List of tallest buildings in Cardiff

Tall buildings in Cardiff
Cardiff's skyline in 2020
Tallest building	1-6 Guildford Crescent (2025)
Tallest building height	96 m (315 ft)
Number of tall buildings
Buildings taller than 50 m	20

This is a list of the tallest buildings in Cardiff that are 45 metres (148 feet) in height and above in the capital of Wales. They include buildings ranging from the ornate civic centre to the historic Cardiff Castle and Llandaff Cathedral.

The city's growth is reflected in its growing skyline. ^[1] As is the case with many British cities, some of Cardiff's skyline comprises 1960s and 1970s residential and commercial tower blocks. However, current development trends for high-rise buildings include upmarket apartments and office space.

Cardiff is the largest city in Wales and has the most tall buildings in the country. ^[2] Designed by Rio Architects, ^[3] the tallest building in Cardiff is Bridge Street Exchange at 85 m (279 ft). It replaced Capital Tower in 2018, which, at 80 m (260 ft), which had been the tallest building in Cardiff since 1970.

Cardiff Council considers a tall building within the city centre and Cardiff Bay to be 8 storeys or more or from 25 m (82 ft) in height. ^[4] Any proposals to the council for a tall building should "Generally be located within an existing cluster or form part of a proposal to create a new cluster (a cluster can be defined as a group of buildings which form a visual cohesion from more than one viewing point)". ^[4]

Completed buildings & structures

This lists completed and topped out buildings & structures in Cardiff that are at least 45 metres. This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts.

Rank	Name	Image	Height (m)	Height (ft)	Floors	Year Completed/Topped Out	Primary Use	Location	Coordinates	Notes
1	1-6 Guildford Crescent		96	314	30	2025	Residential	City Centre		Started construction in 2021, topped out in 2025. [5] [6]
2	Plot 1		90.5	296	29	2025	Mixed use / Residential	Central Quay		Started construction in 2022, topped out in 2025. [7]
3	Principality Stadium		90 (masts)	295 (masts)		1999	Stadium	Stadium Plaza	51°28′41″N3°10′57″W / 51.4780°N 3.1825°W / 51.4780; -3.1825 (Millennium Stadium)	[8]
4	Bridge Street Exchange		85	279	26	2018	Student residential and retail units	City Centre	51°28′48″N3°10′21″W / 51.4800°N 3.1725°W / 51.4800; -3.1725 (Bridge Street Exchange)	[9] [10] [11]
5	Gramercy Tower, 6 Curran Road		84	275	27	2025	Residential	City Centre		Started construction in 2020, topped out in 2024. [12]
6	Wood Street House		83.5	274	22	2023	Residential and public transport interchange	Central Square	51°28′38″N3°10′43″W / 51.4773°N 3.1786°W / 51.4773; -3.1786 (Interchange Tower)	[13]
7	Capital Tower		80	262	25	1967	Office and retail units	City Centre	51°28′58″N3°10′39″W / 51.4829°N 3.1776°W / 51.4829; -3.1776 (Capital Tower)	From 1967 until 2018, the tallest building in Cardiff to the top of the roof. [14]
8	Stadium House		78 (excluding spire) 125 (including spire)	256 (excluding spire) 410 (including spire)	17	1976 (Renovated 2002)	Office	Stadium Plaza	51°28′40″N3°10′50″W / 51.4778°N 3.1806°W / 51.4778; -3.1806 (Stadium House)	With the communications mast, the structure (added in 2002) is the highest point in Cardiff. The stainless steel mast measures 131 feet (40 m). The lower levels of the building houses the Cardiff Empire Telephone Exchange. [15]
9	Plot 2		76	249	24	2025	Mixed use / Residential	Central Quay		Started construction in 2022, topped out in 2025. [16]
10	Zenith		75 [note 1]	246	26	2019	Student residential	Capital Quarter	51°28′35″N3°10′17″W / 51.4764°N 3.1715°W / 51.4764; -3.1715 (Zenith)	[18]
	The Copper Works (Y Gwaith Copr)		75	246	23	2023	Residential	Capital Quarter	51°28′36″N3°10′15″W / 51.4767°N 3.1709°W / 51.4767; -3.1709 (The Copper Works)	[19]
11	Altolusso		72	236	23	2005	Residential	City Centre	51°28′39″N3°10′21″W / 51.4775°N 3.1725°W / 51.4775; -3.1725 (Altolusso)	[20]
12	Tŷ Pont Haearn		63	207	21	2005	Student residential and lower multi-storey car park	City Centre	51°28′41″N3°10′21″W / 51.4780°N 3.1725°W / 51.4780; -3.1725 (Ty Pont Haearn)	[21]
	Meridian Gate		63	207	21	2009	Hotel	City Centre	51°28′36″N3°10′25″W / 51.4768°N 3.1737°W / 51.4768; -3.1737 (Meridian Gate)	[22]
13	Tŷ Admiral		61	203	14	2015	Office and retail units	City Centre	51°28′46″N3°10′22″W / 51.4795°N 3.1728°W / 51.4795; -3.1728 (Ty Admiral)	Not to be confused with Admiral House. Designed by Glenn Howells Architects at a cost of £58 million. [23]
	Premier Inn (Stadium) Hotel		61	200	18	2023	Hotel / restaurants	City Centre	51°28′35″N3°10′32″W / 51.4763°N 3.1755°W / 51.4763; -3.1755 (Premier Inn Hotel)	[13]
14	Holland House		60.3	198	15	1968 (Renovated 2004) [24]	Hotel (former office)	Newport Road	51°29′01″N3°10′02″W / 51.4836°N 3.1672°W / 51.4836; -3.1672 (Holland House)	[25]
15	Llandaff Cathedral		59.40	195		1290	Religion	Llandaff	51°29′45″N3°13′05″W / 51.4958°N 3.2180°W / 51.4958; -3.2180 (Llandaff Cathedral)	Until 1967, the tallest building in Cardiff to the top of the spire. [26]
16	City Hall Clock Tower		59	194		1905	Civic building	Cathays Park	51°29′06″N3°10′45″W / 51.4850°N 3.1792°W / 51.4850; -3.1792 (Cardiff City Hall Clock Tower)	[27]
17	William Morgan House		58 (approx)	190	12	2020	Office	Central Square	51°28′39″N3°10′48″W / 51.4776°N 3.1801°W / 51.4776; -3.1801 (William Morgan House)	UK Government Regional Hub and offices of HMRC. Named after the bible translator William Morgan (1545–1604). [28] [29]
	Helmont House		58	190	12	1984	Office / Hotel	Canal Quarter	51°28′52″N3°10′17″W / 51.4810°N 3.1713°W / 51.4810; -3.1713 (Helmont House)	[30]
	Brunel House		58	190	16	1974 [31]	Office and retail units	Newport Road	51°28′56″N3°10′11″W / 51.4823°N 3.1698°W / 51.4823; -3.1698 (Brunel House)	Originally called Great Western House, headquarters for the Western Region of British Rail. [32] [33]
18	Pendeen House		56	184	19	2014	Residential	Ferry Court, Cardiff Bay	51°27′13″N3°10′36″W / 51.45365°N 3.1768°W / 51.45365; -3.1768 (Pendeen House)	[34]
19	Vita Student, 11 Park Place		55.2	181	18	2022	Student residential	Park Place	51°29′03″N3°10′30″W / 51.4841°N 3.1749°W / 51.4841; -3.1749 (Vita Student Cardiff)	[35]
20	Admiral House		55	180	16	2006 (Renovated)	Residential	Newport Road	51°29′03″N3°09′56″W / 51.4842°N 3.1656°W / 51.4842; -3.1656 (Admiral House)	Not to be confused with Tŷ Admiral [36]
21	Anchor Works		52	170	15	2024	Residential	Dumballs Road		Started construction in 2021, topped out in 2024. [37]
22	Landmark Place		51	167	17	2004	Residential and retail units	Canal Quarter	51°28′53″N3°10′17″W / 51.4815°N 3.1713°W / 51.4815; -3.1713 (Landmark Place)	[38]
23	Verse, 47-53 Charles Street		50.5	165	16	2023	Residential	City Centre	51°28′49″N3°10′22″W / 51.4803°N 3.1729°W / 51.4803; -3.1729 (Verse apartments)	[39]
24	Cardiff University Tower Building		50	164	12		University	Cathays Park	51°29′20″N3°10′51″W / 51.4888°N 3.1808°W / 51.4888; -3.1808 (Cardiff University Tower Building)	[40]
25	Vega House, Celestia		48	158		2007	Residential	Cardiff Bay	51°27′51″N3°09′32″W / 51.4643°N 3.1590°W / 51.4643; -3.1590 (Celestia)	[41]
	Southgate House		48	157	13	1978	Office / Retail	Central Square	51°28′40″N3°10′45″W / 51.4778°N 3.1792°W / 51.4778; -3.1792 (Southgate House)	[42]
29	Loudoun House		47	154	16	1964	Residential	Butetown	51°28′12″N3°10′13″W / 51.4699°N 3.1703°W / 51.4699; -3.1703 (Loudoun House)	[43]
	Nelson House		47	154	16	1964	Residential	Butetown	51°28′12″N3°10′15″W / 51.4701°N 3.1709°W / 51.4701; -3.1709 (Nelson House)	[44]
30	ISIS 3D		46	151	15	2007	Residential	Century Wharf	51°28′03″N3°10′29″W / 51.4675°N 3.1747°W / 51.4675; -3.1747 (ISIS 3D)	[45]
	Eastgate House		46	151	14	1969	Office	Newport Road	51°29′06″N3°09′57″W / 51.4851°N 3.1658°W / 51.4851; -3.1658 (Eastgate House)	[46]
	McKenzie House		46	151	12		University	Newport Road	51°29′02″N3°09′58″W / 51.4840°N 3.1661°W / 51.4840; -3.1661 (McKenzie House)	Previously known as NPI House [47]
	St Andrews United Reformed Church		46	150		1900	Church	Roath	51°29′46″N3°09′52″W / 51.4960°N 3.1645°W / 51.4960; -3.1645 (St Andrews URC Church, Roath)	[48]
31	Brains Brewery Chimney		45.7	150 [49]		1938 [49]	Chimney	Central Quay
32	The Aspect		45	148	15	1960s, renovated 2002	Residential and retail units	City Centre	51°28′58″N3°10′16″W / 51.4827°N 3.1710°W / 51.4827; -3.1710 (The Aspect)	Converted office block (Fanum House) with 2 additional storeys added in 2002. [50] [51]
	Strata		45	148	15	2009	Residential	Century Wharf	51°28′05″N3°10′34″W / 51.4681°N 3.1761°W / 51.4681; -3.1761 (Century Wharf: Strata)	[52]
	The Neighbourhood		45	148	11		Residential and retail units	Newport Road	51°29′10″N3°09′58″W / 51.4860°N 3.1662°W / 51.4860; -3.1662 (The Neighbourhood)	Former City Road campus of Coleg Glan Hafren, converted in 2016 into a student accommodation and a coffee shop. [53] [54] [55]
33	Cardiff Castle Clock Tower		40	131		1873	Monument	Castle Quarter	51°28′53″N3°10′55″W / 51.4813°N 3.182°W / 51.4813; -3.182 (Cardiff Castle Clock Tower)	[56]
	St John the Baptist Church		40	131		circa 1490	Church	The Hayes	51°28′51″N3°10′42″W / 51.4807°N 3.1783°W / 51.4807; -3.1783 (St John the Baptist Church)	[57]

Buildings under construction, approved, proposed, and cancelled

Below are sub-sections for the tallest under construction, approved, proposed, and cancelled buildings and structures in Cardiff.

Height figures are rounded to the nearest metre.

Under construction

This lists buildings that are under construction in Cardiff and are planned to rise at least 40 metres. Under construction buildings that have already been topped out are listed above.

Rank	Name	Image	Height (m)	Floors	Year Construction Began	Primary Use	Location	Coordinates	Notes
1	Cardiff Sixth Form Boarding Hub			18	Approved 2023, under construction 2024	Student accommodation			[58]

Approved

This lists buildings that have been approved for, but are yet to start, construction in Cardiff (over 40 m).

Rank	Name	Image	Height (m)	Height (ft)	Floors	Year Approved	Primary use	Location	Coordinates	Notes
1	Custom House Street Tower		132	433	42	2016	Student residential / retail	City Centre		Construction halted after the installation of drainage/manhole [59] [60]
2	5 Central Square		113	370	35	2023	Residential	Central Square		[61] [62] [63]
3	Harlech Court				35		Residential	Bute Terrace		Image shows the former Harlech Court being demolished on the site [64]
4	John Street Tower (John Street - North)		99	324		2018	Mixed use			[65]
4	Hallinans House		99	324	32	2017	Mixed use	Newport Road		Image shows current building [66] [67]
5	Friary House				Up to 28	2024	Mixed use	City Centre		Image shows current building [68] [69]
6	The Embankment			25			Residential	Dumballs Road		Image shows current building [70] [71] [72]
7	Longcross Court			18		2024	Student accommodation	Newport Road		Image shows current building [73]

Proposed

This lists buildings that are proposed for construction in Cardiff and are planned to rise at least 40 m tall.

Rank	Name	Image	Height (m)	Height (ft)	Floors	Year Proposed	Primary Use	Location	Coordinates	Notes
1	Central Square Tower		180	580	50	2025	Residential	Central Square		[74]

Cancelled

Rank	Name	Image	Height (m)	Height (ft)	Floors	Year	Primary Use	Location
1	Bay Pointe [75]		122.8	403	33	2008	Residential
2	Glass Needle Scheme, also known as Heritage Gateway Scheme [76]		107	352	32	2005	Residential
3	Capitol Apartments [77]		75	246	25	2008	Residential

Demolished

Rank	Name	Image	Height (m)	Height (ft)	Floors	Year Constructed	Year Demolished	Primary Use	Location	Coordinates	Notes
1	Phase 2, Government Buildings, Tŷ Glas		73	239	18	1969	2024	HMRC offices	Llanishen	51°31′36″N3°11′54″W / 51.5267°N 3.1982°W / 51.5267; -3.1982 (HM Government Offices)	[78] [79]
2	Gleider House, Phase 1 Government Buildings, Tŷ Glas		44.50	146	11	1968	2024	HMRC and Tenovus offices	Llanishen	51°31′39″N3°11′48″W / 51.5276°N 3.1966°W / 51.5276; -3.1966 (Marriott Hotel)	[80]

See also

• Cardiff city centre
• Architecture of Cardiff

Notes

1. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat estimates that the building is 85 m (279 ft), this is based on a floor count of 25 floors. The estimation has been arrived at by analyzing 8,693 other buildings of the same Residential function on this database that do have confirmed heights. The user should be aware that non-standard features, such as significant spires or raised entrances / podiums, may affect the accuracy of this estimation. ^[17]

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External links

• SkyscraperNews: Cardiff
• Cardiff Developments