The View from The Shard is the paid viewing gallery on floors 68, 69 and 72 of The Shard, Western Europe's tallest building, beside London Bridge station. Ticket prices change with the day and time you choose, so the only reliable figure is the one the official booking page shows for your date; if you would rather not pay for entry, the restaurants and bars lower down the tower offer a view with a drink or a meal.
The Shard is the glass spire that rises 309.6 metres above Southwark, on the south bank of the Thames opposite the City. It was designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano for the developer Irvine Sellar, and its shape was inspired by church spires and the masts of tall ships. It is 95 storeys tall, and level 72 is the highest floor that people can use.
Inside, it works like a small vertical town. Offices fill levels 2 to 28, restaurants and bars occupy levels 31 to 33, the five-star Shangri-La hotel runs from level 34 to 52, and private flats sit between levels 53 and 65. Above all that is The View from The Shard, the public viewing gallery. Its official website is now theviewfromtheshard.com, separate from the building's own site.
The View from The Shard at a glance
- What you get
- Indoor viewing floors on levels 68 and 69, open-air skydeck on level 72, bars on 69 and 72, digital photo package
- Price
- Varies by day and time; child tickets from £10 in September 2026; under-4s free
- Opening hours
- Vary by day (for example 13:00-21:00 on 18 September 2026); last entry one hour before closing
- Time limit
- None: stay until closing time
- Bad weather
- View Guarantee: a free return voucher if you cannot see the key landmarks
- Entrance
- Joiner Street, SE1 9QU
- Nearest station
- London Bridge (Northern and Jubilee lines, National Rail), 2 minutes on foot
What you see from levels 68, 69 and 72
After security in the ticket hall at street level, lifts carry you up to the gallery. Levels 68 and 69 are indoor viewing floors, enclosed in glass, with the whole city laid out below. Level 69 has the champagne bar, which The View describes as the highest in London. Level 72, the top of the attraction, has a second bar.
Level 72 is the part most people remember. It is an open-air skydeck, partly open to the elements, and you can look up at the building's jagged glass tip rising above your head. It can be windy and noticeably colder than at street level, so bring a layer even in summer.
The Shard's owners say the view stretches up to 40 miles in every direction on a clear day. Closer in, you look straight down on Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and HMS Belfast, west along the curve of the Thames to the London Eye and Westminster, and east to the towers of Canary Wharf. Across the river, St Paul's Cathedral and the skyscrapers of the City, including the building known as the Walkie Talkie, look surprisingly close.
The view is quite different from the one on the London Eye. The wheel puts you beside Parliament at a much lower height; The Shard gives you the whole map of London at once, but Westminster is far away on the horizon.
Until 15 October 2026, the gallery also has a temporary art installation by the artist Mr Doodle, included with every ticket.
Tickets and how pricing works
The View from The Shard uses dynamic pricing: its FAQ says prices "vary depending on day and time of day selected". The only way to see the price for your visit is to enter a date on the official booking page. We were unable to confirm a current standard adult price from the official site in September 2026, so we do not quote one here.
A few things are clear from the official pages:
- Children under 4 go free with any adult ticket. Everyone aged 4 and over needs a ticket.
- Child tickets were advertised from £10 in September 2026.
- Walk-up tickets are sold on the day if there is space, but the attraction recommends booking in advance.
- Luxury packages are sold alongside standard admission and cost more.
- A disabled visitor's carer gets a free ticket on arrival at the Fast Track desk, with proof of disability.
Because the price changes by time slot, it pays to compare a few dates and times before you book, especially if you are flexible about when you go. If you arrive late, you can still enter up to 15 minutes after the time on your ticket; after that you may have to pay a rebooking fee.
Cloud on your visit day is not money lost. Every paid ticket includes the View Guarantee. If visibility is so poor that you cannot see at least three of the London Eye, the Walkie Talkie, Tower Bridge, One Canada Square and St Paul's, ask the Duty Manager for a free return voucher before you leave. It is valid for three months and must be claimed on the day.
The best time to go up
Opening times vary from day to day and are published on a calendar on the official site. On 18 September 2026, for example, the gallery was open from 13:00 to 21:00. Last entry is one hour before closing time, and the bars stop serving about 30 minutes before closing. Once inside, there is no time limit, which is the key to getting good value.
Our advice is to arrive about an hour before sunset. You see the city in daylight, watch the sun go down, and then see the lights come on across London, all on one ticket. The official site shows the sunset time for each day; on 18 September 2026 it was 19:08. In winter the sun sets much earlier, so an afternoon slot gives the same effect.
If you want the clearest photos, a bright day after rain is often best, when the air has been washed clean. Check the opening times calendar first, because some days open later or close early for events.
Beat the reflections on the Shard's glass. After dark, the lights inside the gallery reflect in the windows. Hold your phone or lens flat against the glass, or shade it with your hand or a dark jacket, to get a clean night shot. Tripods and monopods are not allowed.
Security, bags and what you can bring
You pass through a metal detector and your bags and coats are X-rayed before you go up. Large bags and backpacks bigger than 55 x 38 x 20 cm are not allowed, and there is no cloakroom to leave them in. Folded pushchairs can be left free in a designated area in the ticket hall, but bags and coats cannot be left with them. If you are travelling with luggage, drop it at your hotel first.
Only food and drink bought inside the attraction may be consumed in the gallery. The bars on levels 69 and 72 sell hot and cold drinks and snacks, but there are no meals, no afternoon tea and no table reservations at The View itself. Cameras and phones for personal use are welcome.
Accessibility
The View from The Shard says it is fully accessible from the ground floor to the open-air level 72, with accessible toilets on levels 1 and 68. There is no fixed seating on the viewing floors, but staff can provide a chair on request. Disabled guests and their carers do not need to queue at the Fast Track desk. Our guide to accessible London covers other attractions with good step-free access.
Cheaper ways to enjoy the view: the Shard's bars and restaurants
You do not need a ticket to The View to go up The Shard. The building has several restaurants and bars, each with its own entrance and booking system, and you pay only for what you eat or drink. The views are lower than from the gallery, but still far above anything else nearby.
| Venue | Level | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Aqua Shard | 31 | Contemporary British restaurant with a three-storey atrium bar |
| Oblix | 32 | Relaxed restaurant and bar, also serving afternoon tea |
| Hutong | 33 | Northern Chinese cuisine, based on the Hong Kong original |
| Sky Lounge | 34 | Lounge bar in the Shangri-La hotel |
| TĪNG | Shangri-La hotel | Lounge and restaurant, modern British food with an Asian twist |
| GŎNG | 52 | Cocktail bar in the Shangri-La hotel, for sundowners and late drinks |
Whether this is cheaper than a gallery ticket depends on what you order and on the ticket price for your time slot. For one or two people who were going to have a drink anyway, a cocktail with a view can replace a ticket. For a family with children, the gallery is usually the simpler choice, and children under 4 go free.
Before you go, check each venue's own website for opening hours, prices, dress codes and booking rules, because they change and a walk-in table is not guaranteed. Window tables are the ones everyone wants, so book ahead and ask for one. The main address for the restaurants and hotel is 32 London Bridge Street. For more high-level drinks elsewhere in the city, see our round-up of London's rooftop bars, and for a special occasion our guide to afternoon tea in London includes some options with a view.
A restaurant booking is not a ticket to level 72. The bars and restaurants are on levels 31 to 52 and are run separately from The View from The Shard. Eating in one of them does not give you access to the viewing gallery or the open-air skydeck.
The Shard, the London Eye or the free Sky Garden?
London has several high viewpoints, and each suits a different visitor. This comparison uses the official information available in September 2026.
| The View from The Shard | London Eye | Sky Garden | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Varies by time slot; check when booking | Adults from £29 online | Free, with a booked ticket |
| Height | Up to level 72, the UK's highest viewing gallery | 135 m wheel | Top of 20 Fenchurch Street |
| Time limit | None, until closing | One 30-minute rotation | One hour per time slot |
| Best for | The widest view and sunset | Close-up Westminster | Budget travellers who plan ahead |
The Sky Garden is the obvious free alternative, and it has a great view of The Shard itself, but free tickets are released weekly and go quickly. Our list of free viewpoints in London includes hills and parks that need no booking at all, and our tips on seeing London on a budget go further.
Getting to The Shard
The entrance and ticket office for The View from The Shard are on Joiner Street (SE1 9QU), directly beside London Bridge station. From the Underground (Northern and Jubilee lines), follow the signs for The Shard or Joiner Street. From the main-line station, turn left and go down the escalator to Joiner Street. The walk takes about two minutes.
Buses 43, 48, 141, 149 and 521 stop at the bus station outside London Bridge station. By river, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers stops at London Bridge City Pier, about five minutes' walk away; see our guide to the river bus for fares. There is no parking or drop-off at the attraction.
What to do nearby
The Shard stands at the heart of one of the best areas in London for food and walking. Borough Market, London's best-known food market, is a few minutes away, and the streets of Borough and Bermondsey are full of pubs, cafés and old warehouses.
Walk east along the river and you reach HMS Belfast and Tower Bridge, which you will have seen from above; cross it for the Tower of London. Walk west instead and the riverside path leads past Southwark Cathedral and Shakespeare's Globe to Tate Modern. If you are planning an evening visit, our guide to London after dark suggests what to do before and after.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to go up The Shard?
Prices for The View from The Shard vary by day and time slot, so check the official booking page for your date. In September 2026, child tickets were advertised from £10, and children under 4 go free with an adult ticket. Going up to one of the restaurants or bars costs only what you spend there.
How long can you stay at The View from The Shard?
There is no time limit. Once you are inside, you can stay as long as you like until closing time. Last entry is one hour before closing, and the bars stop serving about 30 minutes before closing.
What happens if it is cloudy when I visit The Shard?
All paid tickets include the View Guarantee. If you cannot see at least three of five named landmarks, such as Tower Bridge and St Paul's, the Duty Manager will give you a free return voucher, valid for three months. You must ask for it on the day, before leaving.
Can you visit The Shard for free?
There is no free access to the viewing gallery on levels 68 to 72. You can go up to the restaurants and bars without a gallery ticket, but you pay for food or drink. For a free view from a tall building, the Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street is the best option, with a booked ticket.
Which floors are the viewing platforms on in The Shard?
The View from The Shard is on levels 68 and 69, which are enclosed in glass, and level 72, which is an open-air skydeck. Level 72 is the highest floor visitors can reach in the building.
Sources
- The View from The Shard - Frequently asked questions (checked September 2026)
- The View from The Shard - Plan your visit and View Guarantee (checked September 2026)
- The View from The Shard - Opening times (checked September 2026)
- The View from The Shard - Your experience (checked September 2026)
- The Shard - About The Shard and Shard facts (checked September 2026)
- The Shard - Restaurants and bars (checked September 2026)
- Sky Garden - Booking (checked September 2026)