The View from The Shard

What to expect

The Shard is a glass skyscraper by the architect Renzo Piano, next to London Bridge station in Southwark. It is about 310 m tall, with 95 storeys, and was inaugurated in 2012. The public viewing platform, the View from The Shard, opened in 2013. The tower is mixed-use and also holds offices, restaurants, a hotel and apartments, and its angled glass panes reflect the sky so it changes with the weather.

The viewing platform is on floors 68 to 72, with an enclosed gallery and an open-air level on the top floor. You go up by lift, then walk around the platform looking over the Thames, Tower Bridge and the City. Clear days give the best views. Allow about an hour for the visit.

Don't miss

• Tower Bridge and the Thames from above
• The open-air level at the top
• The City of London skyline
• St Paul's Cathedral in the distance
• The glass facade of the tower from the street

Tips for your visit

• Book a timed ticket online ahead and choose a clear day.
• Go about an hour before sunset to see the city in daylight and as the lights come on.
• Low cloud limits the view, so pick a clear day if you can.
• Combine it with Borough Market and Tower Bridge, both within walking distance.