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The Shard - The View - Fantastic!

(15 Posts)
GadaboutGran Fri 08-Feb-13 18:00:11

A favourite game when gadding about London with grand-kids has been Shard spotting & I had the urge to go up as soon as I could. Yesterdy, I made my ascent - it was fantastic, mesmerising, magical as the day turned to night & London lit up. Everyone was smiling in the lift on the way down. It far exceeded expectations & the staff were so friendly. There's a timed entry slot & it's not cheap, but once up you can stay as long as you like. The views were tremendous & it helped that since doing childcare there I've got to know London well. I became a tour guide for the tourists who wanted to know what was what. I didn't want to come down & I'm now enjoying the photos.

gracesmum Fri 08-Feb-13 18:02:19

As you say, not cheap - but is there a reduction for old dears senior citizens?

Butty Fri 08-Feb-13 18:05:17

smile + envy. I love roofscapes and skylines wherever they are. I'd be very happy to have such an experience. You sound delighted with your day.

GadaboutGran Sat 09-Feb-13 20:49:36

Yes, I'm still on Cloud 9. I'm still surprised by my reaction! I even got a tingly feeling up there - a feeing of peace & awe - like I did when I experienced the new Liege station & big spaces e.g. under the dome of St Paul's Cathedral. Now I'm sounding really wacky!!!

Back to earth - no concessions for oldies, only for tiddlers. I went up with few expectations so now I think it was worth every penny but not everyone will I'm sure. I didn't bother with all the expensive photos they took & only bought a postcard in the shop. I predict it will be a massive hit with foreign tourists -seemed to be a lot there already.

HildaW Sun 10-Feb-13 12:05:36

Gadabout.....glad to read your comments as we bought tickets for this for Son and his wife as part of their Christams present, its the sort of thing that would appeal to them.

HUNTERF Sun 10-Feb-13 17:52:03

I will hopefully be taking my granddaughters up the Shard at some point in the future when I can pluck up the courage to go back in to London after working there for over 30 years.
They will not be able to see where I worked as the building has now been demolished.

Frank

annodomini Sun 10-Feb-13 17:57:07

It's not the courage I'm short of, it's the cash for the entrance fees. sad

HUNTERF Sun 10-Feb-13 18:03:48

Hi annodomini

I thought all people from Scotland were rich.

Frank

gracesmum Sun 10-Feb-13 18:20:18

As Jingl might have said WT*?
Is this meant to be funny or derogatory Frank? If you are looking for a "fight" with the Scots may I respectfully remind you of their motto Nemo Me Impune Lacessit

GadaboutGran Thu 14-Feb-13 15:43:32

One person's great experience can be another's nightmare. My nephew took his wife up for her 30th birthday. The lifts were broken so they had to go up in a Service lift. I was so lucky with the weather too. On Tuesday I coulld only just see it from the heights of snowy Forest Hill at the Horniman Museum, though they will refund or give another date if it's too foggy to see anything. Be aware - it costs £5 more if you turn up on the day.

For the impoverished & those scared of heights, there's a free tour of Churchill's Secret Bunker in Neasden on 9 May - see the excellent IanVisits website for details of tickets for this & many other things.

j08 Mon 03-Jun-13 14:56:53

Yes, this is very nice (went yesterday) but I think they should make it clear that the photo they take of you, after the bag scanning at the start, is just that, a photo. I thought it was part of security and I have come out looking a bit uncertain. hmmblush And of course they are not going to make it clear that it will cost you twenty-five pounds!

And the lift makes your ears pop.

The view was fantastic.

shysal Mon 03-Jun-13 17:18:27

DD2 has taken her youngest to the Shard today as it is an inset day for him only. They are visiting Choccywoccydoodah as well, a great favourite with them.
I have noticed how over the years the building shown on TV to symbolise London changes. It used to be the Houses of Parliament, then not so long ago it was the Gherkin, now the Shard.

GadaboutGran Mon 03-Jun-13 17:35:12

Some really ugly buildings are going up around the Gherkin. The grandchildren can't now spot it from the train. I think we now need a campaign to protect the view of it. There is a particularly bad new building going up by the Monument & far too gross for its site. It also spoils the view west through Tower Bridge as it is close to the Thames. And whoever allowed that dreadful hotel to be built in the 1980s right by the Bridge

j08 Mon 03-Jun-13 18:44:03

You know, the first thing I thought when I stepped out of the lift at the Shard was, all this used to be green fields. What the heck have we done?!

j08 Mon 03-Jun-13 18:45:13

The present day London Bridge isn't much to write home about is it?! shock

Surely they could have managed something a bit better.