The View From the Shard
See the best of London all at once with the View From the Shard, a 360-degree view fully-glassed observation deck that sits at a height of 244 metres.
Standing at nearly 310 metres (1,016 feet), The Shard is the tallest building in Western Europe, and the newest addition to London’s skyline.
While it’s construction has been somewhat controversial, as the highest vantage point in the capital the 360-degree panoramas of the London landscape is unparalleled and the View From the Shard is the only place where it is possible to see the entire city at once.
Given the spectacular heights and majestic views offered by the View from the Shard, the public entrance is surprisingly unassuming and feels
almost hidden away in its location in a tunnel in London Bridge Station. However, as soon as visitors ascend the stairs and come through the revolving doors the grandeur and state of the art design of the attraction become apparent.
As guests begin their journey through the ground floor galleries, they’re greeted by amusing images of over 140 famous Londoners past and present in playful juxtapositions. Animated maps, video screens and a series of short films illuminate the fascinating growth and history of the city and famous places across the capital, all of which may be seen from the viewing galleries of the Shard.
After a split lift ride going up over sixty-seven stories, visitors exit at the ‘cloudscape’ on level 68, they immediately climb the stairs to level 69 and the triple-height main viewing gallery of the observation decks. Offering breath-taking 360-degree views of London for up to 40 miles (64km), the View From the Shard allows you to experience Britain’s capital like never before.
Having been told that the viewing conditions during our visit were not the best, we were absolutely stunned by the range of visibility we had on a partially over-cast morning. From the View from the Shard’s position on the Southbank of the Thames, we could clearly see Wembley Arch in North London, the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, St. Paul’s and Canary Wharf.
Other iconic London landmarks visible from the main viewing gallery are the London Eye, the AcerlorMittal Orbit sculpture, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, and the Tower of London. The viewing gallery features twelve Tell:scopes, state of the art digital telescopes that identify places of interest and provide information on 200 famous landmarks, which further enhances visitors’ exploration of the capital from this unique vantage point.
The View from the Shard is not to be missed and will open to the public on the 1st of February, 2013.
To plan your visit and book your tickets, visit TheViewFromTheShard.com. Advance adult tickets starts at £24.95