The View from The Shard Tickets London

The Shard at London Bridge

The Shard is a glass pyramid-shaped skyscraper designed by the architect Renzo Piano, and it stands 310 metres (1,016 feet) tall beside London Bridge station. It opened to visitors in 2013 and is the tallest building in the United Kingdom. Its sculpted glass facets tilt inwards without meeting at the top, which gives it a distinctive shape from every angle.

The viewing gallery is reached by high-speed lifts from the ground floor. Because it sits at the centre of London's transport network, The View from The Shard tickets are popular with first-time visitors: the entrance is a short walk from London Bridge station on the Tube and national rail.

The 72nd floor and the open-air platform

The highest levels are on the 72nd floor, the highest viewing platform in Western Europe. The gallery has a partly open-air section where you can feel the wind and look up at the glass points that form the top of the building. On a clear day the visibility reaches up to 40 miles, and the 360-degree view means you can turn slowly and see every side of the city.

Your ticket has no time limit inside once you enter, so you can spend as long as you like. Many people ask about the best time to visit The View from The Shard: clear weather matters most, and late afternoon gives the chance to see both daylight and the first lights of the evening.

What you can see: Tower Bridge, St Paul's and the Thames

From the top you see the River Thames curving through the city, with Tower Bridge and the Tower of London directly below you. St Paul's Cathedral, the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament and Canary Wharf all appear on the skyline, and interactive displays help you name each landmark.

Multimedia exhibits also tell parts of London's history, which makes the visit more informative than a simple lookout. If you are wondering whether The Shard is worth visiting, the combination of height, open space and clear identification of landmarks makes it one of the best introductions to the city for first-time visitors.

Planning your visit: time slots, weather and nearby sights

Your ticket is booked for a chosen time slot and valid on one day. Opening hours and the times available change by season and day, so choose from the slots shown in the booking panel. Souvenir photographs are on sale at the venue, but they are not part of the ticket.

After the visit you can walk to Borough Market for lunch, to HMS Belfast, or across Tower Bridge. Bring a light layer, since the open level is windy, and keep in mind that low cloud can reduce the view, so a bright day gives the best experience.