The Shard is termed a “vertical city” as it houses offices, private apartments, a hotel, restaurants, and public viewing platforms on the 69th to 72nd floors.

The official guidebook indicates that the Shard is 309.6 metres high for 95 stories, however the highest habitable floor is level 72, the upper viewing gallery at 244 metres – from which much of our video was filmed.

Of course the view is stunning from up there – but it is rather disappointing from a photographic point of view that both the lower viewing area as well as the so-called ‘open’ viewing platform are surrounded by glass with no open exception for camera lenses. Thus reflections are omni-present.  The on-line webcams and recorded photos throughout the 24 hour day might have an unfair privilege!

The weather was kind to us – blue sky with clouds – no rain – clear with neither fog nor haze. After exiting the Shard, we walked the short distance towards Tower Bridge – which lifted its roadway allowing our cameras to capture the complete cycle – and for a vintage sailing ship to pass below.