THE SHARD

My fear of heights has never stopped me from exploring new places. As a true blogaholic, I’m determined to do anything to get the right shot, even if it means walking along a treetop walkway in Kew Gardens, climbing on top of the mountains to admire the tallest waterfalls in Germany or visit the The Shard skyscraper in London Bridge which happens to be the tallest building in Western Europe at the moment.

The View from the Shard opened in early 2013 and has not ceased to amaze its visitors ever since. The visit starts from the ground floor where curious guests like myself are shown footage from well-known and less famous London landmarks, famous Londoners and quotes about life in the UK capital. The next step is to take a high-speed lift ride all the way up to the 68th floor, two different elevator rides actually take last in total about a minute. 

The views from the 68th floor are impressive and there are several digital telescopes, the so-called “Tell:scopes” through which you can admire famous London landmarks. Once you feel you have sufficiently explored the city, take the stairs to reach the 69th floor and the open air viewing gallery of the 72nd floor. The 310m skyscraper, twice as high as any other platform in London, offers 360-degree breathtaking views across the city, weather permitting of course! No visit to the Shard is complete without going up there.

Having said all that, the unique views over London’s skyline come at a price and it’s not a cheap one! My tip? Make sure to book in advance to avoid the occasional queues, enjoy your visit at ease (you can stay as long as you want) and then explore the nearby Borough Market. 

INFO

Address: Joiner Street, SE1 9EX London, UK

Telephone: +44 844 4997111

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