The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- Sarah Marshal
‘Do you ever get bored of the view?’ I asked the lady from guest relations who came to our table during breakfast to check that everything was satisfactory.
In retrospect, it may have been a silly question. Because we were at London’s Shangri-La The Shard, where the panoramas, in every direction, have potent boredom-zapping qualities.
It’s a veritable hotel in the clouds, occupying floors 34 to 52 of The Shard, which at 309 metres (1,016ft) in height, is the tallest building in the UK and in Western Europe.
You don’t have to stay at the 202-room hotel, of course, to experience sensational Shard vistas – there’s an observation platform at the top you can visit from £32, where the views extend to 35 miles (55km) on a clear day.
Shangri-La The Shard, occupies floors 34 to 52 of The Shard skyscraper, which at 309 metres (1,016ft) in height, is the tallest building in the UK. On floor 52 is the hotel’s jaw-dropping infinity pool (above)
The Shard is served by 44 lifts, some of which are double decker, and contains 11,000 panes of glass
The hotel’s Asian-themed cocktail bar – Gong – which is located on the 52nd floor
The high life: Deluxe City View King Room (room type pictured above) on the 43rd floor featured a standalone tub next to floor-to-ceiling windows
Ting is popular with American tourists and groups celebrating birthdays and anniversaries
Sensational views are available at Shangri-La The Shard in every direction. This image shows the view north across the River Thames, to the famous Walkie-Talkie skyscraper
The Shard has been designed to move by up to 50cm (20 in) in high winds
Next to the pool on floor 52 is the amazing ‘Sky Sauna’ (above) – yet another place in the hotel where a superb view comes as standard
