Big Ben (Elizabeth Tower) and London's new skyline icon: The Shard


Picture from February 2012

Later this month when the summer Olympics kick off in London ( London 2012- click here for schedule) you will no doubt be inundated with iconic images of London. You'll probably even hear more on the controversy of how Big Ben will soon officially be considered "Elizabeth Tower."

If you take a look behind Big Ben/Elizabeth Tower, you'll see London Eye, the big wheel. This picture was taken right around the corner from 10 Downing Street.

From another angle, in Hyde park, behind London Eye, you see a building rising tall from the south side of the Thames.
The new all-glass structure is called The Shard.
Shot of the SHARD just prior to completion. June 2012
Click here for the official website which includes views from the structure.

The Shard is set to open to the public July 5th, 2012.




The Shard is the tallest building in London, as well as the tallest building in the EU. There is a hotel, offices, condos and observation tower.

As I walked London over the past few years, I watched the Shard grow. Scroll down to see the 1,020 ft tall building from different locations. You can see it from different angles around London, just as you can the Empire State Building in NYC.

(The Empire State Building is 1,250 feet tall.)


Click here for a map of the Tube.

Around corner from London Bridge Tube Station.
January 2012
October 2010
See the Shard popping up over Tower of London. 2011
January 2012. Shot from St. Thomas street.

2011. Steps from Borough and Southward Tube stations.

Near Temple Tube Station. See the Shard on south side of the Thames. 2011
Outside Waterloo Tube Station. 2011.