A trip up The Shard

The Shard (in London) is the tallest building in Europe and offers superb views from its viewing platform nearly 1000 feet up.  Getting up there is an adventure all it itself, but well worth it!

You need to pre-book a ticket, which you can do very easily online (you can turn up on the day and may get lucky if they are not overbooked, but you will pay extra).

You can choose the time you wish to visit and must turn up within half an hour of that time.

There are some restrictions on what you can bring with you – large pieces of luggage or equipment, for example, and open containers of food or drink.

Security is an important consideration, and you will go through a similar scanning procedure to that found at airports, though without any physical ‘pat down’. You are then photographed, although this has more to do with trying to sell you an expensive photograph when you leave than with any security consideration.

The lift takes you up 68 floors in two stages, the first taking you to floor 38 and the second the rest of the way to the top. Each lift takes less than half a minute, so if you are subject to ear-popping you will experiences some definite Rice Krispies moments!

Once you are at the top you can stay there as long as you like. The proprietors have worked out that the average stay is about half an hour, so they know that the space is unlikely to get overcrowded if they restrict the flow of new arrivals and allow departures to take place as and when people feel ready to go.

As a result, the atmosphere of the viewing platforms is relaxed and friendly. There are staff members there to help people identify what they can see and use the telescope devices that are provided, and there is also a bar.

You do not actually go to the very top of the building, as this would be difficult given that it comes to a sharp jagged point! There are actually three viewing floors, and from the topmost one (level 72) you can look up to see the steel framework of the very highest levels. It comes as a surprise to appreciate that level 72 is open to the sky on one side, which can provide a welcome cooling breeze on a hot afternoon. However, there is no chance of anyone being able to climb over the glass wall!

On the day of my visit the weather was fine and sunny but there were also clouds in the sky, which threw shadows over the landscape below. This meant that the view kept changing as you walked round, and you noticed things that you had missed earlier.

Taking photographs through glass can pose problems with sunlight glinting off the panes, but this did not cause too much difficulty.

The boast of the owners is that you can see up to 40 miles, but photos at this distance suffer from the effects of heat-haze and atmospheric pollution. Clearly, in poor weather the top of the Shard could be surrounded by low cloud or fog, but should this happen you will be offered a refund or an alternative date.

So when you have had enough it’s time to go back down in the lifts, an invitation to collect your photo, a quick visit to the gift shop, and away you go. I for one would quite happily make a return visit!

© John Welford