The Shard: a visitor's guide

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/architecture-design-blog/2013/jan/08/the-shard-visitors-guide

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<strong>So it's "the tallest building in Europe"?</strong>

Ish … Strictly speaking, it's now the tallest building in western Europe, at 309.6m, since Moscow's Mercury City tower overtook it last year – with a 29m advantage.

<strong>How does it compare to the world's highest observation decks?</strong>

With the highest deck on the 72nd floor at 244m, it's got a long way to go before it can compete globally. More than 30 public decks rise higher around the world: Dubai's Burj Khalifa; the vertiginous Canton Tower in Guangzhou, China; the Tokyo Skytree; and the CN Tower in Toronto all boast decks at around 450m. Even the Eiffel Tower beats the Shard, with a viewing platform at 276m.

<strong>What's inside?</strong>

Hailed as a "vertical city" by its architect, Renzo Piano, the bulk of the Shard is taken up by offices, up to the 28th floor, followed by three floors of restaurants – to be run by Hong Kong's Aqua Group and the founders of the Japanese restaurant chain Zuma, Arjun Waney and Rainer Becker, and open from April. Above this sits 18 floors of the five-star Shangri-La hotel (complete with a swimming pool on the 52nd floor), topped off by 10 apartments – each expected to fetch between £30m and £50m. At the top, occupying levels 68–72 is the public gallery, The View from the Shard.

<strong>How do I get a ticket?</strong>

To save the queuing scrum of most London attractions, The View from the Shard operates on a pre-booked timed ticket system – already on sale, you can book online here up to four months in advance, and print out your airport-style e-ticket at home. Billed as a "premium attraction", it comes at a premium price: £24.95 for adults and £18.95 for children (compared to a trip on the London Eye for £17.28, or the Emirates Air Line at only £3.20 on an Oyster card, and the Walkie-Talkie tower, which will be free when it opens at the end of 2014). Open daily from 9am to 10pm from 1 February, a limited number of "walk-up" tickets are also available on the day – at the increased price of £29.95 and £23.95.

<strong>How do I get there?</strong>

The Shard might be hard to miss, rising 300m above London Bridge station, but the entrance to the View is trickier to find – located in the brick vaulted passage of Joiner Street that threads its way beneath the station. Arriving by train or tube, you won't even have to go outside, and the exit deposits you back on the station concourse level after your visit. There is no dedicated cycle-parking and whatever you do, don't come by car: there are no parking or drop-off facilities.

<strong>What do I get for my money?</strong>

Anyone hoping for a "4D theatre experience" or other interactive distractions along the way will be disappointed. As the name of the attraction suggests, the main draw is the view, and it is rightly given centre stage. Elevators whisk you up to the 68th floor at six metres per second, where a triple-height viewing gallery offers a 360-degree panorama up to 40 miles across the city on a clear day. Digital telescopes provide extra information on what you're looking at, and you can feel the wind in your hair on the open-air 72nd floor. Visits are not timed, so once you get up there you can stay as long as you like – although there is nowhere to sit down. There is also a "sky boutique", and the best thing on offer is its cuddly toys of Romeo the fox (the dare-devil creature found living at the top of the Shard during construction).

<strong>Anything else?</strong>

Leave big bags at home – anything over 55 x 38 x 20cm will not be allowed in, and there is no cloakroom facility, although folded pushchairs can be left downstairs. Binoculars might be handy – there are 12 digital telescopes, but with 250 people in the galleries at any one time, you might be in for a wait. And remember to check the Met Office forecast before you go – it's so high that low fog can easily scupper the view.