Advertorial Feature
From 1st February, London’s newest and most eagerly awaited attraction The View from the Shard will be open to the public.
Offering 360 degree views across London, on a clear day visitors will be able to see for up to 40 miles from the panoramic viewing deck.
Visiting this iconic landmark should be on everyone’s to do list, and because it’s easy to find cheap hotels in London a trip to the capital doesn’t have to be an unrealistic idea.
Background
Situated in central London on Joiner Street, The Shard has completely redefined London’s skyline and will be a dynamic symbol of London, recognisable throughout the world.
Also referred to as the ‘Shard of Glass’, ‘Shard London Bridge’ and formerly ‘London Bridge Tower’, The Shard is the tallest building in Western Europe, measuring 310 metres (1,016 feet) tall.
Designed by master architect Renzo Piano, construction of the 95-storey skyscraper began in March 2009 and is now an irregular pyramid shape clad entirely in glass.
The View
Situated at the top of the 72 habitable floors, the Shard’s viewing gallery is the UK’s highest open-air observation deck, as well as being almost twice as tall as any other viewing platform in London, at a height of 245 metres (804 feet).
On arrival at ground floor level, you will see video screens and display panels showing digital maps of London and film footage of city life, before travelling skyward in two high-speed ‘kaleidoscopic’ lifts with music recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra and the Joyful Company of Singers, until, after just 30 seconds, you reach Level 68 and will be able to see the shards of glass that form the top of the skyscraper as they disappear up into the sky. In the viewing galleries, digital 'Tell:scopes' with large touch-screens will enable you to explore the city around you in real time, identifying famous landmarks and places of interest.
The experience will also include multimedia displays and tongue-in-cheek illustrations of famous Londoners past and present, including Margaret Thatcher and Karl Marx on a tandem and Vidal Sassoon and Vivienne Westwood giving Charles I a makeover.
Open from 9am to 10pm daily, visitors can experience the very different cityscapes of day and night, with no time restriction on their stay, so why not enjoy the views of London at your leisure and book into one of the capital’s many Travelodge hotels.