The number of increasingly tall residential buildings in our towns and cities has grown rapidly in recent years, as living in these high buildings has become a more popular option.
Skyscrapers, high-rise buildings, tower blocks, blocks of flats – whatever you prefer to call them – many of these buildings now offer their residents luxury hotel like living, combining architectural style with breathtaking views, concierge services, gyms, swimming pools and communal lounges.
In this guide, Lansdown Insurance Brokers’ Block of Flats Insurance experts have compiled a list of the current top ten tallest blocks of flats/residential buildings in the UK, at the time of writing. We’ve included a profile of each, a summary of what residents say about living there and photos of some of the incredible apartments and the views they enjoy.
Seven of the top ten located within a 15-minute walk of each other
As you may expect, London’s Canary Wharf and Docklands area dominates the list with seven of the top ten tallest residential buildings located within just 0.7 miles of each other. Just one of the top ten is outside of London.
The top 10 tallest residential buildings in the UK
1. Landmark Pinnacle, London (233 metres/764 ft)
Soaring over London’s Docklands, the aptly named Landmark Pinnacle takes the crown as the UK’s current tallest residential building*. This impressive skyscraper boasts 75 floors and offers stunning panoramic views of the city. On a clear day you can see all the way to Wembley Stadium – over 11 miles away!
At well over twice the height of Big Ben’s clock tower (96 m/316ft), the luxury development has more habitable floors than any other building in western Europe. Let’s hope one of the seven lifts are working, as that’s a lot of stairs!
The breathtaking views, residents’ gym, state of the art cinema and 27th floor tropical sky garden come with a significant price tag though. A three-bedroom apartment would currently set you back around £1.58m.
What the residents say: Despite the incredible views, at the time of writing, the building has a Google review rating of just 3.1/5. Some residents complain of long waits for lifts and creaking noises on windy days.
2. Newfoundland Quay, London (220 metres / 720 ft)
Perhaps unsurprisingly, another Canary Wharf skyscraper graces the list at number two. Newfoundland Quay’s 59 floors offer residents a prime location with easy access to the areas ever-growing business districts and entertainment hubs.
Also known as “the diamond tower”, due to its unusual, patterned exterior, residents have exclusive use of a gym, terrace, children’s play areas and even a self-service bar.
A 17,000 sq ft, three-bedroom apartment with 180-degree views of London, designer furniture and wine fridge would currently cost renters around £8,000 a month.
What the residents say: With a Google review rating of 4.4/5, many comment on the excellent concierge service, elegant lobby and well-maintained luxury facilities.
3. Aspen at Consort Place, London (216 metres / 709 ft)
Offering exceptional apartments, exquisite amenities and spectacular views, the 65-storey Aspen at Consort Place is another recent addition to the Canary Wharf skyline.
From studios to three-bedroom apartments, the building is close to the areas’ restaurants, shops and parks and neighbours the Dorsett Hotel. The architects’ vision was to create an elegant, vibrant and cosmopolitan community.
Residents can enjoy The Aspen Club with private dining facilities, a wine tasting room, a wellness centre with gym, steam room and sauna, and even a screening room. There is also a family club room with games and indoor and outdoor play areas.
A three-bedroom apartment on the 22nd floor is currently selling for £1.27m and includes a designer kitchen, open-plan style living room, a master bathroom and en-suite.
4. Valiant Tower, South Quay Plaza, London (215 metres/ 704 ft)
Staying in Canary Wharf, the Valiant Tower (part of the South Quay Plaza development) is a sleek skyscraper offering a luxurious living experience with breathtaking city views.
In the original plans there were due to be 73 floors but as the design was considered too tall for the area the final building, completed in 2021, was reduced to 68 floors.
Valiant Tower and its smaller neighbour, Berwick Tower, provide 1,383 residential apartments. A new three bed apartment is currently on the market in the Tower for £2,660,000.
What the residents say: rated 4.2/5 in Google, reviewers mention the luxury amenities, amazing views and great common space.
5. One Park Drive, London (205 metres/ 673 ft)
Still in the Canary Wharf area, One Park Drive provides residents with panoramic views of London’s Greenwich Park. With its unique leaning tower of Pisa-esque cylindrical form (hopefully without the lean), this 57-floor, 484 apartment skyscraper also includes a residents’ swimming pool.
One Park Drive’s highest apartment – a duplex apartment on the 56th and 57th floors – was recently up for sale at £5.1m. It includes a private internal garden and stands at around 70m higher than the top of the London Eye!
What the residents say: rated 4.6/5 in Google, reviewers mention the great views and facilities with one describing it as an “architectural marvel”.
6. Deansgate Square South Tower, Manchester (201 metres/ 659 ft)
The tallest residential building in the UK, outside of London, is Manchester’s Deansgate Square South Tower. Designed by the renowned SimpsonHaugh Architects and completed in 2018, the tower’s sleek glass facade and modern design have earned it critical acclaim. The building currently stands over 30m taller than any other building in Manchester.
This contemporary skyscraper boasts 64 floors and offers stunning views of the city skyline. Deansgate Square South Tower has become a symbol of Manchester’s regeneration and its status as a thriving, modern city. Properties in South Tower, Deansgate Square have been listed for sale for prices ranging from £380,000 to £754,250.
What the residents say: rated 4.2/5 reviewers like the iconic building with great views and facilities.
7. Wardian East Tower , London – (187 metres / 617 ft)
Returning to Canary Wharf, the 55-storey Wardian East Tower is renowned for its innovative design. It is home to a range of stunning apartments with private sky gardens, offering a unique blend of urban living and natural serenity. The tower is one of two in the Wardian development, the other standing at a mere 50 storeys.
As well as the breathtaking views of the city skyline, residents benefit from luxurious boutique-style amenities including a 25-meter pool, spa and gym. Despite a price tag of £2.1m it appears there is just one 48th floor, two-bedroom penthouse remaining. The impressive 53rd floor penthouses have all been sold.
What the residents say: rated 4.3/5 with over 150 reviews on Google, many mention the incredible gym and other facilities. However, more recent reviews complain of increases in service charges.
8. The Madison Amory Tower, London – (184 metres/ 604 ft)
Located just a few hundred metres from the Wardian East Tower, the Madison Amory Tower is a striking 53-story residential tower. Its 319 luxurious apartments have breathtaking views of the city skyline and the River Thames. Residents enjoy exclusive amenities such as a swimming pool, spa, gym, and a private residents’ club.
There is also a 24-hour concierge service and The Highline Club – a 16th floor residents’ club for socialising with a terrace and dining areas. A one-bedroom apartment could be yours for just £600,000!
What the residents say: rated 3.9/5 on Google, some reviewers mention that the pool has often been closed recently and despite the incredible views and facilities the building can be very warm.
9. The Tower, One St George Wharf, London – (181 metres/ 593 ft)
Boasting a sleek, circular design, One St George Wharf offers residents breathtaking 360-degree views of the city. Imagine waking up to a panorama of iconic landmarks, from the London Eye to the Houses of Parliament. This luxurious 52-storey high-rise isn’t just about stunning views; it also spoils residents with world-class amenities like a swimming pool, spa, and state-of-the-art gym, all while being conveniently located near Vauxhall station.
The Tower is home to the four-bedroom Buckingham Suite, one of the most incredible apartments in London which takes up the whole of the 44th floor!
What the residents say: with a Google review rating of 4.7/5 reviewers mention the great concierge, gym and lavish facilities, as well as the incredible views of London skyline at night.
10. One West Point’s Icon Tower, London – (178 metres/584 ft)
One West Point’s Icon Tower is a striking addition to the London skyline, boasting the title of the tallest building outside of the Docklands area. Standing at an impressive 178 meters with 54 storeys, this development is the 16th tallest building in the capital city. Within its walls, Icon Tower offers a variety of living spaces (362 to be precise), featuring one, two, and three-bedroom apartments spread across levels three to 42.
With prices starting from £492,000, each lucky resident also has access to the Tower’s gym, private lounge, bar and roof garden.
What the residents say: with a Google review rating of 3.1/5, despite the great views some residents complain of lots of noise including creaking on windy days.
*UK’s tallest building at the time of research, October 2024
What about the rest of the UK?
When compiling this list it was no surprise that London dominated the top ten. But what about the tallest buildings across the rest of the UK?
The tallest residential building in Scotland
We believe the tallest residential buildings in Scotland are the 18-storey Buchanan Wharf Towers. The two towers stand at 80m / 260ft and house 324 apartments.
The tallest residential building in Wales
Currently, the tallest residential apartment building in Wales is Meridian Quay in Swansea which stands at 107 m/351 ft tall.
However, this title is set to change soon. Cardiff is soon to become home to the new tallest residential building in Wales. A 35-storey apartment block is planned for Central Square, which will reach a height of 113 meters.
The tallest residential building in Northern Ireland
Currently, the tallest residential building in Northern Ireland is the 28-storey Obel Tower in Belfast, which stands at 85m/279 ft.
Looking to the Future: Manchester to become the new Canary Wharf?
The UK’s skyline continues to evolve, with new and even taller residential buildings planned for the future. While London – and Canary Wharf, in particular – is home to many such buildings, it’s Manchester where two of the tallest new skyscrapers are currently planned.
The proposed Viadux 2, if approved, will stand at 241 meters and will have 76 storeys, making it the tallest residential building in the UK outside London. This ambitious project will see the construction of the city’s tallest building, eclipsing even the recently proposed 71-storey Lighthouse.
The skyscraper will be a focal point for the surrounding area, offering a mix of residential and commercial spaces. Interestingly, the initial plans for Viadux 2 were for a large office building, but this has been scrapped in favour of more housing, including a significant number of affordable homes. This shift reflects the growing demand for residential space not just in Manchester’s bustling city centre but across the country as a whole.
Who pays the buildings insurance on tall residential buildings?
When considering buying or renting an apartment in a tall residential building, it’s important to consider things like building security, fire safety regulations and, not least, insurance.
Darren Bee, Associate Director of Lansdown Insurance Brokers, explains who is responsible for insurance in tall residential buildings like this: “Apartments in these buildings are usually sold on a leasehold basis. This means that, while you’re responsible for ensuring you have adequate contents insurance in place – to protect your possessions if the worst happens – it’s the freeholder of the building that is responsible for the buildings insurance.”
“However, as a leaseholder, you will usually be contributing to the cost of this block of flats buildings insurance through your service charge. We would recommend that you always ask how the buildings insurance of the property works early on in the process, so you don’t get any surprises down the line.”
If you’d like to know more about who pays for the buildings insurance for a block of flats, you can read our guides to who is responsible for insuring a block of flats here.
About Lansdown Insurance Brokers
Lansdown Insurance Brokers are specialists in Landlord Insurance, Block of Flats Insurance and Property Owners’ Insurance. We can provide flexible policies to suit your individual client needs and provide advice on what cover is needed. For more information call the team on 01242 524498.
Lansdown is part of the Benefact Group, a charity-owned, international family of financial services companies that gives all available profits to charity and good causes.
Sources