Saturday, August 10, 2019

View From The Shard

London The Unfinished City
The View from The Shard.

Saturday, August 10, 2019.

It was a perfect Saturday morning as my wife and I made our way to The Unfinished City. 

Our first stop was Borough Market, as usual, for a look around and to find something to eat. Once fully fuelled we headed to the George Inn, for a well deserved drink, before taking a slow walk around the area, taking in the sights.

As we arrived at The Shard, the wind started to pick up speed and was now gusting at 50mph. We made our into the foyer, a few minutes early, and were ushered into the Security Area, where belts, phones and other metal objects were removed, while bags were scanned. After stepping through the metal detector, and having collected our belongings, we made our way to the first of two lifts which would take us to the viewing platforms.

The first lift took us up to the 32nd floor, at a speed of 6m/s. We then transferred to our second elevator and, within moments, we were up at the viewing platform, on the 69th floor. A few flights of stairs then took us up to the Open air Skydeck on the 72nd floor.

After snapping a few photos we decided to collect our complimentary glass of Champagne, before looking at the view properly. By now the wind was blowing a gale, which caused the structure to sway gently. As the Open air Skydeck is, well, open air, some champagne glasses were being blown from the highly polished bar, before shattering on the floor.

The views are spectacular and were, for the most part, unobscured by clouds, due to the hurricane blasting them away.

We soon made our way back down to the Indoor viewing gallery, where, now enclosed, we weren't buffeted by the wind, allowing for steadier photographs to be taken.

Before we finished our tour, we both decided to use the facilities: Using a toilet, 68 storeys up, that has floor to ceiling windows is an incredible, if peculiar, feeling.



Brief history

Construction of the London Bridge Tower began in March 2009, with completion of the building  occurring in March, 2012.

It was designed by the Italian architect, Renzo Piano, and is 95 storeys tall.

Fun facts: 
  • The Shard is 1016 feet high
  • The Shard has 306 flights of stairs
  • The Shard has 49 lifts
  • The Shard is western Europe's tallest building
  • If you stood on the pinnacle, of The Shard, you would officially be in Civil Aviation Air Space.

2 comments:

  1. I love the Shard, as you know and have been to the top about four times, but have not visited the loo! Yes that must seem odd.
    Glad you enjoyed it.

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    Replies
    1. It was a good experience. I think I may have to do a sunset visit, too.

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