In a nutshell
- Visiting The Shard is absolutely worthwhile – from the highest spot in the city, you’ll enjoy one of the most spectacular views over London.
- Online tickets for The Shard start at £22 and go up to £32.
- Entry is included with a number of London passes.
- If you’re feeling indulgent, stay at the Shangri‑La at The Shard – a dream address for a treat-yourself moment.
The Shard: 7 Exciting Facts
The Shard is fascinating — here are seven cool facts that make it even more special:
- It reaches up to 310 metres tall, making it one of the tallest buildings in Europe.
- There are around 11,000 glass panels — that’s about the surface of eight football pitches.
- On September 4, 2022, a daring young climber — just 21 years old — scaled the tower without any safety gear.
- Some of the upper floors are luxury apartments, worth up to £50 million each.
- During construction, a fox was discovered on the 72nd floor. The crane operators named him “Romeo.”
- It reportedly cost more than 1 billion pounds to build.
- Believe it or not, there’s a viewpoint over London even from the bathroom.
Tickets and Prices for The Shard
Booking entry to The Shard is thankfully simpler than it seems. Tickets start regularly at £22 online, but if you buy on-site, the price goes up to £32. Kids under three enter for free. When you book, make sure to select your preferred time slot.
We strongly recommend booking your ticket online ahead of time. You’ll save money and — more importantly — secure your spot, especially on busy weekends.
There are two main ways to get your tickets:
- Through the official view from The Shard website
- Via Tiqets — we find their booking process more intuitive and faster
Get your The Shard ticket here
Is The Shard Included in a London Pass?
If you’ve already got one of the London passes, you might be in luck: according to Go City / London Pass info, The Shard is included in several of their packages.
At the moment, The Shard is covered by both the London Explorer Pass and the All‑Inclusive Pass.
Location: How to Get to The Shard
The Shard sits in the Southwark area of central London, right next to London Bridge.
The address is:
32 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9SG
Borough Market is just around the corner, and from The Shard you can easily walk along the Thames to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London in about 15–20 minutes.
Getting here by Tube
The closest Tube stop is London Bridge. It’s served by:
- Jubilee Line
- Northern Line
- and National Rail services
From there, it’s just a couple of minutes’ walk to the entrance.
Arrival by bus
Several bus lines stop near London Bridge station:
- 17, 21, 35, 43, 47, 133, 141, 149, 344, 388
- and night buses N21, N133, N199, N343, N381
You can also take a London hop-on hop-off bus — all providers stop here, since The Shard is one of London’s must-see sights.
Getting there by boat
The London Bridge City Pier is right next to The Shard — this is where the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers stops.
Parking at The Shard
There’s no parking directly at The Shard. But nearby options include:
- Q‑Park Tower Bridge
- The Circle Car Park
Both are only a few minutes’ walk away, but they charge around £5 per hour. Public transport is a much more convenient option in this area.
Review: Our Visit to The Shard
Wondering if visiting The Shard is worth it and what the experience is really like? Here’s our firsthand report from London’s tallest skyscraper.
How to visit The Shard
You join the queue for your reserved timeslot. Once your ticket is scanned, you pass through security. Food and drinks aren’t allowed, except for small snacks like muesli bars.
Next, it’s up the elevators: the first one takes you to the 33rd floor, the second to the 68th. The ride only takes a few seconds. A few more stairs lead you to the covered viewing platform on the 69th floor and the outdoor viewing deck on the 72nd.
There’s no time limit — you can stay up as long as you like. You’ll also find a bar serving champagne and cocktails, though it’s not cheap.
What can you see from London’s highest viewpoint?
The View from The Shard sits right across from the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, offering an incredible perspective. You can also spot many other London landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye, and the sightseeing boats on the Thames.
On a clear day, visibility can reach up to 68 kilometres (42 miles) — mind-blowing!
Is a visit to The Shard worth it?
In our opinion, absolutely. The view beats the London Eye, and tickets are cheaper. If you have to choose between the two, we’d definitely go with The Shard.
Plus, Borough Market — one of London’s favorite markets — is just steps away. You can easily combine both in a single day.
Our tip: The only thing that can ruin the view is typical English rain. Always check the forecast before booking.
Spend the Night in The Shard: The Shangri-La Hotel
If you’re celebrating a special occasion or just want to treat yourself, you can stay inside London’s tallest building. The 5-star luxury Shangri-La Hotel offers suites on floors 34 to 51 with unbeatable views over London — a real dream.
All rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows. There are three gourmet restaurants and bars, and our favourite feature: the infinity sky pool on the 52nd floor. Another fun detail — the suites are equipped with binoculars for spotting the city.