How To Visit The Shard For Free: Tips From A Local

The Shard is one of London’s most recognisable landmarks and has become a must-see attraction for Londoners and visitors alike.

Soaring almost 310 meters above the River Thames, it is the tallest building in the United Kingdom and the seventh-tallest in Europe. It is home to The View from The Shard, the highest viewpoint in London, offering a sensational panorama.

In the face of competition from free viewing platforms, I’ve seen prices for the View from The Shard drop over the past few years. That said, paying for this view will still eat into your holiday budget.

The good news is that there are two ways that you can visit The Shard for free: using a London tourist pass and visiting one of the building’s bars or restaurants. Here’s how to do it.

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Practical Information

Joiner Street, London SE1 9QU

Getting there: London Bridge Underground Station or London Bridge (railway) Station is next to The Shard. It is also served by buses 43, 48, 141, 149, and 521, which stop at the bus station outside the main entrance to London Bridge Station. London hop-on-hop-off buses also stop close by.

In 2025, tickets for The View from The Shard start from £19. The best prices are available for midweek visits, booked online.

the pointed building of the shard alongside the river thames in london

What to Expect at The View from The Shard

The View from the Shard comprises three observation decks on the 68th, 69th and 72nd floors, offering 360-degree views of London and up to 40 miles beyond. I’ve taken in the views of London from different platforms, and this is still the best.

Looking west, London’s bridges follow the curve of the river, including the iconic Tower Bridge. From your lofty vantage point, famous landmarks such as St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, the Walkie-Talkie building and the Gherkin look like toy models.

aerial view from the shard of the river thames and 4 of its bridges — Phenomenal views from The Shard, London

Further west, you can see the London Eye and the Palace of Westminster.

Downriver, the shimmering towers of Canary Wharf and the O2 are clearly visible.

aerial view from the shard of the river thames and skyscrapers and tower bridge — Looking downriver from The Shard

In the far north, there’s the arch of Wembley Stadium and the open expanse of Hampstead Heath. Landmarks are a little scarcer to the south, but a notable exception is Battersea Power Station.

aerial view of the city of london — The Shard casting its shadow over the City of London

How to Visit The Shard for Free

There are two ways to gain free entry to the Shard: using one of the London tourist passes or visiting one of the restaurants in the Shard.

Let me be clear: neither of these ways is completely free. But if you are canny, you will pay less than the price of a ticket for The View from The Shard and maybe take in the view whilst sipping on an Espresso Martini.

illustrated map of london on sign for restaurants at shangri la hotel

1. Buy a London Pass

Like many major cities, London has tourist passes: the Go City® London All-Inclusive Pass and the London Explorer Pass, which give you free entry to many of the city’s top attractions. The View from The Shard is one of the sights included in the London Explorer Pass.

Unlike many traditional city passes, this offers access to a predetermined number of attractions over a generous 30-day time window.

london explorer pass 3646 — My London Explorer Pass

For most first-time visitors to London, these passes can save you money. Even as a Londoner, I have bought the London Explorer Pass. But whether either of these passes will be good value will depend on what else you plan to see and do in London.

You can check the price of the London Explorer Pass here and the London All-Inclusive Pass here.

2. Visit one of the restaurants at The Shard

The Shard is much more than just a viewpoint. This vertical city is home to a 26-floor office complex, restaurants, the 5-star Shangri-La Hotel and apartments for ten lucky residents.

There are six restaurants at The Shard. Although none of these reach the dizzy heights of level 68 and beyond, Aqua Shard offers the best views in the building. Located on Level 31, its double-height glass walls envelop you in London’s skyline.

people dining in aquashard restaurant in the shard london

It’s not cheap, but the food is reliably good, and it also offers weekend brunch and afternoon tea.

blonde woman sitting at a table with tea and cake in the shard london — Tucking into my afternoon tea at Aqua Shard

a savoury plate on a table next to a panoramic view of london

Although the restaurant takes walk-ins, booking ahead is recommended.

A cheaper option to visit The Shard for free is to have a drink in the bar at Aqua Shard. This operates on a walk-in basis only and is subject to capacity.

man cleaning glasses behind a high class bar — Bar at Aqua Shard

But Aqua Shard is not your only option for free entry to The Shard. Here’s a quick lowdown on its other bars and restaurants with a view. Reservations are recommended for all.

Gong – this sophisticated bar on the 52nd floor of The Shard serves champagne and cocktails with a jaw-dropping view thrown in for free.

Sky Lounge – this elegant lounge on level 34 serves drinks and light bites and offers a Sunday Brunch

Ting restaurant. – located on the 35th floor, its floor-to-ceiling windows offer those prized 360-degree views of London. It serves British dishes with an Asian twist and is open for breakfast and afternoon tea.

Hutong – this Chinese restaurant on level 33 is open for lunch and dinner.

Oblix – on the 32nd floor, this restaurant is split across two different spaces offering views across central London from East to West. It serves award-winning cocktails and afternoon tea.

woman standing at entrance to oblix restaurant decorated with christmas lights

3. Bag a 2-for-1 offer

The View from the Shard frequently pops up on National Rail’s London Days Out 2-for-1 offer, available to those buying a train ticket to London. But as there’s a good chance this won’t be available during popular times, I wouldn’t bet my house on being able to use it.

My Favourite Free Alternatives to The Shard

But what if I told you there are free observation decks where the views of London closely rival those from The Shard? These are my favourites.

The Sky Garden

Wrapped around the top of the Walkie-Talkie building, the Sky Garden is more than a viewpoint. It is a lush, leafy sanctuary in the sky, home to Mediterranean and South African species chosen to work in harmony with the space and light.

Like The Shard, it offers 360-degree views of London, albeit from a lower vantage point. There is more space to wander and sit, and there is a reasonably priced bar.

kyscrapers through the curved windows of sky garden london framed by palm trees — Sky Garden, London

The downside? You need to book in advance, and entry slots can be hard to come by unless you are quick off the mark

Horizon 22

I was blown away by the views from Horizon 22, even on a rather grey December day. This is the highest free viewing platform in the UK, and the second-tallest building in the UK after The Shard.

Although it’s a good idea to book in advance, particularly at the weekends, from my experience, it’s not difficult to snag a walk-in ticket.

Taste Modern

The viewing terrace wrapped around the 10th floor of Tate Modern may not be the loftiest in town, but I never tire of the views it offers. The gallery is pretty good too (I’ve written this comparison of Tate Modern and Tate Britain).