“At the moment it looks as though London seems to be turning into an absurdist picnic table – we already have a giant gherkin, now it looks as if we are going to have an enormous salt cellar*.” – Prince Charles, 2003
*Referring to The Shard as salt shaker / cellar
The currently tallest skyscaper in London (The Shard) was designed (i.e. sketched) on a napkin by its architect, Renzo Piano. The building itself received several nicknames (including the “Salt Shaker”) but as London Bridge Buildng’s top looks like glass broken into several sharp pieces, it is nicknamed “The Shard”.
With its height of 306m (more than 1000 ft), it is far the highest building in London but it is not the one with the funniest nickname.
Here are some more London buildings – mostly skyscraper – and their nicknames:
| The Gherkin | 30 St Mary’s Axe |
| The Shard | London Bridge Building |
| The Cheesegrater | Leadenhall Building |
| Can of Ham | 60-70 St Mary’s Axe |
| The Helter-Skelter (Pinnacle Tower) | 22 Bishopsgate |
| Walkie-Talkie Tower | 20 Fenchurch St |
| Pringle | Olympic Cycle Velopark |
| The Razor | Strata by Elephant and Castle |
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