is framed by tall trees in and around St Paul’s Cathedral. There is plenty of sunlight reaching the ground around the cathedral from which the trees obviously benefit. Not only are high-rise offices seen as a blight that blocks the view of other more interesting buildings in the City but, of course, any trees standing in the shadow of those offices are unlikely to prosper when they are denied sunlight which is a fundamental necessity for growth.
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Comment – End of studying the City
We have now completed the items for the areas of study for the City in this term. We turn our attention to other topics in London which are of general interest.
Know Your London 
City Views from St Paul’s Churchyard
The City of London is becoming so filled with tall buildings that views across the Square Mile are becoming increasingly rare. Now and then, you walk across the familiar ground in the City and suddenly notice a view that either you had not noticed before or a view that is of interest because new buildings have sprung up that were not there before. The land around St Paul’s Cathedral is relatively open with large trees being the reason for reduced visibility rather than tall office blocks. The view to most people in the City is so familiar that you hardly give it a second thought.
The above view was taken in November 2021 and looks almost due east from the south side of the cathedral. Its pillars on the south side can be seen on the left of the picture. To the east of the cathedral stands the modern buildings of the Choir School and beside it stands the lone church tower of St Augustine. The church was destroyed during the Second World War and the tower has graced any views looking east ever since that time. To the right of the white stone tower is part of the modern shopping centre called One New Change.
Now for the skyline. Behind and to the right of the church spire is a building that has was recently completed in 2020. Called 22 Bishopsgate which is the name of the building as well as being its address, it is the tallest office block in the City, standing at 912 feet (278 m). Further to the right is an office block with a sloping side called 122 Leadenhall Street or the Leadenhall Building but its nickname is ‘The Cheesegrater’. It rises to 738 feet (225 m). Between those two tall blocks, another concrete lift shaft is starting to rise. Further to the right is a piece of open sky which will, no doubt, be filled in by another skyscraper before long. There is then an office block that comes to a point – whose address is 52-54 Lime Street, nicknamed ‘The Scalpel’. Rising to a height of 623 feet (190 m), it was completed in 2018.
Something pleasing to see is that the view is framed by tall trees in and around St Paul’s Cathedral. There is plenty of sunlight reaching the ground around the cathedral from which the trees obviously benefit. Not only are high-rise offices seen as a blight that blocks the view of other more interesting buildings in the City but, of course, any trees standing in the shadow of those offices are unlikely to prosper when they are denied sunlight which is a fundamental necessity for growth.
–
Comment – End of studying the City
We have now completed the items for the areas of study for the City in this term. We turn our attention to other topics in London which are of general interest.
-ENDS-
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