Tower 42, formerly known as the NatWest Tower, is a landmark skyscraper located in the City of London, United Kingdom (51°30′55″N, 0°05′02″W). Completed in 1980 after nearly a decade of construction (1971–1980), the tower rises to a roof height of 183 metres and comprises 47 floors. Designed by R. Seifert & Partners, engineered by Pell Frischmann, and constructed by John Mowlem & Co. Ltd, it was London’s first true skyscraper and, at the time of its completion, the tallest building in the United Kingdom.
Although today it ranks as the 18th tallest building in London and the 20th tallest in England, Tower 42 remains architecturally significant, particularly for its highly innovative vertical transportation system, which was unprecedented in the UK when introduced.
Elevator system and vertical zoning
Tower 42 is served by a total of 21 double-deck elevators, a groundbreaking feature in Britain at the time. These elevators are arranged in a strictly zoned system, dividing the tower vertically into three principal service areas, optimizing traffic flow and reducing travel times in a high-rise office environment.
Because the elevators are double-cabin (double-deck), passengers entering the building must first use automatic escalators at the ground level. These escalators direct occupants to the appropriate elevator deck (upper or lower cabin), depending on the destination floor.
Lower and mid-rise zones: direct service from ground level
The lower section of the tower is served by direct elevators from the ground floor, without the need to transfer at a sky lobby:
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One group of direct elevators serves floors from the ground floor up to floor 12.
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A separate group of direct elevators serves the mid-rise zone between floors 12 and 21.
These elevators provide uninterrupted travel between the ground level and their assigned floor ranges, ensuring efficient circulation for the lower and intermediate office levels.
Sky lobbies and express service
For access to the upper floors, Tower 42 employs a sky lobby system, located on floors 23 and 24:
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Express double-deck elevators run directly from the ground/mezzanine levels to floor 23 and floor 24, bypassing all intermediate floors.
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These express elevators form the backbone of the tower’s high-rise circulation strategy.
Once at the sky lobbies, passengers transfer to local elevators that serve specific upper zones:
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From sky lobby level 24, elevators serve floors 24 through 33.
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From sky lobby level 23, elevators serve the uppermost office floors, from floor 33 up to floor 41.
This arrangement allows the building to handle large volumes of occupants efficiently while minimizing elevator shaft space.
Restaurant elevator and public access
Although Tower 42 is exclusively dedicated to office use, it contains a notable exception: a restaurant located on the 42nd floor, the highest publicly accessible level of the building.
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This restaurant is served by a dedicated direct elevator, separate from the office elevator system.
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The elevator travels non-stop from the ground floor directly to the 42nd floor, without passing through or requiring access to the sky lobbies on floors 23 or 24.
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The cabin has a capacity of 13 passengers.
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This direct access allows visitors to reach the restaurant independently of office traffic, offering uninterrupted ascent and panoramic views of London.
While the tower has 47 floors in total, floor 42 is the highest level accessible to visitors.
Architectural and technical significance
At the time of its completion, Tower 42’s use of double-deck elevators, express lifts, and sky lobbies represented a major technological leap for British high-rise design. These systems, combined with other advanced features—such as an internal automated mail train, computer-controlled air conditioning, and a fully automated external window-cleaning system—cemented the tower’s reputation as one of the most technologically advanced buildings of its era.
