The UK's tallest building amounting to three Big Bens is nowhere near London
The UK's tallest free-standing structure overshadows any London skyscraper - but it might not be as fancy.
The tallest free-standing building in the UK is taller then three Big Bens and even higher than The Shard despite being nowhere near the skycrapers of London.
Up north more than 200 miles from the capital stands the impressive Emley Moor Mast, an enornomous 1,047-foot concrete spear standing proudly overlooking the Yorkshire countryside.
It's the nation's tallest Grade II listed building and was finished in 1971 to provide television transmission for much of the region, today it takes over seven minutes to get to a viewing platform at the top via a lift.
For those feeling fit there is also a ladder inside the tower with a whopping 865 rungs.
Emley Moor Mast is already on an outcrop over 1,000 foot above sea level, meaning the huge structure can be seen from miles around, including from the M1 nearly 10 miles away.
It is also the seventh tallest freestanding structure in the EU, fourth tallest tower in the EU, and 24th tallest tower in the world.
Arqiva, previously the Independent Broadcasting Authority, own the tower and it broadcasts a variety of television and digital radio signals.
At more than 1,047-feet-tall Emley Moor is more than three times taller than Big Ben which stands at only 315 feet.
In 2018 the tower gained a temporary neighbour in the shape of a 1,063 foot antenna that was used while the transmission arrays on the tower were being repaired and upgraded.
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During dismantling of the temporary antenna lasst year helicopters had to be used and locals were warned to stay away from the site.
Chopppers could be seen transporting sections of the antenna to the ground as workers used wires and ladders to access the upper levels of the temporary mast.
The work was part of technical changes undertaken by Arqiva engineers at 1,200 transmitters, serving 20 million homes.