Bestseller
London: The View from The Shard
From 21,80 €
Buy the ticket
Soaring above London’s skyline like a colossal glass shard, The Shard stands as one of contemporary London’s most iconic symbols. At 309.6 metres tall, this futuristic skyscraper holds the distinction of being the UK’s tallest building and Europe’s seventh highest, fundamentally transforming London’s skyline forever.
Officially inaugurated on 5 July 2012 and opened to the public in February 2013, The Shard (literally “The Fragment“) is far more than a simple office building: it’s a genuine vertical city housing Michelin-starred restaurants, a luxury hotel, exclusive apartments, offices for prestigious international companies and, of course, one of Europe’s most spectacular viewing platforms. From The View from The Shard, located on floors 68-72, visitors can enjoy breathtaking 360-degree views of London, with visibility on clear days reaching up to 64 kilometres.
Designed by celebrated Italian architect Renzo Piano, Pritzker Prize winner, The Shard distinguishes itself through bold and sustainable design, with 11,000 glass panels that reflect the ever-changing sky and clouds, making the building appear almost metaphysical—constantly transforming its appearance depending on weather conditions and time of day.
The main attraction at The Shard is undoubtedly The View from The Shard, an extraordinary observation platform located on floors 68, 69 and 72 of the building. This observatory, the UK’s highest, offers an entirely fresh perspective on London and its historic monuments.
The visit begins on the ground floor, where a multimedia experience illustrates London’s history and geography. From here, high-speed lifts whisk you up to floor 68 in just 60 seconds, travelling at speeds exceeding 6 metres per second. During the ascent, sound and visual effects projected onto the lift ceilings create an atmosphere of anticipation.
Upon reaching floor 68, you access the Indoor Gallery on floor 69, a covered platform with floor-to-ceiling glazing offering 360-degree panoramic views of the city. Here you’ll also find interactive digital telescopes (“Tell:scopes”) that allow you to identify over 200 London landmarks, providing information both in real-time and in “day/night” mode, letting you see how the same view appears at different times of day.
For an even more thrilling experience, you can ascend to floor 72, the Skydeck, a partially open-air platform where glass walls give way to the open air of the city. Here you’ll feel the wind through your hair whilst admiring the spectacular vista, creating a complete sensory experience.
The best time for photographs is during the “golden hour”, just before sunset, when natural light beautifully illuminates the city. For a completely different perspective, an evening visit will let you admire London illuminated, with its bridges and monuments gleaming in the darkness.
The Shard is home to some of London’s most exclusive restaurants, where culinary excellence combines with spectacular city views. Here are the main ones:
Aqua Shard (floor 31) offers contemporary British cuisine in a sophisticated setting with triple-height windows providing panoramic views. Their bar is particularly renowned for innovative cocktails and the afternoon tea experience with a view. Breakfast at Aqua Shard is considered one of the city’s most dramatic.
Oblix (floor 32) divides into two sections: Oblix East, an elegant cocktail bar and lounge, and Oblix West, a restaurant with New York loft-inspired atmosphere serving contemporary cuisine prepared on charcoal grills and in wood-fired ovens. The restaurant’s views encompass west London, including the Thames and Tower Bridge.
Hutong (floor 33) draws inspiration from traditional Beijing restaurants, offering refined Northern Chinese cuisine in an atmosphere recreating ancient China. Interiors are decorated with traditional lanterns and silk drapes, whilst the dining room enjoys spectacular views of Tower Bridge and the city’s eastern section.
TĪNG (floor 35), located within the Shangri-La Hotel, combines British and Asian cuisine in an elegant setting. The name derives from Mandarin and means “living room”, reflecting the relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere. TĪNG also serves one of London’s most exclusive afternoon teas, with delicacies inspired by Asian flavours.
It’s essential to book these restaurants well in advance, especially for tables with the best views. Many offer more reasonably priced lunch menus compared to dinner, representing a more economical way to enjoy the gastronomic experience with a view.
Occupying floors 34 to 52 of The Shard, the Shangri-La Hotel is one of London’s most luxurious hotels and the Asian luxury group’s first property in the UK. This 5-star hotel offers 202 rooms and suites, all featuring floor-to-ceiling windows with spectacular city views.
What makes this hotel unique is the altitude of its rooms, allowing guests to experience a tranquillity rarely found in the heart of a metropolis like London. The rooms are appointed with contemporary Asian elegant design, featuring Oriental silks and fine woods creating an atmosphere of refined relaxation.
Among the hotel’s facilities stands the infinity pool on the 52nd floor, Western Europe’s highest, from which you can swim whilst gazing at London’s skyline. Adjacent to the pool is a fitness and wellness area equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.
Even for non-hotel guests, you can experience the Shangri-La by visiting the GŎNG Bar on the 52nd floor, London’s highest bar, named after the wooden sticks used in ancient Chinese imperial halls. With creative cocktails and unparalleled views, it’s an ideal spot for an aperitif or evening drink.
The Shard is the focal point of the London Bridge Quarter, an urban regeneration area that has completely transformed this part of Southwark. The neighbourhood surrounding the building merits a visit to discover the contrast between ultra-modern architecture and the centuries-old history of this London area.
At The Shard’s base stands The News Building (formerly known as The Place or Baby Shard), another building designed by Renzo Piano housing the offices of major publications including The Times and The Sunday Times. The immediately surrounding area includes the refurbished London Bridge Station, one of London’s busiest railway terminals, which underwent major renovation as part of the same regeneration project.
Just a short walk away lies the lively Borough Market, one of London’s oldest and most famous food markets, where you can sample British and international specialities. Also in the area, don’t miss Southwark Cathedral, London’s oldest Gothic cathedral, offering a fascinating contrast to The Shard’s modernity.
The River Thames flows right alongside The Shard, and a walk along Queen’s Walk on the South Bank will let you view the building from different angles, plus offer spectacular views of other London icons such as Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral.
Throughout the year, The View from The Shard hosts numerous special events offering unique experiences. Among the most popular are sunrise yoga sessions, allowing you to practise yoga as the sun rises over the city, and live music concerts occasionally held on the observation platform.
For astronomy enthusiasts, stargazing evenings are periodically organised with professional telescopes and expert astronomers. During holidays, themed events such as “Christmas at The View” transform the platform into an enchanting festive location with decorations and special activities.
The Shard also hosts temporary exhibitions and artistic installations, often integrated with the panoramic views to create multisensory experiences. The special events calendar is available on The View from The Shard’s official website, and advance booking is essential as these events tend to sell out quickly.
Access to The View from The Shard, the observation platform on floors 68-72, requires purchasing a ticket. Prices vary depending on the experience type chosen and booking timing. We strongly recommend purchasing tickets in advance online, as box office prices are significantly higher.
Flexible tickets are also available at a slightly higher cost, allowing you to change your visit date and time up to 24 hours before. This option is particularly recommended if weather conditions might affect your visit or if your travel plans are subject to changes.
For a more exclusive experience, you can purchase the “Champagne Experience” ticket, which includes a glass of Moët & Chandon champagne to enjoy whilst admiring the view, or the “Sunrise at The Shard” option, which grants access to the observation platform in the early morning hours to witness the sunrise over the city—a particularly evocative and less crowded experience.
The View from The Shard also offers a “Weather Guarantee”: if visibility is limited during your visit (fewer than three of the following landmarks visible: London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, One Canada Square and Alexandra Palace), you’ll receive a complimentary ticket to return another time within the following three months.
The View from The Shard is generally open every day of the year, with the following times:
Hours may vary during holidays and special events. During the Christmas period and summer, opening hours are often extended to accommodate more visitors.
A standard visit to The View from The Shard typically lasts 1-1.5 hours. This includes time for security checks at entry, the multimedia experience on the ground floor, lift ascent and time spent on the observation platforms on floors 69 and 72.
There’s no time limit for staying on the observation platform once inside, so you can remain as long as you wish until closing time. Many visitors spend 30 to 45 minutes on the platforms themselves, admiring views from different angles and using the interactive telescopes.
For those wishing to visit The Shard’s restaurants, allow additional time. A lunch or dinner at one of the restaurants may take around 1.5-2 hours, whilst a bar drink may require 30 to 60 minutes.
The best time to visit The View from The Shard depends on the experience you desire.
For the best photographs and optimal visibility, early morning hours (10:00-12:00) typically offer the clearest light and least haze, especially on sunny days.
To see London in both daylight and darkness in a single visit, book entry about an hour before sunset, particularly in winter when days are shorter. This way you can admire the city in daylight, witness the evocative sunset and watch London gradually illuminate as night falls.
The “Sunset Experience” is particularly popular, so these slots tend to sell out quickly, especially at weekends and during summer. It’s advisable to book several weeks in advance for these slots.
For a less crowded visit, opt for weekdays rather than weekends, and avoid peak tourist seasons such as July-August and Christmas holidays. Early morning and evening visits during the week (after 19:00) tend to be the least crowded.
The Shard hosts numerous special events throughout the year, offering unique experiences that go beyond a simple visit to the observation deck.
One of the most popular events is the “Silent Disco”, held regularly on the 72nd-floor observation deck. During these events, participants wear wireless headphones through which they can listen to different music channels whilst dancing with panoramic views of illuminated London. The surreal atmosphere of seeing dozens of people dancing in apparent silence, almost 300 metres above the ground, with the glittering city all around, creates a truly unique experience.
For wellness enthusiasts, “Yoga in the Sky” sessions offer the opportunity to practice yoga at sunrise on the 69th-floor observation deck, guided by professional instructors. The experience includes a 50-minute yoga session followed by free time to enjoy the views and a healthy smoothie. Sessions are generally held at weekends, with varying times depending on the season to coincide with sunrise.
Throughout the year, The Shard organises special events linked to seasons and celebrations. At Christmas, the deck is decorated thematically and special events such as carol concerts and children’s storytelling sessions are organised. At Valentine’s Day, romantic packages are offered with champagne and chocolates. During Halloween, themed events with spectral decorations and live performances create an eerie atmosphere 300 metres above ground.
For New Year’s Eve, The View from The Shard hosts one of London’s most exclusive parties, with a privileged view of fireworks over the Thames. This event is particularly in demand and tickets sell out months in advance.
The Shard is located in the heart of London, in the Southwark district on the south bank of the Thames, and is easily accessible by various means of transport.
The most convenient way to reach The Shard is by using London Underground. The nearest station is London Bridge, served by the Jubilee Line and the Northern Line (Bank branch). The Shard is less than a minute’s walk from the station exit and is visible as soon as you emerge.
Several London bus routes stop near The Shard:
Yes, it is highly advisable to book tickets in advance, especially during peak season (summer, weekends and holidays). Booking online not only guarantees availability for your desired date and time, but also offers significantly lower prices compared to purchasing at the ticket office.
During busy periods, the most popular time slots (such as sunset) can sell out weeks in advance.
The Shard does not offer a luggage storage service for The View visitors. If you have bulky luggage, we recommend using the luggage storage services available at London Bridge Station or other nearby facilities such as Luggage Hero or Stasher, which offer secure storage points at reasonable rates.
Strict security checks similar to airport security are in place at The Shard’s entrance, with metal detectors and bag scanning. During periods of heightened alert, additional security measures may be implemented that could result in longer entry times.
Photography for personal use is not only permitted but encouraged throughout The View from The Shard. There are no restrictions on flash use, and numerous ideal photo spots are indicated by staff. Selfie sticks are allowed, but should be used carefully to avoid disturbing other visitors.
The View from The Shard is an attraction suitable for visitors of all ages, including children. Children under 4 enter free. To make the experience more engaging for younger visitors, height-adjustable interactive digital telescopes are available, and a free app with educational games can be downloaded. The entire observation deck is accessible with pushchairs, and baby-changing facilities are available in the toilets.
The Shard is fully accessible for visitors with reduced mobility. All levels of the observation deck are accessible by lift, and ramps are available where needed. Wheelchair users can access all public spaces, and digital telescopes are positioned at various heights for use by everyone.
Guide dogs are admitted, and tactile maps and Braille information are available for visitors with visual impairments. Companions of people with disabilities receive free entry (documentation required).
On the observation deck there is a bar serving champagne, wines, cocktails and soft drinks, as well as some light snacks. There is no restaurant within The View itself, but the building houses several high-end restaurants on the lower floors (31-33), such as Aqua Shard, Oblix and Hutong, which require separate bookings.
It’s worth noting that a visit to these restaurants does not include access to the observation deck, which requires a separate ticket. However, many visitors choose to combine a meal at one of the restaurants with a visit to the deck for a complete experience.
The View from The Shard is included in the London Pass, which allows free entry to over 80 London attractions. It is also included in several other tourist passes such as the London Explorer Pass and the London City Pass. With these passes, advance booking of a time slot may still be necessary, especially during peak season.
The main difference is the height and experience: The View from The Shard (floors 68-72) offers the highest and most complete 360-degree view of the city, with access to both indoor spaces and the partially open-air deck.
The restaurants (located on floors 31-33) offer a lower but still spectacular view, combined with a high-end dining experience. Visiting a restaurant can be a more economical way to enjoy a view from The Shard, especially if you opt for a cocktail at the bar or lunch menu, generally more affordable than the evening menu.
However, from the observation deck the view is undoubtedly more panoramic and complete.
The View from The Shard is open in any weather conditions. In case of rain or snow, the indoor part of the deck still offers a sheltered 360-degree view of the city.
When visibility is severely limited due to fog or dense haze, the “Weather Guarantee” applies: if you cannot see at least three of the five main landmarks (London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, One Canada Square and Alexandra Palace), you can return free of charge on another day within three months.
To activate this guarantee, you must inform staff on the day of your visit.
City Card allow you to save on public transport and / or on the entrances to the main tourist attractions.
Hotel 
Budget accommodations 
Apartments 
Family Hotel 
Luxury Hotel