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Tower 42

Tower 42 (103)

This skyscraper in Old Broad Street gave the impetus to the transformation of the appearance of the financial district of the city of London, which until that time was reluctant to build tall buildings. With its 185 metres in height, this massive building designed by the architect Richard Seifert replaced the Post Office Tower, today known as BT Tower, as the tallest building in the United Kingdom. 

The skyscraper maintained this status for ten years until 1991, when the construction of the One Canada Square building was completed, also called Canary Wharf Tower, which is 244 metres high. Nevertheless, Tower 42 is still the tallest building in the City area.

Tower 42 was originally planned as the headquarters of the National Westminster Bank and that is why it was originally called the NatWest Tower. After a large reform undertaken as a result of the imperfections caused by an IRA bomb in the area in 1993, the National Westminster Bank renamed the building the International Finance Centre and sold it. Its new owners, the Greycoat company, gave it the name of Tower 42 in reference to the 42 floors it has.

The works, which cost a total of 72 million pounds, began in 1971 with the excavation of the foundations, which went 50 metres underground, and were completed in 1980. Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the building in June 1981.

Tower 42 houses, apart from 3,200 employees, two exclusive restaurants, one of which, the Rhodes 24, whose owner is the prestigious chef Gary Rhodes, was distinguished in 2005 with a Michelin star. The gastronomic experience is well worth it. It just depends on your own particular budget.

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