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{{Use British English|date=December 2022}} |
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[[File:The View From the Shard (8367215057).jpg|thumbnail|right|The View From the Shard viewing window]] |
[[File:The View From the Shard (8367215057).jpg|thumbnail|right|The View From the Shard viewing window]] |
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'''The View from The Shard''' is an [[observation deck]] located between the 68th and 72nd floors of [[The Shard]], the tallest building in [[London]]. The View from The Shard consists of a triple level indoor gallery on the 69th floor and a partially outdoor gallery on the 72nd floor. It was opened on 1 February 2013 by the then [[Mayor of London]], [[Boris Johnson]]. In its first year of opening, it was visited by 900,000 people and made a profit of over £5 million.<ref>{{cite web|title=Shard rakes in £5million from visitors to viewing platform in first year|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/shard-rakes-in-ps5million-from-visitors-to-viewing-platform-in-first-year-9206970.html|publisher=Evening Standard|accessdate=5 November 2022}}</ref> |
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'''The View from The Shard''' is a tourist attraction based in [[London]]'s tallest building, [[The Shard]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Shard, World Federation of Great Towers|url=http://www.great-towers.com/towers/the-shard/|publisher=World Federation of Great Towers|accessdate=17 April 2014}}</ref> The attraction offers visitors views from the [[skyscraper]], with two viewing platforms inside the building: the first is a triple level indoor gallery on Level 69, and the second is a partially outdoor gallery on Level 72. |
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The attraction has a ground floor gift shop as well as 'The Sky Boutique,' on Level 68, with limited edition [[souvenir]]s. It is the highest shop in London.<ref>{{cite news|last=Porter|first=Laura|title=The View from The Shard|url=http://golondon.about.com/od/thingstodoinlondon/ss/The-View-From-The-Shard.htm|accessdate=17 April 2014|newspaper=About.com London Travel|date=February 2013}}</ref> |
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== Opening == |
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[[File:The Shard, The View From The Viewing Platform (9329576286).jpg|thumbnail|right|External view from the indoor viewing gallery]] |
[[File:The Shard, The View From The Viewing Platform (9329576286).jpg|thumbnail|right|External view from the indoor viewing gallery]] |
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The triple-height main viewing gallery on the 69th floor allows for 360-degree viewing up to 40 miles (60 km). On hand are a team of “London Experts” who engage with guests and have a thorough knowledge of the view and London in general. They also provide tours throughout the day. |
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[[Mayor of London]] [[Boris Johnson]] officially opened 'The View from The Shard' on Friday 1 February 2013 in a grand ribbon cutting ceremony.<ref>{{cite news|title=Boris Johnson officially opens the Shard viewing deck|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9842399/Boris-Johnson-officially-opens-the-Shard-viewing-deck.html|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=1 February 2013}}</ref> Over 5,000 people paid for tickets to be the first to experience the views of London on the launch day, including James Episcou from Epping Forest, [[Essex]] who took the chance to be the first to [[Marriage proposal|propose]] to his girlfriend from the highest point in London.<ref>{{cite news|title=London's Shard skyscraper observation deck opens to public|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21287233|newspaper=BBC News London|date=1 February 2013}}</ref> |
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Shortly after the opening, [[The Guardian]]<ref>{{cite news|title=The view from the Shard: a new and expanded panorama of London – interactive|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/interactive/2013/feb/01/view-from-top-shard-london-interactive|accessdate=17 April 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|date=27 March 2013}}</ref> released an interactive expanded panorama of London to allow users to explore the views from the observation deck online, augmented with ambient sounds of the city. |
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== |
== Partially Outdoor Viewing Gallery == |
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=== Entrance and Level One === |
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The entrance to The View From the Shard is on Joiner Street near [[London Bridge station|London Bridge Station]]. After entering the lobby and passing through security, there is an opportunity for visitors to have a photograph taken in front of a green screen, onto which a view from The Shard is superimposed, which can be purchased at the end of the experience. |
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Along the walls of the lobby, animated [[map]]s and video screens set the historic context of The Shard's London Bridge location. Films and animations also highlight facts about London and The Shard. Graphics show how the building is linked to the city's transport system, showing the lifts moving inside the building and the trains running underneath in real time. |
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=== The Lifts System === |
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An innovative [[elevator|lift]] service system was created for The Shard by [[Kone|KONE]] engineering.<ref>{{cite web|title=KONE, Case Study: The Shard|url=http://www.kone.co.uk/references/GB-references/hotel-references/the-shard/|publisher=KONE|accessdate=17 April 2014}}</ref> Guests travel in two lifts going up and two lifts going down. These lifts travel at six metres per second, making the total time to go from Level 1 to Level 68 about a minute. |
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The ascending lifts use [[video screen]]s and [[mirror]]s to create the effect of rising through iconic ceilings and roofs of London, including the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral, the Rubens ceiling at the Banqueting House in Whitehall, the spiral staircase at Monument, and the British Museum’s Great Court glass roof. |
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The descending lifts feature similar effects, using [[multimedia]] to create the effect of the sky receding, the seasons changing, and the streets of London coming into focus. |
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=== Transfer Zone === |
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Guests transfer lifts on Level 33. They follow an image of the River Thames curving along the floor around which London is geographically mapped in 200 sentences written on the walls and floor, each describing a different part of the city. |
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=== The Cloudscape === |
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Guests depart the lifts at Level 68 where the view of the city is obscured with playful [[cloudscape (art)|cloudscape]]s. These give the names of the cloud formations that people may see from the viewing decks.<ref>The View from the Shard Media Briefing. May 2013, page 4, accessed 21 May 2015</ref> |
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Level 69 is the triple height, main viewing gallery which gives [[360 degree view]]s of up to {{convert|40|mi|km|sigfig=1}}. |
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The level is equipped with digital "Tell:scopes" through which guests can explore the city around them in real time, as well as offering pre-recorded day time and night time views. The Tell:scopes are fully interactive and are able to identify over 200 famous landmarks and places of significant interest, offering information about them in 10 languages. |
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=== Partially Outdoor Viewing Gallery === |
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[[File:The View From the Shard (8368283210).jpg|thumbnail|right|Outdoor viewing gallery]] |
[[File:The View From the Shard (8368283210).jpg|thumbnail|right|Outdoor viewing gallery]] |
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The gallery on |
The gallery on the 72nd floor is the highest public level of the building at a height of 800 ft (244 m).<ref>{{cite web|title=The View from The Shard Media Briefing|url=http://www.theviewfromtheshard.com/files/4614/2496/6258/Media_Briefing_March_2015.pdf|website=The View From The Shard|publisher=Baron Phillips, Baron Phillips Associates|accessdate=20 June 2015|date=March 2015|quote= (page 1)"The View from The Shard:...At a maximum height of 244m (800ft), provides spectacular 40-mile (64km) 360 degree views of the city" (Page 5) "Level 72 open-air viewing gallery Guests can go even higher to the viewing gallery on Level 72 (800ft/244m) which is open-air and exposed to the elements."}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Shard|url=http://www.the-shard.com/shard/a-vertical-city/|publisher=LBQ|accessdate=21 May 2015|quote=It is 95 storeys tall, with level 72 the highest habitable floor.}}</ref> This gallery is partially open-air, allowing visitors views of the pinnacle of the building, as well as 360-degree views around the building. |
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== Admission and amenities == |
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After their descent, guests arrive back in the [[lobby (room)|lobby]] on at ground level where there is a [[gift shop]] offering souvenirs. The entire attraction offers guests free [[Wi-Fi]] access. |
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A specially composed [[orchestra]]l and choral soundtrack performed by [[The London Symphony Orchestra]] and The Joyful Company of Singers accompanies guests through the attraction. |
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=== Tickets === |
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Tickets are pre-booked, timed and dated. The cost for an adult is £42 and for a child £35. Disabled guests are offered a concessionary rate with free access from a registered carer. |
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== Amenities == |
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A limited number of tickets can be purchased from the attraction on the day for £30.95 (adult) and £24.95 (child). |
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The lifts travel at 6 meters per second (approximately 18mph).<ref>{{cite web|title=The world's fastest elevators - 20 metres per second - are coming soon to China|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/the-world-s-fastest-elevators-20-metres-per-second-are-coming-soon-to-china-9278741.html|publisher=The Independent|accessdate=5 November 2022}}</ref> Including a transfer of lifts on the 33rd floor, the ride from the lobby to the 68th floor takes approximately 1 minute. |
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The visitor toilets feature panoramic windows with views over the [[River Thames]] and the City of London, with optional electric blinds. |
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On a price to height ratio the Shard is the most expensive skyscraper to visit in the world. |
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As of 2023 the venue contains a champagne and cocktail bar, gelato bar and coffee shop on Level 69 and a further champagne bar on Level 72. |
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=== Toilets === |
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The attraction has toilets available for visitors. Restroom facilities have panoramic windows featuring [[River Thames]] and [[City of London]] view visible directly from the toilet seat, with optional electric blinds ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10lol4TYH0A short video overview of the restroom]).<ref>{{cite web|title=Geberit’s Shard toilet on list of 50 must-pee places to visit before you die|url=http://www.buildingcentre.co.uk/news/geberit-s-shard-toilet-on-list-of-50-must-pee-places-to-visit-before-you-die|publisher=The Building Centre|accessdate=2016-07-28}}</ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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{{Reflist |
{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* {{Official website|http://www.theviewfromtheshard.com/}} |
* {{Official website|http://www.theviewfromtheshard.com/}} |
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* [http://www.shardldn.com News and updates from The View from the Shard] |
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* [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-12573364 The fox that was found in The Shard] |
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* [http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/6534 The View from the Shard in pictures] |
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ftbUi4sPOE A video of the window cleaners on the Shard] |
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73LZVxxlJV8 Another video of the window cleaners, showing their interaction with viewers] |
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10lol4TYH0A Video overview of panoramic view from restroom facility] |
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{{Commons category|The View from The Shard, Shard London Bridge}} |
{{Commons category|The View from The Shard, Shard London Bridge}} |
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Latest revision as of 22:33, 24 April 2024
.jpg)
The View from The Shard is an observation deck located between the 68th and 72nd floors of The Shard, the tallest building in London. The View from The Shard consists of a triple level indoor gallery on the 69th floor and a partially outdoor gallery on the 72nd floor. It was opened on 1 February 2013 by the then Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. In its first year of opening, it was visited by 900,000 people and made a profit of over £5 million.[1]
Indoor Viewing Gallery[edit]
.jpg)
The triple-height main viewing gallery on the 69th floor allows for 360-degree viewing up to 40 miles (60 km). On hand are a team of “London Experts” who engage with guests and have a thorough knowledge of the view and London in general. They also provide tours throughout the day.
Partially Outdoor Viewing Gallery[edit]
.jpg)
The gallery on the 72nd floor is the highest public level of the building at a height of 800 ft (244 m).[2][3] This gallery is partially open-air, allowing visitors views of the pinnacle of the building, as well as 360-degree views around the building.
Amenities[edit]
The lifts travel at 6 meters per second (approximately 18mph).[4] Including a transfer of lifts on the 33rd floor, the ride from the lobby to the 68th floor takes approximately 1 minute.
The visitor toilets feature panoramic windows with views over the River Thames and the City of London, with optional electric blinds.
As of 2023 the venue contains a champagne and cocktail bar, gelato bar and coffee shop on Level 69 and a further champagne bar on Level 72.
References[edit]
- ^ "Shard rakes in £5million from visitors to viewing platform in first year". Evening Standard. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
- ^ "The View from The Shard Media Briefing" (PDF). The View From The Shard. Baron Phillips, Baron Phillips Associates. March 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
(page 1)"The View from The Shard:...At a maximum height of 244m (800ft), provides spectacular 40-mile (64km) 360 degree views of the city" (Page 5) "Level 72 open-air viewing gallery Guests can go even higher to the viewing gallery on Level 72 (800ft/244m) which is open-air and exposed to the elements."
- ^ "The Shard". LBQ. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
It is 95 storeys tall, with level 72 the highest habitable floor.
- ^ "The world's fastest elevators - 20 metres per second - are coming soon to China". The Independent. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to The View from The Shard, Shard London Bridge.