Inside Shard walls, the part you can visit is a short stack of floors near the top of the tower, reached from a booking hall at street level, so this page works as both a map of The Shard and a plan for the climb. It shows where the entrance is, what each level offers and what to leave at home. If you have not chosen a ticket yet, my comparison of tickets for The Shard lays out all six options and their prices, and the rest of this page assumes you have one.
The Shard Map: Entrance, Station and Sights Around It
The map below shows The Shard with London Bridge station and the sights within walking distance, from Google Maps data.
The nearest station is London Bridge, and by my estimate it is a 2-minute walk: about 0.12 km in a straight line, multiplied by 1.3 and walked at 4.8 km/h. Borough is about 0.6 km away, a 10-minute walk by the same method, and Monument is about 0.7 km. The Tower of London is about 0.8 km to the east, a 14-minute walk, so the two are easy to combine. The entrance is on Joiner Street, London SE1 9QU, per the official plan your visit page.
I looked for an official map or floor plan to link and could not find one: the official pages give directions through a Google Maps link and publish the bar menu as a PDF, but no plan of the levels. The order below is my own reading of the visit from the official descriptions. The opening times change by date, which my Shard opening hours guide explains.
The Route Up Inside the Shard
Inside the Shard the order is simple, because you go up in one direction and then choose where to stand. I give no times: the official FAQ says there is no time restriction on your visit, and I will not invent a figure per level.
My route inside the Shard
1Booking hall, level 1Step-free from here
2Security and liftsBag check and metal detector
3Level 68 viewing platformDisabled toilets here
4Level 69 viewing platform and barBar on this level
5Level 72 open-air sky deckWeather decides how long you stay
6Back to street levelYour ticket's photo package is digital
Booking Hall and Security
Everything starts on level 1. The official FAQ says the booking hall has step-free access all the way to level 72, and that the entrance itself has 15 steps with a small lift to the left of them. This is where you show your ticket and meet the security check, which uses metal detectors that the FAQ says rely on a low-frequency electromagnetic field and not X-rays.
Here is the rule that catches people: large bags and backpacks cannot come in, items over 22 x 15 x 8 inches (55 x 38 x 20 cm) are not allowed, and the FAQ says the staff cannot store them during your visit. Tripods and monopods are not permitted, but hand-held cameras are fine, per the official FAQ. Travel with a small bag and you lose no time at the door.
The View from The Shard
The View from The Shard
★4.5 (10,389 reviews)
24-hour ticket
Free cancellation
My pick: The standard ticket for the three visitor levels: $36, rated 4.5 from 10,389 reviews, the most reviewed option I found.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Ticket to the attraction
Not included / not suitable
✕ Souvenir photograph - available for purchase, for an additional cost
Meeting point: Address: London Bridge, London. The entrance to the attraction is on Joiner Street, next to the London Bridge Underground station. 32 London Bridge St, London SE1 9SG, UK
Duration: 1 day
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“I really enjoyed the day excellent views very clean my only complaint was there was no prices on some of the items for sale in the shop” – GetYourGuide review
Level 68: The First Viewing Platform Inside Shard Walls
Level 68 is the first floor your ticket opens. Wikipedia puts the observatory on floors 68 to 72 and the highest deck at about 244 m, per Wikipedia. The official FAQ lists disabled toilet facilities on level 68 and on level 1. What to look for is how the sights on the map above look from this height; the Tower of London, 0.8 km away, is a good one to find.
I would start on this level, take the view in one direction and then move on, because the next floor repeats part of it from higher up. Inside the Shard, no one moves you along, so use the time that suits you.
Level 69: The Viewing Platform and Bar
Level 69 is the second viewing platform inside Shard walls, and the one with the bar. The official site says the viewing platforms on levels 68 and 69 include a Champagne bar, and the FAQ adds that there are bars on level 69 and level 72 with a range of drinks and a small selection of snacks. The bar stops serving about 30 minutes before closing, which matters in the last hour, per the official plan your visit page. If you want a drink, level 69 is where I would take it.
The Champagne version of the entry sells a drink as part of the ticket and so changes what you do on this floor.
The View from The Shard
The Shard Entry Ticket with Champagne
★4.5 (240 reviews)
24-hour ticket
Free cancellation
My pick: The ticket that adds a glass of Champagne at the bar on level 69: $49, rated 4.5 from 240 reviews.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Ticket to the attraction with a glass of champagne included (other drinks are also available)
Not included / not suitable
✕ Souvenir photograph - available for purchase, for an additional cost
Meeting point: Address: London Bridge, London. The entrance to the attraction is on Joiner Street, next to the London Bridge Underground station. 32 London Bridge St, London SE1 9SG, UK
Duration: 1 day
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Level 72 is the open-air level inside Shard visits, which the official site describes as an exhilarating open-air sky deck. Because it has no roof between you and the sky, the weather affects it more than the glass floors do. The official FAQ does not list weather closures, but it does describe a View Guarantee that lets you return for free if the weather spoils the view. I would check the terms on the day and look at the forecast two days ahead.
The FAQ says level 72 is fully accessible from ground level, as a part of the step-free route. I could not confirm whether any level or part of the route is closed for works at the moment, and I saw reseller notices about 2026 maintenance that I cannot verify as ended, so check the official site for notices before you book.
Leaving the Inside Shard Route: Back to the Street
The way down returns you to the ground floor and the streets around London Bridge. Your ticket includes a digital photo package, per the official site, while the listings I compared mention a printed souvenir photo at an extra charge, so ask at the desk what your ticket gives you. From the exit, London Bridge station is a 2-minute walk and the Tower of London is the nearest big sight on the map. My Shard facts page covers what you have just been standing in.
Access and Practical Details Inside the Shard
The official FAQ says wheelchairs are available if required and that disabled toilets are on levels 1 and 68. It says the visit is fully accessible up to level 72 from ground level, though the entrance has 15 steps beside the small lift. Resellers describe free carer tickets for registered disabled guests, claimed at the desk with documents, but I could not confirm that on the official FAQ page, so ask the venue before you go.
There is no time limit, and I would allow about two hours inside Shard levels, street to street, as in my opening hours guide. Last entry is one hour before the advertised closing time. Sunset moves the best slot by a lot through the year: Open-Meteo’s data for 2025 puts sunset at 16:11 in November and 21:19 in June, so a winter visit at 15:00 ends in the dark.
How I’d Use This Map
If it is your first time inside Shard levels, I’d book the standard ticket and go up to level 68, then 69, and finish on level 72 if it is open. If you want a drink with the view, I’d pay the small extra for the Champagne version. Whichever you choose, compare every Shard ticket in one place before you pay, and visit the home page for the rest of the London attractions I cover.
Frequently asked questions
What is inside The Shard?+
Most of the building is offices, a hotel and homes, but the visitor part is three levels near the top. The official site says a ticket opens levels 68 and 69, the viewing platforms with a Champagne bar, and level 72, the open-air sky deck. It also says there are bars on level 69 and level 72.
Is there an official Shard map?+
I could not find an official map or floor plan on theviewfromtheshard.com, so I have not linked one. The official site does publish the bar menu as a PDF and gives directions through a Google Maps link. The map on this page shows the tower with London Bridge station and the sights around it.
Can you go inside The Shard without a ticket?+
The visitor levels are for ticket holders, and the official site says the booking hall is on level 1. Anything else in the building, such as offices, a hotel or restaurants, has its own entrance and rules that I did not check, so use the operators' own sites for those.
How long can you stay at the top of The Shard?+
The official FAQ says there is no time restriction to your visit, so you can stay until closing. Last entry is one hour before the advertised closing time and the bars stop serving about 30 minutes before closing.
What can you not bring into The Shard?+
The official FAQ says large bags and backpacks cannot be brought in, with items over 22 x 15 x 8 inches (55 x 38 x 20 cm) not allowed, and that it cannot store them. Hand-held cameras are fine, but tripods and monopods are not permitted.
