Is 22 Bishopsgate Taller Than The Shard?

London loves a good tall tale. And right now, everyone is asking the same cheeky question: Is 22 Bishopsgate taller than The Shard? It sounds simple. But the answer is a deliciously messy, very British kind of maybe.

The Obvious Answer: No Way

Let’s get the basic facts straight. The Shard stands at a staggering 310 meters (1,017 feet). It’s a giant glass splinter poking the clouds. Meanwhile, 22 Bishopsgate — nicknamed the “Tulip” before that plan flopped — tops out at 278 meters (912 feet). By raw height, The Shard wins by a cool 32 meters.

That’s like a giraffe looking down at a very tall ostrich. So case closed, right? Wrong. That’s the boring, surface-level answer. We’re here for the fun stuff.

Enter the Roof Games

Here’s where it gets silly and surprisingly clever. The Shard’s public viewing gallery, “The View from The Shard,” is on floors 68-72. That’s about 244 meters up. 22 Bishopsgate has a public sky deck on floor 60, sitting at 267 meters.

Wait, what? Yes, you read that right. The public deck at 22 Bishopsgate is 23 meters higher than The Shard’s public deck. So for a visitor sipping an overpriced coffee, 22 Bishopsgate feels taller. It’s the ultimate sneaky flex.

20 Tallest Skyscrapers/ Building In London (United Kingdom - The Shard

The Spire vs. The Hat

Now for the real architecture nerdery. The Shard’s height includes its long, sharp spire. That spire is useless—no one can stand on it. 22 Bishopsgate, however, has a solid roof shape. Its highest occupiable floor is actually higher than The Shard’s highest occupiable floor.

Think of it this way: The Shard is a model wearing a giant witch hat. 22 Bishopsgate is a model who is just taller in their boots. Which one is “really” taller? Depends on how pedantic you want to get.

Quirky Facts to Drop at a Pub

Here’s a funny detail: 22 Bishopsgate was originally designed to be 305 meters tall. That would have made it almost as tall as The Shard. But planners said, “Nah, that’s too close to the flight path of London City Airport.” So they chopped off the top.

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Another gem: The Shard is so shiny it melts cars. Okay, not really, but in 2013, its reflective glass focused sunlight and melted parts of a parked Jaguar. 22 Bishopsgate has no such laser-beam powers. Yet.

Why This Fight Is Fun

This debate is a perfect example of London’s love affair with one-upmanship. It’s not about who is tallest; it’s about who wins the technicality game. Tourists take selfies at 22 Bishopsgate and brag they’re higher than The Shard’s viewing deck. Purists roll their eyes and mutter about spires.

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Both skyscrapers are impressive in their own way. The Shard is the iconic, elegant piercer of the skyline. 22 Bishopsgate is the chunky, playful upstart that offers better views of The Shard itself. You can’t lose.

The Final Verdict (Sort Of)

If you ask a tape measure: The Shard is taller. Period. If you ask a tourist with a ticket: 22 Bishopsgate wins on experience. And if you ask a London architect? They’ll argue about roof definitions for three hours over a pint.

So next time someone asks, just smile and say, “Depends on what you mean by ‘taller.’” Then watch them squirm. That’s the real victory — curiosity wins, and everyone learns something delightfully pointless. Now go look up at the sky and pick your champion. I dare you.