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Bucket list experience:

Last updated: 06 November, 2022
Expert travel writer: Sarah Barrell

Towering 800 feet above ground level, the View from the Shard offers London’s most sky-scraping views. Step out onto the 72nd storey and feel the wind in your hair on the open-air Skydeck, with 360° bird’s eye views of London that reach for 40 miles. The viewing gallery on level 69 keeps the panorama behind glass but Renzo Piano’s daring design means views, from inside and out, remain just as impressive.

At almost twice the height of any other viewing platform in London, The View is by far the capital’s most vertiginous vantage point. It’s also home to London’s highest Champagne bar and special events that have included silent discos, yoga classes and concerts.

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Price from: £25
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 10+
When: All year around

Getting there & doing it

The Shard is just few minutes’ walk from London Bridge Underground Station (Northern and Jubilee lines) and London Bridge Station (Southern and South Eastern trains).

Tickets must be pre-booked, with a 15-minute grace period from the time printed on your ticket. Late arrivals beyond this time may incur re-booking fees. Some tickets allow re-booking if visibility is not good during your visit.

The View From The Shard has a full-service bar but no restaurant. There is no direct access to the viewing platforms from The Shard’s various restaurants, hotel, and cocktail bars.

When to do it

It’s open all year round, Wednesday to Sunday, usually from lunchtime until late. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

One Saturday a month, Weekend Warmup delivers a daytime DJ session with champagne, cocktails and those heady views. Other special events include the monthly Time Out London Silent Disco, and piano concerts.

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Skip the Line: The View from The Shard Direct Entry Ticket

Skip the Line: The View from The Shard Direct Entry Ticket

London

Nab your ticket to 'The View from The Shard' and experience one of the finest views that London has to offer. This incredible architectural ...

£32 | Rating 4.16 / 5 [954 ratings]

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Tour supplied by:

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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first

Shangri-La at the Shard

London, United Kingdom (UK)[0 miles]

Housed in London’s newest landmark, the Shangri-La offers the best views in town, along with fine dining, innovative cocktails and a lofty infinity pool.

Official star rating:

CitizenM Tower of London

London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.9 miles]

An affordable design hotel overlooking the Tower of London, with pod-style rooms and a hip bar and restaurant.

Official star rating:

Sea Containers London

London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.5 miles]

Right on the Thames, with views of St Pauls across the water, this cleverly-converted former shipping office has become one of the capital’s grandest and most glam hotels.

Official star rating:

Batty Langley’s

London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.9 miles]

An elegantly eccentric Georgian period piece on the edge of the City of London, with decadent rooms and an under-the-radar vibe.

Official star rating:

Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

London

Greater London, United Kingdom (UK)

World-class culture, fashion, music, food and history – and a mind-boggling array of bucket list experiences – packed into one extraordinary, incomparable destination. 

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Best for ages: 13+ | £10 | 1-3 hours

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