Visit The Shard in London: tickets, prices, schedules

You're leaving for London? To have a breathtaking view of the city, you must visit The Shard! Tickets, rates, schedules, tips... You'll know everything!

City of London is impressive by the number of activities and visits we can do. One of the must-sees of the Old Smoke to have an incredible view: The Shard, located in the district Southwark , on the south shore of the Tamise . This glass building, inaugurated in 2012, is the highest in the European Union with its almost three hundred and ten meters. This skyscraper offers a view of three hundred and sixty degrees on the city, about sixty-five kilometers. Today it is visited by more than one million people a year!

History of Shard

The Shard is the work of an Italian architect called Renzo Piano. The building is inaugurated in 2012, under the name The London Bridge Tower . It was announced to be one of the highest in the world, but was delisted in the same year by the Mercury City Tour in Moscow (more than three hundred thirty-eight meters high). Ultimately, it will be renamed The Shard , which means the brilliance... or the glass sound.

There are two interpretations:

• this name was given in tribute to its incredible glass façade;
• it follows the differences of opinion regarding this modern architectural construction. The refractories point this skyscraper that resembles a glass torn the London horizon. Let's mention that this version seems to be the right one!

The Shard opened its doors to visitors in early February 2013. It comprises eighty-seven floors, of which seventy-two are usable.

• From the third to the twenty-eighth floor: they are offices.
• The floors thirty and one, thirty-two and thirty-three are occupied by bars and restaurants! Very important: you can do it have access without paying the entrance for The View from The Shard.
• The Shangri-La luxury hotel covers the floors of the number thirty-four to fifty-two.
• Ten apartments then occupy the floors until the sixty-fifth. Each apartment spreads over the entire floor that is dedicated to it and represents an investment between £30 and £50 million.
• Finally, there is The View from The Shard, that is also referred to as a window. It offers breathtaking panoramic views of London.

Book your room at Shangri-La in London

The facade has more than eleven thousand glass panels, covering nearly fifty-six thousand square meters of surface. Thus, the building received the award of the Emporis Skyscraper Award in 2013. This one rewards the most remarkable skyscraper of the year.

What to see and do at Shard London?

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard,

This is spread over different levels:

• the sixty-eighth floor: you will find a souvenir shop.
• the sixty-ninth floor: it is the main observation post. There is a bar, if you want to drink a drink or eat a snack. You also have free access to interactive telescopes.
• the seventy-second floor: it allows you to access the outdoor terrace, open-air.

You have the option of taking an audioguide (in French and in nine other languages). The appliances are available on the first floor of the building.

The elevator Shard

The elevator Shard is of incredible speed: it rises more than six meters per second.

The highest toilet in London

It is a space that especially pleases visitors — not for its usefulness, but by the fact that the toilets of the Shard They also offer stunning views of London!

How to go to Shard London (transports, plans, visiting senses, access,...)?

To visit The Shard , nothing complicated : it is located in one of the most touristic places in London! You will find nearby the Tower Bridge , the City Hall of London, the HMS Belfast and, on the other side of the Thames, the Tower of London.

By metro

• Northern Line — London Bridge Stop
• Line Jubilee — Stop London Bridge

By bus

Many lines serve the area of this skyscraper, such as line 43, 48, 141, 149 and 521.

By ferry

If you are on the other side of the Thames, just take the Tower Hill Pier ferry to reach the London Bridge City Pier. Only five minutes on foot to visit The Shard !

Schedules and Tariffs Shard

The Shard is open every day of the week. Like most cheap London attractions, the fare may seem a little high. But the breathtaking view is worth it!

Hours

To visit The Shard , schedules vary depending on the season. The skyscraper is closed on 25 December.

• Summer hours (at the end of March to the end of October): from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (last admission at 9 p.m.);
• Winter times (from end of October to end of March);
• Monday to Wednesday and Sunday: from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (last admission 17:30);
• Thursday to Saturday: from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (last admission 20:30).

Rates

The rates indicated are those of the London Tourist Office. Children under three years of age free access to The View from The Shard. Each ticket allows you to enter Shard during the selected day. So you can go there whenever you want! On the other hand, you can't go out and go back.

• Full price (+ 16 years old): £27.00
• Child/youth rate (4-15 years old): £21.00
• Family rate (2 adults/2 children or 3 adults/1 children): £84.15

On other sites, it is also possible to reserve a cup of champagne for adults, at a surcharge of about 10 euros.