The Shard | London

Information

Landmark: The Shard
City: London
Country: United Kingdom
Continent: Europe

The Shard, London, United Kingdom, Europe

The Shard, also known as the Shard of Glass, is a 72-story skyscraper in Southwark, London. It is the tallest building in the United Kingdom.

Visual Characteristics

A pyramid-shaped Neo-futurist tower clad entirely in 11,000 panes of glass. The structure features "shards" of glass that do not touch at the top, allowing the building to "breathe" and creating an open spire. The glass reflects the changing colors and light of the London sky.

Location & Access Logistics

Address: 32 London Bridge St, London SE1 9SG, UK.

Transit: Directly above London Bridge station (Northern and Jubilee lines; National Rail).

Hours (The View from The Shard): Generally 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Daily).

Admission: Entry to the observation deck is approximately £28.00–£37.00. Entry to the building for hotel or restaurant guests is restricted to those with reservations.

Historical Origin

Designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano and developed by Sellar Property Group. Construction began in 2009 and the building was inaugurated in 2012. It replaced Southwark Towers, a 1970s office block.

Key Highlights & Activities

The View from The Shard: Observation decks on floors 68, 69, and 72 (the highest accessible point).

Level 72: An open-air gallery where visitors can see the exposed glass shards and hear the sounds of the city below.

Dining: Several high-end restaurants, including Aqua Shard, Oblix, and Hutong (floors 31–33).

Shangri-La Hotel: A luxury hotel occupying floors 34–52.

Infrastructure & Amenities

The Shard is a multi-use "vertical city" featuring offices, restaurants, a hotel, and private residences. It is fully wheelchair accessible with high-speed lifts. 5G signal is excellent. Public restrooms are located at the entrance and within the observation and dining levels.