Shangri-La Hotel at The Shard, London

Back in October I had the pleasure of staying at The Shangri-la Hotel in London. After staying in the Shangri-La in Istanbul a few months pervious, I knew I was in for a treat! The hotel offers a luxurious home away from home in the iconic Shard, a 95-storey skyscraper and Western Europe’s tallest building which towers over the skyline of south London.

I can talk about the beds, the bathroom, the television but let’s just get straight to it: The best thing about the Shangri-La at the Shard is without a doubt the unparalleled views of London. That’s what you pay for and it’s worth every penny.

ROOM
As you enter the room, the blinds automatically raise revealing an insane view of London. Usually i’m glued to my phone but when I arrived here, I switched my phone screen for the floor to ceiling glass views in my room and spent most of the time just staring out of the window. Although in true London style the weather was dull and grey, I had a great time spotting the iconic London landmarks from my room such as The London Eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower bridge, Tower of London, The Gherkin and The Walkie-Talkie and the trains which from that height looked like snakes slithering along the tracks. The hotel even provides you with a pair of binoculars which is a really nice touch!

The room was clean, spacious and well laid out with a wardrobe area, a relaxation corner with a sofa and table and a desk area with an iPad if you want to work, although i’m not sure how you’d get any work done with a view like this….

The bed was so, so comfortable. The night before I had slept on a blow up bed so I can’t even put into words how comfortable the bed (and the pillows) were at Shangri-La. It was like going from one extreme to the other. One of the little touches I always appreciate when staying at any of the Shangri-La hotels is that at night they come and turn down the bed.

The bathroom had a separate shower and bath, Acqua Di Parma products, a mirror that had a television built into it and the best thing of all: a high-tech toilet with a heated seat. Something I didn’t know I needed in my life until now!

Facilities

On the 52nd floor you’ll find the fully equipped gym, the stunning Skypool and Gong – the highest bar in London where you can sip a cocktail with a fabulous view of the city.

Breakfast is served at TĪNG – the hotel’s Signature restaurant and lounge located on level 35. It was amazing to wake up and eat a leisurely breakfast overlooking London with the sun coming up. You could choose from a generously laid out buffet or order things such as pancakes, waffles and eggs from a menu. The food was delicious and the service attentive, friendly and welcoming.

Location

The Shangri-La is located right outside London bridge tube station and just a short walk from the colourful Borough Market which is worth a visit and at it’s liveliest from Wednesday to Saturday. The Shangri-La hotel is on floors 34-52 of the Shard and has it’s own entrance at the bottom of the building. From here you take a lift up to the 35th floor where the hotel’s reception is.

It really was a great experience to stay in the Shangri-La at the Shard. The food, the rooms and those views really made my trip to London a good one.