Eita asks Chris about London’s tallest building.
I heard that London has a new really tall building. Do you know anything about it?
Yes, it’s called ‘The Shard’. It opened in February 2013 and not only is it the tallest building in London, but it’s also the tallest in Europe.
How tall is it?
It’s 310 metres high. It has 87 floors and there is an open-air observation deck on the 72nd floor which is 244 metres from the ground!
‘Open-air’? Does that mean ‘outside’?
That’s right! Don’t worry, there’s a huge inside viewing area too! Would you like to go Eita?
Sure. I don’t know about the open-air observation deck though, it sounds scary!
Have you been to The Shard?
Have you been to The Shard?
No I haven’t, not yet. The next time I go to London I’ll definitely try and go there.
I’ve been on the London Eye before and it was great. It was very high at the top and the view was amazing, but it wasn’t scary at all?
You’re right. The London Eye isn’t scary and the views are great, but it’s only 135 metres high. The Shard’s observation deck is 244m high!
Do you have to pay to go to the top of The Shard, or is it free?
You have to pay. It costs about £25 for adults and £19 for children?
And where abouts is it? Is it near the London Eye?
Not if you’re walking. I guess it would take you 30 minutes to walk. By Tube it’s very close – less than 5 minutes I guess. The Shard and the London Eye are connected directly on the Jubilee Line. Get off at London Bridge Station for The Shard, and at Waterloo Station for the London Eye.
Here’s a couple of cool pictures of The Shard that I found in a magazine. In the first one you can see the London Eye in the background, and in the second one you can see the huge viewing area.
