Is the Observation Deck of the Shard Worth Visiting?
About the Shard - London's Tallest Building
I definitely feel that the Shard is worth a visit for any tourist visiting London. The Shard is located right in the center of historic London, across the street from the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. The observation deck of the Shard is often very crowded, and it is best to book ahead of time.
Visitors can purchase tickets in advance for the observation deck of the Shard for £28. If you purchase your ticket on the day of your visit, the price jumps to £37. If you’d like to add a river cruise on the historic River Thames, a combo ticket can be purchased for £38.
Standing at a height of 1,016 feet (309.6 meters), the Shard is the tallest building in the United Kingdom and the 6th tallest building in Europe. The other top five tallest buildings in Europe are all in Russia. Despite its European height ranking, the Shard does not crack the top 100 tallest buildings in the world.
Is it Worth Visiting the Observation Deck of the Shard - Table of Contents
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Is the Observation Deck of the Shard Worth Visiting?
Is the observation deck of the Shard worth visiting? Having been there, I can confidently say that I feel the observation deck of the Shard definitely is worth visiting.
The observation deck of the Shard features both an indoor viewing platform and an open-air Sky Deck on the 72nd floor. I always enjoy the open-air floors better as I feel like I can hear the sounds of the city below. The best thing about the observation deck was the windows. The 11,000 glass panel windows were at an angle that allowed me to get my camera right pressed up against it eliminating most of the glares. I spent over an hour slowly going from window to window trying to get the best pictures of Parliament, The London Eye, The Tower Bridge, The Tower of London, and other top tourist sights. I was even able to get some well-zoomed-in pictures of the famous double-decker buses and London taxis.
The indoor deck of the Shard was one of the nicest I’ve ever seen. Champaign was served as classical music played in the background. There was also a very nice gift shop which was surprisingly well-priced for being part of the Shard’s observation deck. The Shard definitely enhanced my visit to London.
Pictures from the Observation Deck of the Shard
Below are photos of some of my best pictures from the Shard. The observation deck of the Shard provides great views of the Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, the River Thames, the Palace of Westminster, Big Ben, the London Eye, HMS Belfast, and more.
London Tours that Include the Shard
To see the Shard a tour is not necessary. It is easy to reserve your own ticket and arrive via walking or the London Tube. Still, I know some people prefer to take a tour and be led around by an expert. Below, are three tours that feature the Shard.
I am an affiliate partner of Viator. If you book a tour using one of the links below I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I would greatly appreciate it if you would consider booking using one of my links.