30 St Mary Axe, London

Name: 30 St Mary Axe
Address: 29-31 Mitre St, London, EC3A 5BU, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 20 7929 5112

#133 among attractions in London

Architecture

Gallery (13)

Map

Gallery

Facts and practical information

30 St Mary Axe, commonly known as "The Gherkin," is an iconic fixture of London's skyline. This architectural marvel is a commercial skyscraper that stands in the city's financial district. Completed in 2003, The Gherkin is lauded for its innovative, energy-efficient design and its distinctive, curved glass façade that resembles the shape of a pickled cucumber, hence its nickname.

Rising to a height of 180 meters and boasting 41 floors, the building was designed by the renowned architect Sir Norman Foster and his firm, Foster and Partners. It is built on the former site of the Baltic Exchange, which was damaged beyond repair by a bomb in 1992. The Gherkin's design is not only aesthetically pleasing but also practical, as its shape helps to minimize wind deflections and its spiraling atrium maximizes natural ventilation, contributing to a more sustainable structure.

While 30 St Mary Axe is primarily used for office space, it has become a popular attraction for visitors. Unfortunately, the building is not open to the public regularly, but it does open its doors during the annual Open House London event, allowing the public to explore its interiors and enjoy panoramic views of the city from its top floors.

Alternative names: Opened: 28 April 2004 (20 years ago)Architectural style: Neo-futurismFloors: 41Coordinates: 51°30'52"N, 0°4'49"W

Address

29-31 Mitre StCity of London (Aldgate)London EC3A 5BU United Kingdom

Contact

+44 20 7929 5112

Website

Social media

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London

Day trips

30 St Mary Axe – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Leadenhall Market, Baltic Exchange, St Peter upon Cornhill, Lloyd's.

~1090 ftSW
Shopping centre in a historical space
Leadenhall Market, London
6 min walk • Leadenhall Market is a vibrant, covered market nestled in the heart of London's financial district. Known for its stunning Victorian architecture, with its ornate roof structure, painted ceilings, and cobbled walkways, the market offers a unique shopping experience...
~110 ftN
Shopping, Market
Baltic Exchange, London
1 min walk • The Baltic Exchange, nestled in the heart of London's financial district, is not only a hub for global maritime commerce but also a historical landmark with a rich heritage. The exchange, originally formed in 1744, has been the beating heart of the shipping market...
~1060 ftSW
Church, Baroque architecture
St Peter upon Cornhill, London
6 min walk • St Peter upon Cornhill is an Anglican church on the corner of Cornhill and Gracechurch Street in the City of London of medieval, or possibly Roman origin. It was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and rebuilt to the designs of Sir Christopher Wren. It is now a satellite church in the parish of St Helen's Bishopsgate.
~800 ftSW
Skyscraper, Architecture
Lloyd's, London
4 min walk • The Lloyd's building is the home of the insurance institution Lloyd's of London. It is located on the former site of East India House in Lime Street, in London's main financial district, the City of London.
~850 ftW
Skyscraper, Observation decks and towers
Tower 42, London
5 min walk • Tower 42, commonly known as the NatWest Tower, is a 183-metre-tall skyscraper in the City of London. It is the fifth-tallest tower in the City of London, having been overtaken as the tallest in 2010 by the 230-metre Heron Tower.
~570 ftSE
Square
Mitre Square, London
3 min walk • Mitre Square is a small square in the City of London. It measures about 77 feet by 80 feet and is connected via three passages with Mitre Street to the south west, to Creechurch Place to the north west and, via St James's Passage, to Duke's Place to the north east.
~1250 ftW
Church
Dutch Church, London
7 min walk • The Dutch Church, Austin Friars, is a reformed church in the Broad Street Ward, in the City of London. Located on the site of the 13th-century Augustinian friary, the original building granted to Protestant refugees for their church services in 1550 was destroyed during the London Blitz.
~1330 ftS
Church
St Olave Hart Street, London
7 min walk • St Olave's Church, Hart Street, is a Church of England church in the City of London, located on the corner of Hart Street and Seething Lane near Fenchurch Street railway station.
~850 ftN
Church, Baroque architecture
St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate, London
5 min walk • St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate is a Church of England church in the Bishopsgate Without area of the City of London, and also, by virtue of lying outside the city's eastern walls, part of London's East End.
~1130 ftE
Church, Baroque architecture
St Botolph's Aldgate, London
6 min walk • St Botolph's Aldgate is a Church of England parish church in the City of London and also, as it lies outside the line of the city's former eastern walls, a part of the East End of London.
~650 ftN
Church
Jubilee International Church, London
4 min walk • Jubilee International Church was established in 1992 with just 7 members in Clapham, London SW4. They then purchased and modernised a former 1935 Baptist church building and moved in 2006 to the Chinbrook and the former Chinbrook Meadows areas of Grove Park.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When is 30 St Mary Axe open?

30 St Mary Axe is open:

Monday 12 pm - 11 pm
Tuesday 12 pm - 11 pm
Wednesday 12 pm - 11 pm
Thursday 12 pm - 11 pm
Friday 12 pm - 11 pm
Saturday closed
Sunday closed

Which popular attractions are close to 30 St Mary Axe?

Nearby attractions include Baltic Exchange, London (1 min walk), Bevis Marks Synagogue, London (2 min walk), St Andrew Undershaft, London (2 min walk), Leadenhall Street, London (2 min walk).

How to get to 30 St Mary Axe by public transport?

The nearest stations to 30 St Mary Axe:

Bus

Wormwood Street • Lines: 133, 26, 388, 8, N133, N242, N26, N551, N8 (4 min walk)
Threadneedle Street • Lines: 388, 8, N242 (5 min walk)

Metro

Aldgate • Lines: Circle, Metropolitan (6 min walk)
Liverpool Street • Lines: Central, Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan (7 min walk)

Train

London Fenchurch Street (7 min walk)
Bank (11 min walk)

Light rail

Bank Platform 9 • Lines: B-L, B-Wa (10 min walk)
Tower Gateway Platform 1 • Lines: Tg-B (10 min walk)

Ferry

Tower Millennium Pier • Lines: Rb1, Rb1X, Rb2, Red Tour (13 min walk)
London Bridge City Pier • Lines: Rb1, Rb1X, Rb2, Rb6 (15 min walk)