United Kingdom The Gherkin

The site hosted the Baltic Exchange until the IRA blew it up (it was a Saturday morning, when the City is mostly empty). After a lot of discussion about restoring the building, it was agreed that a new building should be put there. Foster and Partners are the architects and this structure was completed in 2003 after the planned, much bigger version, Millennium Tower) met objections, such as its interference with air traffic in and out of Heathrow airport (I kid you not).

The building was designed to be highly energy efficient but the glass skin prevents mobile phone signals penetrating, meaning a transmitter needed to be installed inside it for office workers.

Its definitely one of The City’s most iconic buildings and there is always someone in the area taking a shot of it, but with so many other amazing buildings in the area, this isn't surprising.

Use a PC lens if you have one...
Some of the land there appears to be public but is actually private. Sometimes a security guard will ask you to move on. Still, don't let that distract you from turning up with a tripod - just work quickly.

Get close with a wide angle lens and look up to get a composition where the metal ring at the top is hidden, and most of the reflections of buildings are out of frame.

Partially cloudy days can work well here if you get the clouds reflected in the glass.

Easy access on foot