Is The Shard a Rival to the London Eye?

At a height of 135 meters the London Eye has been the highest public viewing point in London so far from which visitors can also see Lord Norman Foster’s skyscraper “The Gherkin” (180 meters high). But since July a new bizarre building reaches into the sky with a height of 310 meters: “The Shard”, a steel and glass steeple, is home to a plaza and shops, offices, restaurants, apartments and a hotel on 65 floors (of a total of 72 habitable floors). The next step is to complete The Shard by opening “The View of the Shard” in February 2013, an observation platform in a height of 221 to 232 meters. The View will offer visitors an amazing panorama of London and be open from 9 AM to 22 PM daily. All tickets are dated and timed and can be booked on the attraction’s website. This kind of ticketing avoids long waiting time and queues guaranteeing guests a relaxed observation experience … provided that the weather in London is good. (eap)