You’re walking through Bishopsgate, and it’s impossible to miss. That massive, tapering glass structure with the external bracing. Most people still call it the Salesforce Tower London, or maybe just 110 Bishopsgate, but let’s be real: to anyone who’s lived in the city for more than a decade, it’s always going to be the Heron Tower. It changed everything. Before this thing went up in 2011, the City of London was a bit... flat. Sure, you had the Gherkin, but the Heron Tower brought a certain height—230 meters, to be exact—that forced the Square Mile to finally look upward.
It’s big.
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It was actually the tallest building in the City when it finished, though the Shard eventually stole the overall London crown from across the river. But height isn't really why people care about it anymore. Honestly, the reason this building stays relevant in 2026 isn't the office space or the fancy tech firms inside. It’s the fact that it’s one of the few skyscrapers that actually lets the public in without making them feel like they’re trespassing in a corporate morgue.
The Design Drama Most People Forget
Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) designed this beast, and they didn't have an easy time of it. You’ve got to remember that back in the mid-2000s, building anything tall in London was a political nightmare. Heritage groups were terrified it would ruin the view of St. Paul’s Cathedral. They fought it. Hard. Eventually, the Deputy Prime Minister had to step in after a public inquiry to give it the green light.
The architecture is pretty "high-tech," a style London loves. You see the stainless steel? That’s not just for show. The external structural frame allows for these massive, open floor plates inside that aren't cluttered by a million support pillars. If you’ve ever worked in a cramped Victorian office, you know why companies pay a premium for this. It also features a massive south-facing wall of photovoltaic cells. It’s basically a giant solar farm standing upright. Does it power the whole building? No, but it generates enough juice to offset a decent chunk of the common area lighting, which was pretty forward-thinking for a project designed twenty years ago.
The "village" concept is what really makes the interior weird. Instead of just floor after floor of desks, the building is broken into three-story segments. Each segment has its own atrium. The idea was to make a massive skyscraper feel like a series of smaller communities. Does it work? Sorta. If you’re a junior analyst on floor 15, you probably still feel like a cog in a machine, but at least the light is better.
Eating and Drinking at 175 Meters
Let’s talk about the glass lift. If you have vertigo, it’s a nightmare. If you don't, it's the best free show in the City. Most visitors to the Salesforce Tower London aren't there to talk about insurance or hedge funds; they’re heading to Duck & Waffle or SUSHISAMBA.
Duck & Waffle is legendary for a reason. It’s open 24/7. Or at least it was, and it remains the go-to spot for the "post-clubbing but I have a corporate card" crowd. There is something fundamentally surreal about eating a fried duck leg with a waffle and maple syrup at 4:00 AM while watching the sun come up over the Thames. SUSHISAMBA, on the other hand, takes up the 38th and 39th floors. It has that famous orange tree on the terrace. You’ve seen it on Instagram a thousand times. Even if you hate the "influencer" vibe, the view from that terrace is objectively one of the best in Europe. You’re looking down on the Gherkin. You can see the patterns in its glass skin. It makes one of the world's most famous buildings look like a toy.
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The aquarium in the lobby is another "only in London" flex. It’s the largest privately owned aquarium in the UK. It holds about 70,000 liters of water and over 60 different species of fish. Maintenance divers literally have to get in there and scrub the glass while bankers walk past with their lattes. It’s a bit absurd, but that’s the Heron Tower in a nutshell. It’s corporate, yes, but it’s also undeniably theatrical.
Why the Name Keeps Changing
If you’re confused about whether to call it Heron Tower or Salesforce Tower, join the club. Heron International built it (hence the name). Then, in 2014, Salesforce signed a massive lease and won the naming rights. There was a huge fuss about it. The City of London Corporation generally hates "brand" names for buildings. They prefer addresses. For a while, there was this awkward standoff where the owners wanted the Salesforce sign on the building, and the planners said "absolutely not."
Eventually, a compromise was reached. It’s officially 110 Bishopsgate, but Salesforce got their branding. For most Londoners, calling it "Salesforce Tower" feels a bit like calling the Sears Tower "Willis Tower"—we know you're right, but we're probably not going to say it.
The Realities of Modern Office Life
The building isn't just a fancy restaurant with a lobby pet. It houses some of the most powerful financial and tech firms in the world. But the nature of the building has shifted. Post-2020, and moving into the mid-2020s, the "Heron" has had to adapt. It’s no longer just about having a desk. It’s about "amenity."
That’s a word you’ll hear architects throw around constantly. It means people won't come to the office unless there’s a gym, a rooftop bar, a coffee shop that knows their name, and maybe a place to park their £5,000 electric bike. The Heron Tower was lucky because it was built with these "amenities" before they were even a trend. It was designed to be a "vertical city."
- Sustainability: The BREEAM "Excellent" rating wasn't easy to get.
- Connectivity: It has some of the fastest fiber-optic speeds in the capital.
- Accessibility: It’s a two-minute walk from Liverpool Street Station.
What You Should Actually Do There
If you’re visiting, don't just walk in and stare at the fish. You’ll get kicked out by security pretty fast. Here is the move: Book a table at Duck & Waffle about three weeks in advance. If you can't get a dinner slot, go for breakfast. The "Full Elvis" waffle is a heart attack on a plate, but you’re 40 floors up, so who cares?
If you want a drink without the massive dinner bill, SUSHISAMBA’s bar is the play. But fair warning: the "dress code" is a thing here. Don't show up in gym gear. They want you to look like you belong in the City. It’s a bit elitist, sure, but that’s the game you play when you want to drink a cocktail next to a glowing orange tree in the clouds.
The Salesforce Tower London represents a specific era of London's growth. It was the first of the "new" wave of skyscrapers that turned the City from a collection of mid-rise stone blocks into a legitimate global skyline. It’s weathered name changes, economic shifts, and a global pandemic, and it’s still the most recognizable needle in the cluster.
Actionable Tips for Your Visit
- The Lift Hack: The scenic elevators are located on the north side of the building. Even if you aren't eating, you can sometimes catch a glimpse of the movement from the street level.
- Photography: If you want the best photo of the tower itself, head to the corner of Houndsditch and Outwich Street. The perspective from there makes the "spire" look incredibly dramatic against the sky.
- The Fish: The aquarium is best viewed around 10:00 AM when the lobby is a bit quieter after the morning rush. The divers often clean the tank on weekday mornings; it's a weirdly soothing thing to watch.
- Alternative Views: If the restaurants are full, head over to the nearby Horizon 22 or Lookout at 8 Bishopsgate. They offer free viewing galleries (if you book), but honestly, the Heron Tower's bars have a better atmosphere.
- Commuting: Use the Elizabeth Line to Liverpool Street. Take the "Bishopsgate" exit. You’ll pop out almost directly underneath the tower. It saves you a ten-minute walk from the older parts of the station.
The building is a survivor. It’s seen the Gherkin get overshadowed by the Scalpel and the Cheesegrater, yet it remains the anchor of that north-east corner of the City. Whether you call it Heron or Salesforce, it’s a permanent fixture of the London experience. It’s expensive, it’s flashy, and it’s a little bit over the top. It is, in other words, perfectly London.