đ  The Shard, London
đ Official Website
đ  Daily (bar & restaurant hours vary)
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An alternative way to get a view of London from the Shard.
There are two issues with the View From The Shard experience (the view of London from the top of the Shard â 310 metres above London).
1. The View.
From the 68th floor, 310 metres up, the view is sensational. On a good day, you can even see the arch of Wembley stadium. 9 miles away.
310 metres is high though.
And, occasionally, itâs just too high.
On cloudy days, the top of the Shard is in the clouds. And from up there, thatâs all youâll see. The inside of the cloud that you are standing in the middle of.
The operators of the Shard have a solution though. If you canât see at least 3 of 5 specific London sights (the London Eye, the âWalkie Talkieâ building, Tower Bridge, One Canada Square at Canary Wharf or St Paulâs Cathedral), then they will issue you a voucher for a free return visit at a later date.
Which is great.
If you live in/near London; will be staying in London for quite a while; or your plans allow for the extra time needed for a return visit.
2. The Cost.
The second issue is the cost of tickets. Theyâre not cheap. Tickets cost from ÂŁ32 upwards.
So, for two of you, and including your lunch (which you will have to buy somewhere), youâre looking at spending nearly ÂŁ100.
There is an alternative though.
A rather tasty alternative. And a London memory that you will cherish for a long time.
The alternative way to see London from the Shard?
Have lunch or dinner up there!
All of the Shardâs restaurants and bars are located about half way up the Shard. Well below any cloud cover.
And the ÂŁ100, that you would have spent anyway, will part-pay for a rather memorable lunch/dinner, with a sensational view of London, instead.
You can eat and drink at either:
GĆNG (cocktail bar): this stunning cocktail bar on the 52nd floor of the shard offers sky-high drinking and dining at Western Europeâs highest hotel bar;
TÄȘNG: (restaurant and lounge) a fusion of Asian cuisine with classic British gastronomy. And, being on the 35th floor, itâs the Shardâs highest dining option;
Sky Lounge (lounge bar): located within the Shangri-La The Shard hotel. An elegant and stylish lounge on the 34th floor;
Hutong (restaurant): the most amazing Northern Chinese food on the 33rd floor;
Oblix (restaurant): sophisticated casual dining on the 32nd floor; or
Aqua Shard (restaurant and bar): a contemporary British restaurant and bar on the 31st floor.
All will give you a very unique London experience that you will remember forever.
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The Shard is a near the route of the free, and step-free, London Thames DIY Walking Tour.
