London is set to welcome a new £1 billion skyscraper named One London, which will match the height of The Shard at 309.6 metres and become the tallest building in the City of London. The tower, designed by Eric Parry Architects, will replace St Helen’s Tower, situated between the Cheesegrater and the Gherkin. Full planning permission was granted by the City of London Corporation in late 2025, and deconstruction of the existing building is already underway.
Europe’s highest viewing gallery and public amenities
One London will comprise 74 storeys and will feature Europe’s highest publicly accessible viewing gallery at its top, operated by the London Museum. This gallery will offer panoramic views of the city. On levels 72 and 73, there will be elevated education space, also operated in partnership with the London Museum, aimed at bringing the city’s history and geography to life.
The 11th floor will host a free-to-access elevated public podium garden wrapping around the tower, described as an ‘air sanctuary’ with a 360-degree viewing platform for visitors and workers. Below that, across levels nine and 10, a 400-seat double-height auditorium will be available for presentations and events, set against views of the City of London.
Bar, fitness, and public space details
A bar will occupy level 71, touted as the ‘highest bar in London’, while additional lounge, fitness space, wellness suite, and another bar will be located on lower floors. The plans also include 42,700 square feet of public space on the ground floor, featuring 350 outdoor seats.
Construction timeline and architect’s vision
Construction on One London, previously known as 1 Undershaft, is expected to begin in 2028, with a target completion date of 2033. In a press release, architect Eric Parry called it ‘a historic moment’, stating: ‘One London stands as an icon at the centre of a great city with a confident future in its global role and outreach.’ He added: ‘London has evolved around the “Square Mile”, essentially the Roman city, over the last two thousand years, adding with each historical twist and turn layers of building and conversation of every period since. We stand at a historic moment of physical metamorphosis as the City rises in a uniquely close and tall form, at the centre of which is One London.’
As work on One London begins, deconstruction is also starting on London’s BT Tower, which will undergo a major transformation into a hotel with a 2033 completion date. Aroland Holdings, the company behind the One London project, will oversee the development, which is set to redefine the City’s skyline and provide significant public amenities.
