Stand with your head in the clouds and see London from the top of the tallest tower in Western Europe

If you’ve ever wanted to climb the tallest tower in Western Europe, then in London is the place to do it. The Shard was built by Italian architect Renzo Piano in 2012. With its glassy, futuristic feel the Shard was actually influenced by the 18th century spires of old London seen in the artworks of Canaletto.

Spanning a height of 244 metres, the Shard includes offices, homes, hotels, bars, restaurants and an insane viewing platform. The highest point available to the public gives you a 360-degree view of the city, with this platform also playing host to events such as Yoga and film screenings.

The Shard viewing platform, known as The View at the Shard is open every day, making it easy to schedule in a trip up. From 10am through to 10pm you can climb the tower via the elevator to floor 69. From there, there are 3 more floors you can explore either by stairs of another lift, with walls of windows providing you new perspectives on the city everywhere you look. If the weather is clear, you can see up to 40 miles in the distance.

If you’re feeling brave, then head up to 72nd floor for the open-air viewing deck. There’s special touchscreen telescopes to get a better view, with the ability to read about what you can see in 10 languages. If you want to see what it looks like at sunrise or sunset, using the screen you can see what it looks like in different conditions.

There are also a variety of installations that take place at the top of the Shard too. There was a summer garden and a winter wonderland, so keep an eye out on their website for more information on special events. The Shard is definitely a stop to consider if you are visiting London, even if only for a brief time.