London The Shard Observatory Tickets and Tours: how to buy, prices and schedules
The Shard is the skyscraper that has changed London's skyline forever. Climb up to The View observation deck to enjoy the best views of the city from almost the very sky!
The Shard at sunset | ©Fred Moon
If you are attracted to strong emotions and you are not afraid of vertigo, on your next trip to London you can not miss what has become the latest tourist attraction in the city: the panoramic viewpoint The View.
Located in The Shard, the tallest building in Western Europe, it is, together with the famous London Eye, the best place to see London from above. Do you want to know how to get tickets? Read on!
London The Shard Tickets
The most convenient way to enjoy the best view of London
If you are planning your trip to London and want to make sure you have time to enjoy the most spectacular viewpoint in Europe, it is best to book your ticket online at the best price.
Taking into account that it is a very popular viewpoint in London, the best option to guarantee access on the day you want is to buy tickets for The Shard online in advance for 34 €. This way you will have direct access and you will also save some money by being a little cheaper than at the box office.
Since it opened its doors in 2012, the modern architecture of this 310-meter tall skyscraper has defined the city's skyline. Even if you haven't visited it yet, if you've walked around the London Bridge area you've probably been struck by its imposing height and its futuristic pyramidal design that contrasts with the surrounding landscape.
Its glass-covered exterior is a real marvel. When the sunlight reflects on The Shard gives the feeling that the skyscraper displays all its beauty to attract as if it were a spell, all eyes to its slender and pointed profile and step to all the curious inside.
Why I like this option: I am not exaggerating if I say that the viewpoint of The Shard is the one with the most amazing views of the British capital, even more than the London Eye because its height is almost twice that of the famous Ferris wheel.
Recommended if... you feel like visiting this architectural marvel without having to queue to get tickets at the door.
London Pass
The Tourist Card that opens the doors to London's most important attractions (including The Shard!)
If in addition to The Shard you plan to visit more than one museum, monument or attraction, it is very likely that you will save money compared to buying each of the tickets separately.
This tourist card gives you access to The View from The Shard and more than 80 attractions in the British capital, including admission to the sightseeing bus and the Thames river cruise. The London Pass is highly recommended for those travelers who want to see as many attractions as possible during their trip.
It is paid per day and with this pass on the one hand saves money (because you are not paying each entry individually) and on the other hand saves time as it puts you at the quick entrance of the main sites of interest in the city. In addition, it allows you to enjoy special offers in a lot of stores, restaurants, theaters and other entertainment venues in London.
If you want to know more about the London Pass, I advise you to take a look at the article The Best London Tourist Card where you will find all the detailed information.
Why I like this option: the London Pass will give you access not only to The View at The Shard but also to other must-see attractions in London. Do the math, because it will surely be economically worthwhile for you to buy this card.
Recommended if... you are planning to visit several attractions saving time and money during your trip.
What is The View from The Shard like?
If I had to describe it in a few words, this viewpoint is a must-see and absolutely thrilling experience. Being up there looking down on London and the Thames from the highest observatory in Western Europe is a blast. It gives the impression that time and the city stands still before our eyes.
It all starts when you reach the entrance of The Shard, in the neighborhood of London Bridge. When you look up from the ground you feel like an ant as you see how this colossus seems to have no end.
It gives you an idea of the magnificent views that await you at the top and the excitement builds. But let's not get ahead of ourselves, little by little.
The ultra-fast elevators of The Shards
At the time of access to The Shard you have to go through a security check as happens in airports and in just a few minutes the staff of the skyscraper guides you to the elevator that you must take to go up to The View. The complex has 44 elevators in total but there are 2 that lead to the spectacular views from the top.
As happens in other famous observatories such as Top of the Rock or The Edge in New York, the elevators of The Shard are also interactive because their walls are projected panoramic images of London that are an appetizer of what we will see in the viewpoint. With these ultra-fast elevators , in less than a minute I climbed 68 floors without even realizing it. Wow!
Entering The View
As the highest observatory in the city, without a doubt, The View offers the best aerial view of London.
It is divided into three floors, two of which are enclosed and an open terrace. Number 69 is a glazed floor that offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the British capital. At such a height, everything can be seen as if it were a toy model: St. Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, the River Thames, Town Hall, the Gherkin and the London Eye, among many other sites.
The truth is that here you spend a very entertaining time scanning the landscape of the city to identify its tourist attractions one by one.
In addition, on this floor are the digital telescopes with touch screens "tell:scopes" that allow you to see the city both day and night zooming and receiving real-time information from the main attractions of London to understand its past and present.
The View's pinnacle
But, if you ask me, for me the experience goes up a notch when you reach the top of The View on the 72nd floor of the skyscraper. After ascending a short flight of stairs you'll reach The Shard's uncovered observation deck from where on a clear day you'll have stunning panoramic views of up to 40 miles around.
The feeling you get here is that of standing on the edge of a cliff while you feel the impact of the air on your face. Everything seems small and immense at the same time! Adrenaline rushes and it is inevitable that your skin will crawl if you have respect for heights. The occasion is worth it, so take advantage of the moment to take all the videos and selfies you want of the visit.
If you like strong emotions, I promise you that seeing London at your feet from The Shard, hundreds of meters high, is a very exciting feeling that you will not forget.
The perfect finale to a visit to The View
As it's not every day you get to know a place as spectacular as this, we felt like spending more time at The Shard enjoying the atmosphere and we took advantage of the visit to have a drink at the observation deck bar (there is a bar on the 69th and 72nd floors) as the entrance includes a glass of Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut champagne if you select this option in the reservation.
Since the prices on the menu are not very cheap, I recommend you choose this option if you don't want to pay too much for a drink. Having a drink up there with those wonderful views is an excellent end to the visit, isn't it?
What is the best time of day to visit The Shard?
I would almost say that the experience at The Shard depends more on the weather in London than the time, as on a sunny day you will see more of the city than on a rainy one, but really the views at The View are mind-blowing at any time of the day.
However, my favorite time is at sunset. Watching the sun set over London and the River Thames as the lights of the city slowly illuminate is unparalleled - it's a magical feeling!
One of the most beautiful experiences you will live during your trip and I highly recommend it.
Isabel's Traveler Tip
On a clear day you will be able to see for 40 miles around. Look closely and you will even see the Houses of Parliament.
What are the opening hours of The Shard observation deck?
- Thursday to Saturday open from 10 AM to 10 PM (access until 08:30 PM).
- Sunday to Wednesday open from 10 AM to 7 PM (access until 05:30 PM).
- Closed on December 25.
How long does it take to see The Shard?
The duration of the visit is approximately 1 hour. You can take advantage of the first 45 minutes to enjoy the view from the lookout point and reserve the remaining time to relax at The View bar while sipping a glass of champagne.
Isabel's Traveler Tip
Saturdays and Sundays are the days that The Shard receives more visitors so if you want to visit it on the weekend, I advise you to go early to confirm your preferred visiting hours.
How do I get to The Shard?
The Shard is located in the historic district of London Bridge, close to such interesting places as the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the modern Town Hall, The Borough Market or the HMS Belfast. In the surrounding area you will also find many trendy restaurants and bars to stop by after your visit to the skyscraper.
There are several ways to get to The Shard:
- Subway: Northern and Jubilee lines at London Bridge Underground Station.
- Bus: Lines 43, 48, 141, 149 and 521.
- Train: Southern and South Eastern trains at London Bridge Station.
Getting to know The Shard: a bit of history
In 2012, the modern architecture of the prestigious Renzo Piano (designer of the famed Pompidou Centre in Paris together with Richard Rogers) changed the London skyline forever and a few years have been enough for it to become one of the icons of the British capital.
The Shard was born with the idea of being a vertical city where "people could work, live and relax". That is why this 87-story skyscraper has offices (floors 3-28), restaurants (31-33), the Shangri-La hotel (34-52), several private apartments (53-65), the viewpoint The View (68-72) and the spire (73-87) open at the tip through which the building "breathes" and releases the heat generated inside.
The Shard was built with an ecological vocation. No less than 95% of the materials used in its construction are recycled, and the enormous glass window that covers the entire skyscraper was designed with photovoltaic panels that make it possible to take advantage of sunlight and reduce energy consumption emissions.
But Renzo Piano's project not only sought to erect the tallest skyscraper in Western Europe, but also to regenerate the London Bridge area, one of the city's busiest railroad stations.
Its entrance was renovated and it now houses a shopping arcade called The Retail Arcade managed by The Shard. It has a little bit of everything: from clothing, perfume and cosmetics stores to hairdressers and barbers, as well as several cafes where you can have a snack.
You can take advantage of the visit to the viewpoint The View from The Shard and then take a stroll through the mall and do some shopping. Maybe you'll find the perfect souvenir you were looking for.
Did you know?
Before Moscow's Mercury City Tower (339 meters) was built, The Shard skyscraper (310 meters) held the record for the tallest building in Europe.
Other breathtaking sights in London
If you are one of those travelers who love to enjoy London from above, another must-see is The London Eye, which was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world at the beginning of the 21st century until it was overtaken by the Nachang Star (China) and the Singapore Flyer (Singapore) later on.
The London Eye is a panoramic rotating observatory (360º) and an icon of the British capital. You will find it in the heart of London, in the Riverside Building in County Hall Westminster Bridge Road.
Go prepared with your camera because from here you will take spectacular pictures of Big Ben, St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey or Buckingham Palace that you can add to your collection of the London skyline that you start in The Shard.
If you want to know how to get on the most famous Ferris wheel in the world, I recommend you take a look at the article Tickets for the London Eye where you will learn how to get the cheapest tickets with priority access.