The Shard
The Shard is a neo-futurist skyscraper and office building in London designed by Renzo Piano. Opened in 2012 and constructed from glass, steel, concrete, and composite materials, the 306-meter building is ranked 17th among the most looked-up sights in the United Kingdom on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The warmest weather occurs in July, when daily highs reach about 22 °C. The coldest months are January and December, with average highs of 7 °C. In the spring, daily highs range from 10 °C in March to 16 °C in May. Visitors should note that October is the wettest month, seeing about 71 mm of rain over 13 days. The skyscraper is 3 km from London and can be reached via London City Airport, which is 10 km away, or London Heathrow Airport, located 26 km away.
The building is located near several landmarks, such as London Bridge and HMS Belfast, which are both 0.4 km away. Tower Bridge and the Tower of London are 0.8 km from the building, and Tate Modern is 1 km away. Entry to the building is £32, though a fast track option is available for £10. Other options include a guidebook for £3 or an entry with champagne for £48. The building is wheelchair accessible.
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 22 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 7 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 18 | 15 | 10 | 7 |
| Average low, °C | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 3 |
| Rainfall, mm | 58 | 43 | 46 | 46 | 52 | 47 | 45 | 53 | 56 | 71 | 66 | 60 |
| Rainy days | 14 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 15 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
