20 Fenchurch Street, dubbed the Walkie Talkie because of its resemblance to the old school radio transmitters, has the dubious honour of receiving the 2015 Carbuncle Cup for Britain’s ugliest building. One of London’s many new glass-fronted skyscrapers, it’s also attracted controversy for having the capacity to magnify rays of sunlight to the point where it can melt bits of cars parked nearby.
On the plus side, it’s home to the Sky Garden, which thanks to its position on the 35th floor means it’s the highest public garden in London. Unlike the Shard it’s free to enter, as long as you book an advance ticket, and from the top of this 150 metre building you get 360 degree views over London. The garden is filled with Mediterranean plants, and there’s also a bar, the Darwin’s Brasserie, and for more of a splurge, the Fenchurch Restaurant.
Walkie Talkie Building
Landmark in Whitechapel
Address
20 Fenchurch Street, London, Whitechapel, EC3M 4BA
20 Fenchurch Street, London, Whitechapel, EC3M 4BA
Telephone
033 3772 0020
033 3772 0020
Category
Landmarks
Landmarks
Region
Whitechapel
Whitechapel
Walkie Talkie Building Picture Gallery
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It's hated by some, who have compared it to a sanitary towel and given it an award for being Britain’s ugliest building. Others love it, in particular the BREEAM building and environmental assessors, who gave it a rating of excellence for its eco-friendly architecture. Nonetheless London's most divisive building is home to the rooftop Sky Garden on the 35th floor, a landscaped green space with great views that's free to the public, so whatever its design it goes one better than The Shard in this case.
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