Going up . . . .

We played at being tourists in the city yesterday when we met up with daughter, son and DIL in London.  We had arranged a birthday surprise for my son - tickets for The Shard!  Wow, it was awesome =:o

309m tall

 The lifts whizzed us up to the 33rd floor, then the 69th floor, and apart from my ears popping I was hardly aware of the ascent.  Stepping out onto the viewing floor we were all just stunned by the panorama below us.  Sightsee-ers heaven! 

St Paul's Cathedral

Tower of London - last time I visited in November, all the grassed areas were red with ceramic poppies

London Bridge

Thames Barriers in the distance

From the open-air platform on floor 72 looking up to the very top!

 So many famous landmarks to spot; I began to appreciate just what a rich history and heritage we have in London.  What I also found interesting was seeing the Thames winding its way through the city (thankfully we had someone with us who could name quite a few of the bridges to help us get our bearings) and seeing the historical wharves along the river.  And the railway lines . . . it really was quite amazing to be able to look down and see London from such a different perspective.  

It was a great day out with the family.