The Shard have great offers on at the moment.

[DoorstoManual]

www.theviewfromtheshard.com/book-tickets/

They reopen on August 1st, we have had a crap year, chemo, radio, bald, lockdown. So effectively locked down for a year.

So Ds and I are doing it, whilst DH finds a pub and will sit there with his book, he says it doesn't really appeal to him. (he hates heights)

If you’d enjoy it and feel safe doing it, why not? I also heartily recommendation the Sky Garden, free but needs booking iirc.

Hope the year ahead is better

The tickets are valid for twelve months so we can keep a weather eye on the situation.

Will investigate the Sky Garden, thank you.

This is my second time around the block with cancer in five years, we are finally mortgage free and I am determined to live a little.

I’ve done both The Shard and The Sky Garden. The Shard is much more of an experience.

I went to The Sky Garden a year or two after The Shard. I was a bit disappointed as I was expecting a bit more of a garden (but possibly needing to use accessible routes played a role as a lot of plants were by the stairs). But there were brilliant views and it was worth the visit.

If you were specifically looking for somewhere with views, The Orbit on the Olympic Park is fun.

I think I will pass on that, but DS will be delighted to know about it, so thank you.

Ah.... just realised that the view and the slide are different.

Thanks for posting, I needed ideas for our next trip to London so will definitely book

The offer runs until July 1st.

It's even cheaper to go to The Shard for breakfast (£16.50) or cocktails (if you aren't going with DC) and the set lunch is similarly priced to viewing platform entry (£30). They aren't quite as high as the viewing platform but much better value.

The George Inn on Borough High St is the last galleried coaching inn in London. It's owned by the National Trust, Dickens drank there, it appears in Little Dorrit and it has great courtyard for warm days (and social distancing). It's almost the closest pub to the Shard so a good place to park your DH!

Things might be different by the time you visit but be aware a lot of pubs are requiring or at least encouraging bookings now to ensure social distancing when they reopen.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_George_Inn,_Southwark

Thank you so much for that, I am going to incorporate that into the day and DH will love the pub.

This is going to be the year of sod it, it is only money*

*Within reason.

Thanks, not long taken a job in London so itching to explore.

Why don’t you do lunch? You can do aqua at two courses for 29 quid each.

It might be quite nice to get the river boat (the TFL ones rather than a tourist trip) from Greenwich or Pimlico to the Shard and take in the view of the riverside tourist attractions from the water (Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Canary Wharf, 02/Millenium Dome, Westminster, London Eye, MI6 building, both Tates etc). Some of them have a bar/cafe counter on board so you can even enjoy a coffee or G&T with the view.

It sounds like a cool trip, something I'd enjoy. I was saying to DH this afternoon how much I've missed going to London this year, we normally visit a couple of times of a year.

I hope your cancer treatment has all gone well - it's a mentally as well as a physically demanding illness; it's lovely to hear that you're treating yourself to things you enjoy.

Cocktails in the sky garden are fabulous.

Blimey - that's a lot to just go up. You may as well skip that fee and have a meal up there and enjoy the same view.

The Shard is brilliant, I was amazed by how beautiful the city looks from above.

I hope you enjoy your day OP.

Good for you, OP. The Shard is a real experience. Really fantastic. I thought I was prepared for what it would be like, but I wasn't. It's SO high up!

@BobFleming

It will be money well spent.

If you're travelling by train, you can get buy one get one free for a lot of the London attractions - www.daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london

You can print vouchers or pick up a booklet at a mainline station. And for some attractions you can just book it online on the day and get a code to show on your phone at the entrance.

We visited the Shard last year using the deal and have previously been on the London Eye, visited the London Aquarium and others, all buy one get one free entry.

You may as well skip that fee and have a meal up there and enjoy the same view

That’s what I think, for four quid more each you can have a two course lunch on the thirty first floor in aqua!

Rogue apostrophe!

Hmm DH was talking about going to London for his birthday in August. DS would probably love it as well. Can you take a baby?

We are having dinner at the Ivy.

@DoorstoManual that sounds lovely, wonder if you'll see anyone famous?

I've never been to the Ivy but would like to go, so please come back and update! 🙂

Sounds like a great day, enjoy your year of sod it @DoorstoManual!