The current king of the London skyline is The Shard, and it’s a show-off. This glassy beast stands at a staggering 309.6 metres (or 1,016 feet for those who refuse to go metric). That’s taller than the Eiffel Tower, though I promise it doesn’t come with a romantic restaurant at the top—just a very expensive view.
Opened in 2012, The Shard was designed by architect Renzo Piano, who apparently wanted to build a massive shard of glass that looks like it fell from space. Locals call it everything from “the glass shard” to “that thing that ruins my Instagram photos of St. Paul’s.” But love it or hate it, it’s the undisputed heavyweight champion.
How Tall Is Too Tall?
To put that height in perspective: The Shard is roughly 95 storeys tall, but most of us will only visit the viewing gallery on floor 72. If you’re afraid of heights, don’t worry—the elevators go up at a breezy 6 metres per second, which feels like being launched from a slingshot. You’ll be too busy gripping the handrails to panic.
Fun fact: The Shard’s tip is so high that it actually moves in the wind by up to 50 centimetres. Yes, the building sways. It’s not falling down—it’s just doing a little dance. Think of it as London’s tallest, most anxious metronome.
