CityBird's Prime Location: the Top of the Gherkin

Fort Knox has little on the 40th floor of the Gherkin. Not only do you have to have a prior engagement with somebody that works in the building, you need to flash your unflattering driving licence to even walk past reception.

No spontaneous visits to the bar, sadly.

I’ve been lucky enough to visit several times before, having bombarded PRs for big insurance companies with emails demanding to be taken for lunch at the restaurant up there (it worked, twice, FYI).

Then, like a divine right, an invite to a launch of a new FX company landed in my inbox. The location? The top of Norman Foster’s finest.

The Gherkin is one of those places that has about five different lift systems to take you up to the top, where your ears pop as you ascend the levels – it really is that high. I’ve been up Tower 42, but that’s got nothing on the panoramic views of the 40 floors of the Gherkin. Right at the top, you can stare up through the domed tip to the sky: it’s pretty special.

I would add a comment about said new FX company, but truth be told, we were only there to snarf the amaretto sours and check in on Foursquare.

What’s the point of visiting the City’s premiere location if you can’t brag about it on Twitter?