The Leadenhall Building, commonly known as The Cheesegrater due to its distinctive sloping profile, is a commercial skyscraper located in the City of London. It stands at 225 metres (738 feet) tall with 48 storeys and was completed in 2014. The building was designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and developed by British Land and Oxford Properties.
Its sloped design was implemented to protect sightlines to St Paul’s Cathedral (particularly from Fleet Street), an important consideration in London’s planning regulations. The external steel bracing structure and the tapered shape contribute to its visual distinctiveness, with the building narrowing as it rises. The façade consists of a glass curtain wall system, allowing extensive natural light into the interior office spaces.
The Leadenhall Building primarily accommodates office tenants and includes retail units at ground level. Its lobby is notable for being open to the public, forming part of the surrounding streetscape with an accessible undercroft area. The building is directly opposite another iconic London skyscraper, 30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin), contributing to the cluster of modern architecture within the City’s financial district.
The structure is built with a steel megaframe, allowing column-free floorplates and flexible office configurations. It has become a recognisable element of London’s skyline due to its unusual shape and external steel design.
The Leadenhall Building demonstrates contemporary high-rise design integrating planning considerations with modern engineering. It remains a key part of London’s commercial real estate market and an example of distinctive 21st-century architecture in the capital.
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