Emley Moor Transmitter Tower

Surprisingly, the tallest freestanding structure in the United Kingdom can be found not in London or any of the country’s major cities. Rather, you’ll find it in the large town of Huddersfield, towering over the town from high up on Emley Moor.  

The Emley Moor transmitting station stands 1,084 feet tall. Its top is 1,949 feet above sea level, imposing over the beautiful rolling moorland.

The tower broadcasts across Yorkshire and the surrounding counties via series of relays and repeaters. It was built in 1969 to replace an even taller 1966 mast (1,266 feet tall) that fell down earlier in the year in the Winter weather.  Prior to that a 443-foot tower from 1956 had supplied television broadcasts to Yorkshire.

Update June 2019: The tower is currently undergoing upgrade works, which will see it shortened to 1,040 feet, meaning it will no longer be taller than the Eiffel Tower (1,063 feet). In the meantime, a temporary tower constructed by helicopter is situated next to it.