The Shard - The View - Fantastic!

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

Surely they could have managed something a bit better.

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?!

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

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.

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. 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.

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.

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

Hi annodomini

I thought all people from Scotland were rich.

Frank

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

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

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.

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.

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

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