The Shard

As one of the newest additions to London’s skyline, The Shard is a minimalistic glass building that stands at 310 metres tall and is currently the tallest building in the UK and the fourth tallest in Europe. The building gets its name from the fact that it looks like a shard of glass. It was designed by Renzo Piano who gathered inspiration for its unique design from the spires of London churches and the masts of tall ships in the 18th century.

The building contains everything from a retail arcade, bars and restaurants including the Aqua Shard and the Shangri-La Hotel. There is also an open-air Skydeck on the 72nd floor, giving you 365-degree views of the city, you can see to up to 65 kilometres across London.

You can access the building by the Northern and Jubilee Lines to London Bridge Underground Station. Tickets are available online and at the door but it is significantly cheaper to purchase online. After looking at spectacular views of London, visitors can grab a bite to eat at the nearby Borough Market.