The Gherkin
Designed by one of Britain's leading architects, Sir Norman Foster, this curved glass skyscraper was the 2004 recipient of the Stirling Architectural Prize for Best Building. It was built on the site of the Baltic Exchange building, destroyed in 1992 by an IRA bomb which killed three. On the Bury Street side of the Gherkin by some black stone benches is the Tomb of the Unknown Girl for a teenaged Londoner who died 1,600 years ago (see infobox above), marked with a marble laurel wreath and inscription. Searcy's Restaurant (from £50) at the top takes bookings up to five weeks in advance and you have to go through security before going up.
- Address
- 30 St. Mary Axe
- Price
- No entry, unless you have a restaurant reservation. Free to stand outside
Listing from Wikivoyage: London/City of London, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.