Frequently Asked Questions

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General

We encourage you to take photos of your The View from The Shard experience! Visitors are welcome to bring hand-held cameras and video equipment for their own personal, non-commercial use. Tripods and monopods are not permitted onsite. To access your photos taken by our photo team please:

  • Go to www.MyMagicphotos.com and add  your View Code/ Scan your QR Photo Code
  • Scroll down the page click +More
  • Download and share your photos
*Please note that pictures will automatically be deleted from our system after 1 month of your visit. If you are still unable to access your photos or for any other enquiries, please email [email protected]

Only food and drink purchased within The View from The Shard is permitted in the viewing gallery. Hot and cold drinks as well as snacks as available to purchase on Level 69 and Level 72.

Certain items cannot be brought into The View from The Shard including large bags and backpacks, over the size of 22 x 15 x 8 inches (55 x 38 x 20 cm) or other large equipment.  We are unable to store them whilst you are visiting our viewing platforms. Although we have no cloakroom facility for bags, folded pushchairs can be left in the designated area in the booking hall free of charge, but bags and coats cannot be left with them.

We ask guests to walk through metal detectors, which use a low-frequency electromagnetic field to look for metal items. At the low levels a metal detector emits, this exposure is considered safe for everyone, including pregnant women. These units do not use x-rays. Extensive research has been performed to identify the effects of the electro-magnetic waves used on pregnancy, medical devices (such as pacemakers) and magnetic recording media. The results of the research are that there is no indication of any adverse effect of the technology on medical devices, pregnancy or magnetic recording media. The x-ray scanners that bags and coats go through are fully enclosed and so will not affect guests in any way. These units emit the same kind of radiation as in a dental x-ray and are used only on bags, coats and other inanimate objects. A guest would have to place their hand inside the machine while the x-ray was on to be exposed to a significant level of radiation.

At The View from The Shard, we always have first aid trained staff members on site. First aid will be administered at the place of occurrence but, if the guest can be moved, then one of the offices will be used. We have wheelchairs available if required.

The View from The Shard’s current charity partner is The Friends of Alfie Martin, and we will be focusing on supporting them.

If you would like to contact us with a question or concern, please send us further details via our Contact Us page.

We have bars on Level 69 and Level 72 offering a wide range of drinks and small selection of snacks. We do not offer afternoon tea, lunch or dinner options at The View from The Shard and no tables can be reserved. If you have a query relating to the hotel or restaurants located in The Shard, please visit The Shard’s website for contact details.

Getting here

The Shard is located moments from London Bridge station and is conveniently situated amongst a variety of transport links. The main entrance to The Shard and our ticket office can be accessed on Joiner Street.

The View from The Shard is located within a few minutes’ walk from London Bridge Underground Station (Northern and Jubilee lines) and London Bridge Station (Southern and South Eastern trains). When exiting the underground station, follow the signs for The Shard or Joiner Street. If you are exiting from London Bridge Station, turn left and go down the escalator, this will take you to Joiner Street where our entrance is located.

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers stops at London Bridge City pier, a 5 minutes’ walk from The Shard. Departing major piers every 20 minutes and connecting 23 piers along the River Thames, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers provide a fast and safe way to get around the capital. With step-free access, open back-decks, and onboard café bars, you’ll get the best views of London’s landmarks. You can pay as you go by touching in as you board, and touching out as you disembark, using an Oyster or contactless payment card. For more ticket options, including family tickets, check uberboatbythamesclippers.com

There is a bus station outside the main entrance to London Bridge Station. The buses that stop here include: 43, 48, 141, 149, 521.

If travelling to the attraction by car, please note that there are no parking or drop-off facilities at The View from The Shard. There are a number of privately owned car parks in the local area, the nearest being approx. five minutes’ walk away.

Pick up and set down is available on the double yellow lines on London Bridge Street outside the London Bridge Hotel. Coaches must not use bus stands or stops in London Bridge bus station or drive into St Thomas Street. Set down and pick up only is also available at More London, English Grounds (off Tooley Street and Battle Bridge Lane). This is private land and there is a strict limit of no more than three coaches at any time. Drivers should obey instructions by More London staff at all times. Coaches should arrive from the east and depart to the west. When this facility is closed, coaches may use TfL bus stops in the vicinity to set down and pick up only.

Ticket information

Yes! Tickets are required for everyone visiting The View from The Shard except for children aged three and under. Walk up tickets can be purchased on the day, subject to availability. Same day bookings can be made on our website, although we recommend you book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Prices vary depending on day and time of day selected. Please visit our BOOK TICKETS page and enter your intended visit date.

There is no time restriction to your visit. Once inside, you can enjoy the experience for as long as you like, until closing time.

Don’t worry, you can enter The View from The Shard at any time up to 15 minutes after the time printed on your ticket. If you are later, you may need to pay a rebooking fee.

All paid tickets include our View Guarantee. If you cannot see at least three of the following five landmarks (London Eye, The Walkie Talkie, Tower Bridge, One Canada Square & St Paul’s Cathedral) due to low visibility during the time of your visit, we will give you a complimentary return voucher, valid for at least three months, which will allow you to book a return standard ticket, for free. The Duty Manager will authorise the View Guarantee on the day once the conditions have been met and return vouchers will be distributed as you exit the venue. You must claim your free ticket on the day of your visit before you leave the venue; they cannot be claimed at a later date.   View Guarantee is included with all paid tickets. View Guarantee is not included with complimentary tickets, selected third party tickets, school tickets, promotional tickets, special event tickets, private hire or annual passes. View Guarantee vouchers cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer, discount, code, incentive or voucher. View Guarantee vouchers are issued upon exit and must be collected before you leave the venue. Unclaimed View Guarantee vouchers are not able to be claimed at a later time. View Guarantee vouchers will allow you to book a complimentary standard entry ticket for a future date, until the expiration date shown on the voucher. View Guarantee vouchers that remain unused beyond the stated expiration date will become void. Extensions will not be granted, regardless of reason. View Guarantee vouchers will be valid for a minimum of three months. Bookings made using a View Guarantee voucher must be done via www.theviewfromtheshard.com/book-tickets/offers as the vouchers cannot be redeemed on the main site. Bookings are subject to ticket availability, opening dates/times. View Guarantee vouchers can only be used once. Once a booking has been made using a View Guarantee voucher, the date and time cannot be amended. Lost View Guarantee vouchers and/or codes cannot be replaced so please keep your voucher in a safe place and treat as you would cash.

Accessibility

The View from The Shard is fully accessible from ground level all the way up to the open-air Level 72, with disabled toilet facilities situated on Level 1 and Level 68. The viewing platforms do not have fixed seating but should you require a chair we do supply them on request. Our staff receive regular training that includes disability awareness.

Guests who are registered disabled and require assistance during their visit can pick up a free entry View from The Shard ticket for a carer upon arrival. Disabled guests are advised to purchase the ticket for themselves in advance from our website or from a third party and we will issue a free ticket for the carer upon arrival. Please note, the free View from The Shard carer ticket cannot be pre-booked – to obtain the free carer ticket, the disabled guest will need to produce any of the following documentation to a member of staff at our Fast Track ticket desk:

  • Entitlement to Disability Living Allowance for children under 16 or Personal Independent payments for those aged 16-64, either in the form of a letter stating that the benefit has been awarded, or the actual Allowance book
  • Attendance Allowance or Carer’s Allowance letter of award
  • Incapacity Benefit books, or a letter notifying the recipient that the benefit has been awarded a Blue or Orange badge, or in the case of visual impairment, a registration card known as the BD8 or a Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI)
  • International Proof of Disability – ISA (international symbol of access) or similar must be printed on it
  • Nimbus Access Card
As the documentation will be checked at our Fast Track ticket desk, disabled guests and their carer will not need to queue in the main line, provided a ticket for the disabled guest has been purchased prior to arrival Free carer tickets provide standard entry only to The View from The Shard during regular operating hours. A free carer ticket does not include food, beverage, merchandise or experiences, or entry to special events.

There are 15 steps leading from the entrance on Joiner Street to the booking hall with handrails on both sides. There is a small lift to the left of these stairs. Entry to the booking hall is through a revolving door or through an automatic door to the right which is 900mm/35.5ins wide. The booking hall is located on Level 1 of The Shard with step-free level access all the way to Level 72. The floor surface is tile, the area is evenly lit with overhead lighting, there is a hearing loop system installed at each desk, and a pen and pad of paper are available at each counter.

Some areas have background sounds and music playing, and the floor surface is wood in most places. Lighting in The View from The Shard is generally bright and evenly lit with overhead halogen lighting; however, some areas are more dimly lit to enhance presentation. Foldable chairs are available on request should you require a seat during your visit. Please ask a Guest Ambassador.

Pets or animals of any nature are expressly prohibited at The View from The Shard except for guide dogs and hearing dogs.