You know how when you buy a gherkin at the store, it’s all bumpy and slightly ridiculous? Well, 63 St Mary Axe is the same, but it’s 180 meters tall and made of glass and steel. It’s like someone said, “Let’s build a cucumber that means business.” From a distance, it looks like it’s winking at you, thanks to its diamond-shaped windows. I swear, on a foggy morning, it looks like a glazed donut that got stuck on a toothpick.
Standing at the base, you feel a little silly. Here you are, a normal human with a soggy sandwich, and this building is just looming over you, all smug and aerodynamic. It’s the kind of building that makes you want to straighten your tie or tie your shoelaces tighter, even if you’re just visiting for a selfie.
Inside the Giant Pickle
The ground floor of 63 St Mary Axe is surprisingly normal. It’s like walking into a fancy airport lounge, but with less crying and more hushed phone calls. You’ll see people in expensive suits trying to look important while juggling lattes. The security guard will give you a look that says, “I know you’re not a billionaire, walk faster.”
But here’s the thing: the real magic is upstairs. There’s a restaurant and a bar near the top, and the view is absolutely bonkers. You can see the Thames looking like a silver ribbon, and little red buses that look like Hot Wheels toys. I once went up there and spent ten minutes trying to figure out if a tiny dot was a pigeon or a drone. It was a pigeon. Disappointing, but still majestic.
Serviced Office 63 St Mary Axe, London, EC3A 8AA – Knight Frank
