London rising: illicit photographs from the city's heights – in pictures

A new book of urban photography explores the glass and steel spires, brutal blocks and latticed ironwork that make up the vertical city: from iconic disused gasholders and power stations to sleek and exclusive corporate developments usually only accessible by the urban elite

The Shard seen from the Walkie-Talkie, City of LondonThe counterweight of the Walkie-Talkie crane provided a spectacular view of the Shard

London Rising, by Bradley L Garrett, Alexander Moss and Scott Cadman, will be published by Prestel next month

• This caption was amended on 15 February 2016 to correct the name of the third author, Scott Cadman.

Photograph: Bradley L Garrett

The Shard, SouthwarkWhen construction was close to completion, the cranes on top of the Shard jutted over the side, allowing for a unique view on to the central core

Bradley Garrett is co-organiser ofSpace Probe Alpha: a free afternoon of discussions about the transfer of public space into private hands around London, on Saturday 13 February at Potters Field Park, next to City Hall

Photograph: Bradley L Garrett

Battersea Power StationThe view from the top of one of the chimneys, prior to its redvelopment

Photograph: Marc Explo

Denning Point, AldgateWatching the city lights from the top of a council block

Photograph: Bradley L Garrett

British Museum, BloomsburyThe roof of the British Museum was as spectacular from above as it is from inside

Photograph: Alex Oattes

 

Gasometers, HornseyThese gasometers in north London are currently under threat of demolition

Photograph: Bradley L Garrett

St Alphage House, City of LondonAn office block connected to the Barbican Estate

Photograph: Bradley L Garrett

Westfield shopping centre, HammersmithOne explorer planned to sledge the mounds of the roof in winter, but didn’t get a chance before the snow melted

Photograph: Alastair Batchelor

Construction crane, City of LondonAn explorer scales a crane

Photograph: Luca Carenzo

One Tower Bridge, SouthwarkThe One Tower Bridge development offered a view down to City Hall, and up to the sky

Photograph: Theo Kindynis

Trocadero, LondonThe roof of the Trocadero at Piccadilly Circus was like a huge, empty playground

Photograph: Bradley L Garrett

Petticoat Tower, City of LondonA rooftop birthday barbecue on the top of Petticoat Tower was cut short by police, who detained attendees

Photograph: Bradley L Garrett

King’s Reach Tower, SouthwarkA view of the Oxo Tower and the Thames

Photograph: Winch

Alexandra PalaceThe rooftop of ‘Ally Pally’, an ornament of the Victorian age and the cradle of TV broadcasting

Photograph: Bradley L Garrett

Source - The Guardian