Shangri-La The Shard, London
Hotel · Borough ·
Upscale hotel with stunning city views and fine dining
Upscale hotel with stunning city views and fine dining
"Located in the tallest building in London, this hotel doesn’t need to try very hard to make a jaw-dropping impression. It occupies floors 34 to 52 of a glass stalagmite designed by Renzo Piano, looming over the rest of the city and guaranteeing views from all of its 202 rooms. Decor is opulent albeit a bit bland—silks and marble in blues and beige—but it doesn’t really matter, because you’ll be looking out of those floor-to-ceiling windows anyway. Bonus: The Skypool on floor 52 is the highest indoor swimming pool in western Europe." - CNT Editors
"Created as a vertical city with multiple uses, The Shard is one of London’s most eye-catching attributes and by some way its tallest building. The One-Key Shangri-La hotel occupies 19 floors of The Shard and includes three signature dining venues. In one of them, TĪNG, you can sample a seasonally changing afternoon tea. Throughout October, the team are supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month with their 'Clouds of Pink' offering. In addition to the food, let’s not forget the incredible view you can bask in while sipping on your tea." - The MICHELIN Guide UK Editorial Team
"Never has a traffic jam on the Old Kent Road looked so enchanting – everything seen from The Shangri-La looks enchanting. The hotel occupies floors 34 to the 52 of Renzo Piano's 87-story London landmark. The rooms (contemporary, creamy, Asian-influenced), restaurants (especially the romantic Ting) and bar (gin and rosemary—divine) are all fantastic, though nothing can compete with the extraordinary views over London, which turn every guest into a slack-jawed infant, lost in wonder, gazing out, palms to the window, all day long. At night, sitting cross-legged on the bed with the blackout blinds open is like being on a magic carpet, floating high above the ceaseless glow of the great city. Price: Rooms from around $811 per nightAddress: 31 St Thomas St, London SE1 9QUClosest tube station: London Bridge" - Condé Nast Traveller, Steve King
"Offers themed afternoon teas with Instagrammable bites like Big Ben–shaped pastries and a mousse-filled replica of the Shard, with panoramic views of the Tower Bridge."
"How did it strike you on arrival?Located in the tallest building in London, this hotel doesn’t need to try very hard to make a jaw-dropping impression. Occupying floors 34 to 52 of a glass stalagmite designed by Renzo Piano, it looms over the rest of the city, guaranteeing views that might make sleep difficult. What’s the crowd like?This is special-occasion-trip territory—some of your fellow guests will be celebrating engagements, anniversaries, milestone birthdays (any excuse). The good stuff: Tell us about your room.All 202 rooms have a view. Décor is opulent albeit a bit bland—silks and marble in blues and beige—but it doesn’t really matter because you’ll be looking out of the floor to ceiling windows rather than in. The bigger the room, crucially, the more window—Premier Shard rooms and above can have more than one, but make sure you specify. How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that find its way into your suitcase?Nespresso coffee machines and Chinese tea sets make for pleasant in-room lounging, and free binoculars make snooping obligatory. Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.Bathrooms have heated marble floors, bathtubs, and walk-in rain showers, along with a TV hidden inside the mirror, and, best of all, a heated toilet seat. Maybe the most important topic of all: Wi-Fi. What’s the word?Free. Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.The Skypool on floor 52 is the highest indoor swimming pool in western Europe and has some of the best views in the building. Ting restaurant does European food with an Asian twist, but cocktails among silvery furnishings in Gong bar are equally, if not more, enjoyable. What was most memorable—or heartbreaking—about your stay?Make sure you’re back at base for sunset, which, from up here, is often spectacular, even on a drab day. Bottom line: worth it, and why?This isn’t the sort of hotel you pop into on a regular basis, and, as such, most people here are having the time of their lives—it feels like a treat" - Laura Goulden
