The Shard London: 310m Viewing Platform & Level 72 Sky Deck

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Duration1h

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London from 1,016 Feet: The Shard's Two Viewing Levels

You get direct entry to two viewing levels at London's tallest building — the main three-storey gallery on Level 69 with 40-mile views, and access to the partially outdoor Level 72 sky deck (when open). The lift takes 60 seconds to reach the top. Book your time slot in advance and skip the entry-line negotiation.

Step-by-step itinerary

Take lift to Level 68
Explore main gallery on Level 69
Visit outdoor gallery on Level 72

The Experience

The lift hums and the city drops away. Sixty seconds — that's all it takes to travel from street level to Level 68 at six metres per second, and when the doors open, the glass walls of The Shard frame London in every direction. The main viewing gallery spreads across three storeys on Level 69, flooded with daylight if you go midday, or glittering with the city's night lights if you time it for evening. The views reach forty miles out across the city, which means you're seeing further than most Londoners ever will from ground level.

If you want more than the enclosed gallery, Level 72 is where the air gets real. It's a partially outdoor sky deck — you're standing among the actual glass shards that form the building's crown, exposed to the weather and the height all at once. The maintenance schedule means Level 72 closes periodically for essential work, so check the dates before you book; as of now it's closed until early July. The indoor Level 69 gallery stays open year-round, three storeys of unobstructed sightlines whether the sky is clear or London's doing its usual grey thing.

Entry is straightforward: you book a date and time slot, receive your ticket by email, and walk straight in — no queue negotiation, no waiting around trying to figure out the right entrance. Children under three don't need a ticket. At peak times you might wait a few minutes before entering, but once you're in, the galleries are yours to move through at your own pace. Public transport gets you there easily, and the building itself is in central London near London Bridge station.

What’s included

Your ticket includes entrance to The View from The Shard, access to the main three-storey viewing gallery on Level 69, and entry to the partially outdoor Level 72 sky deck when it's open. The lift journey and all viewing areas are included in your admission.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Golden Tours Gray Line London

Is this one for you?Right for anyone wanting London's highest vantage point without arranging transport or timing themselves — the booked entry slot handles the logistics, and the two gallery levels let you choose between sheltered views and open-air height depending on the weather and what you want to feel.