Canary Wharf (Isle of Dogs) - The Shard, London Bridge, London, UK - Cityscapes on Waymarking.com

Since The Shard opened, members of the public have been permitted to visit the viewing decks in the building at floors 69, 69 and 72. All views are through glass so there is some reflection. The cost for this experience is currently £25.

There are many views from the viewing areas to all four points of the city as the building is centrally located. The chosen view is to the east where there is the new financial centre at Canary Wharf that also has some tall buildings.

The main photo primarily shows the buildings at Canary Wharf with the River Thames winding its way from the bottom of the photo. Glimpses of it can be seen of the river including the Thames Tidal Barrier and, just in the distance, the QE II bridge crossing at Dartford. The Excel exhibition centre can also be seen as can a part of the O2 (The Dome). London City Airport is hidden by the tallest building in the picture but planes can be observed arriving and departing on their flight paths.

The Shard's website gives some facts about The Shard:

The Shard is an iconic, landmark building on the London skyline, designed by Master Architect Renzo Piano. At a height of 1,016ft (310m), the tallest building in Western Europe, The Shard redefines London’s skyline and will be a dynamic symbol of London, recognisable throughout the world.

The View is situated at the top of The Shard, on floors 68, 69 and 72, and almost twice the height of any other viewing platform in London. Prepare to embark on a multi-sensory journey to 244m (800ft) above one of the greatest cities on earth. On arrival at Level 00, you will be drawn into the tapestry of London with glimpses of the city laid out before you. Travelling skyward in two high-speed ‘kaleidoscopic’ lifts, you’ll swiftly reach Level 68 - a cloudscape above the world.

Then journey to Level 69 where the view is revealed and London opens out before you. Here, in the sky above London, you’ll experience an astonishing 360 degree, 64km (40mile) view over the city and beyond where the past, present and future of London will be unfurled beneath you, brought to life in multimedia displays.

For the best view in town, ascend to Level 72, at 244m, the highest public level of The Shard. You’ll be exposed to the elements with sounds of the city around you. Looking up, you’ll see the shards of glass that form the top of this skyscraper as they disappear upwards into the sky.

The View is open from 09.00 am to 22.00 pm daily to enable guests to experience the very different cityscapes of day and night. All tickets are dated and timed, so we advise pre-booking to ensure an unpressured, premium quality experience with no waiting and no queues.

The entire experience is enjoyed at your leisure, queue and crowd free with no time restriction on your stay.

The Shard remains open until 10pm with last entry at 9pm that allows the city to be seen at night. During the summer months London is in daylight until around 9.30pm so a visit in spring or autumn is suggested for a good night time view.