Mudpie Fridays >> London >> Visiting the Shard – Read this before you go

Visiting the Shard – Read this before you go

Visiting The Shard. The shard is the tallest building in London and the fourth tallest building in Western Europe reaching 306m. So unsurprisingly is a bit of a tourist trap with many people opting to visit to see 360-degree views of London. We have been planning on visiting the view of the Shard for several years, however, for one reason or another, we never quite made it. Until last weekend when we took the boys up after spending the weekend in London. After all the hype, I wasn’t sure what to expect and although there are spectacular views, there isn’t really much to visiting The Shard. Bearing this in mind, I thought I’d write a post to help those that are planning on visiting The Shard with some tips to make more of your visit.

Visiting The Shard Tips

If you have any questions not covered here then let me know in the comments below.

Table of Contents

How to get to The Shard

The best way to get to the Shard is by public transport. The Shard is located directly next to London Bridge Station and you can see it from the trains. I use to work in London and so often caught a glimpse of it most days. One of Harry’s favourite things to do while at The View from the Shard was to look down on the trains coming in and out of London Bridge as they snaked around below us.

London Bridge underground station is serviced by both the Jubilee Lines and the Northern Line and therefore it’s reasonably accessible from all parts of London. On our visit, to The Shard, we also went to the Sky Garden and so walked 20 minutes from the city across London Bridge and to The Shard. If you’re interested in comparing the two I did write about it – Visiting the Shard or the Sky Garden.

As we walked across the bridge the way the light was shining on the building made it look as though there was smoke coming out the top of the Shard. I had not noticed it before and as we walked closer it simply disappeared. It must have been something to do with the angle. Another top tip for visiting the Shard by walking across London Bridge is you can stop and pose for photos in front of Tower Bridge. The entrance is signposted and just to the right as you exit London Bridge mainline station by the taxi rank.

How much does it cost to visit The Shard London?

There are lots of options for booking tickets to visit the Shard. We had some Virgin experience vouchers that we had been given which cost £112 for four people. This included a free digital package. However, it did mean that we needed to book online using the voucher booking system.

You can book Shard tickets directly on the shard website which cost either £28 or £32 per person. Including children! If we had not been given a voucher I am not sure I would have paid that amount if I am honest. It is a little bit eye-watering when you consider the cost of other attractions in the city. The £28 ticket price is valid if purchased in advance. £32 is if you buy a ticket on the same day or at the Shard.

It is recommended to book tickets in advance to ensure you get the day and time slot you want. Tickets are available 12 months in advance on the website. The opening hours of The View at The Shard are standard throughout the year. Unless there is a special occasion on and the floors have been booked. The first slot in the morning is 10 am and the last slot is at 9 pm. I would like to visit again in the evening to see the amazing views of London all lit up. I can imagine it is a very different experience.

When is the best time to visit The Shard London?

When we arrived we walked straight in and there wasn’t a queue. There is room for queuing outside as well as inside. There was a really small queue at the security scanner. Which probably took less than five minutes. And then we got straight into a lift without needing to queue any further. Our tickets were timed for 2 pm and we arrived around 1.45 pm on a Sunday. I was pleasantly surprised.

As everything we had read suggested early morning tickets were the best option at weekends. Maybe it was because it was over lunchtime. When we left around 2.45 pm that there were much bigger queues For the afternoon slots.

Arriving at The Shard London

At the entrance, we were given a panoramic views leaflet showing the whole skyline of central London. Pointing out twenty-odd buildings and things that you should look for on London’s skyline. I did notice that these had £2 written on the back so I’m assuming at some point they did charge. However, we were given them for free.

Before we boarded the lifts we had some photos taken and were given a card with a code on it. This allowed us to download the pictures with various Shard-inspired backgrounds. If you want to pay you can have the photos printed and put into a souvenir book. Or have magnets and keyrings made.

Going up…. The View at The Shard

You need to take two lifts to the top floors of the Shard. Before entering the first lift, you will need to go through a security check which is effectively the same as when you board a plane. We did not find the queues here too bad at all. As they have two separate security lines. From here you follow a short walkway to the first lift. Greeted by a rather enthusiastic lady she explained that the lifts are automatic. And that we can watch a time-lapse of the view from the Shard over 24 hours above our heads.

The first list only goes halfway. Then you are transferred to another lift. Again there is a member of staff on hand to help if needed.

What is there to do at the top of The Shard?

The second lift takes you to the observation deck on floor 68 where you can step out into a fully enclosed area to a view across London and the river Thames. With floor-to-ceiling windows. The first thing you will see is a lady selling a glass of champagne. If a glass of Moët & Chandon is not your thing, then there are also two bars, selling soft drinks and cocktails as well as many different alcoholic beverages. You can either order at the bar, or there are some small tables surrounding the viewpoints with QR codes which you can scan for table service.

From the 68th floor, you take four sets of stairs, and up to the 72nd floor where you are right at the top of the building. The level is partly enclosed and partly not enclosed because of the design of the building. The open-air Skydeck has glass all the way around. On level 72, there is some seating and a red telephone box to pose for photos. Despite being out in the open air it did not feel cold at all.

On the same floor, they also run talks at set times within a day. Someone will tell you various stories about London and point out specific landmarks.

We found taking photos on level 72 easier. I’m not sure if it is because the glass panels are cleaner. Or it was just where the light has changed slightly.

You should be able to see Canary Wharf, Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. On a very clear day, you can even see Windsor Castle.

Gift Shop

When you come back down again the exit is through the gift shop. Which had some small pocket money toys, which was nice to see. As it meant the boys could have a small souvenir that only cost a couple of pounds. Outside of that, it was the normal metal-inspired cast models. Similar to that that you would find at the base of the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de Triomphe.

How long do you need at The Shard?

We were very lucky and managed to get into the Shard and up to the top floor within a matter of 10 minutes. Not needing to queue long to leave either, and so in total, we were probably there for around 45 minutes.

We did not stop for a drink and we only caught the end of the talk. I did not see anywhere advertised telling you when they were taking place on the viewing deck. Or what they were covering. Instead, they are announced over the tannoy. However, had we stayed for both of these it would have lengthened our visit significantly. Most of our time we spent looking at the unparalleled 360-degree views.

Top tips for visiting The View The Shard

There is no dress code to go to the indoor viewing platforms
It is one of London’s top tourist attractions. Aim for tickets that are either early in the morning or around lunchtime period to avoid the long queues where possible. We visited at 2 pm on a Sunday and did not need to queue at all.
There is no time restriction so if you do visit during a busy period you can if able, wait it out to make sure you see everything you want to.
If tickets have sold out online for the date and time you want then it may be worth checking local tours to see if you can get a ticket that way. As many tour companies will buy up large numbers of tickets, especially during peak times. So you may still be able to visit when you want to.
During peak times sunset can be extremely busy and it can take a significant time to pass through security.
You cannot take drinks or food into The View The Shard. But if you are looking for something to eat. Then a tip for visiting the shard, I would suggest going across the road to the borough market where there is plenty of street food, and a myriad of little restaurants and food stalls.
And more
Our tickets came with a weather guarantee which means that if the visibility wasn’t very good due to bad weather we could have returned within three months to try again. It is based on whether or not you can see some of the key iconic buildings in the London skyline such as the London Eye from the viewing gallery. We were really lucky and had a lovely clear day. But it is useful to know since you have to book in advance and you do not know what it will be like on the day of your visit.
If you want to visit the Shard for free then you can book a table or stop for a drink at one of the seven different restaurants and bars on offer. Although none are at the top you can reach floor 31 in the restaurant Aqua Shard, The Sky Lounge (part of the Shangri-la Hotel) on level 34 and GONG cocktail bar on level 54. There is also the opportunity for afternoon tea.