The View From The Shard

Being a South East London resident, I've watched with huge interest and intrigue over the past few years as The Shard has lovingly grown from a twinkle in the architect's eye, to the magnificent structure it is today. Erected in 3 short years, construction started in March 2009 and was completed in March 2012, which is pretty impressive. Dominating the London skyline, The Shard is a 72 storey glass skyscraper which was built on the site of the demolished London Bridge Tower. Designed by Master Architect, Renzo Piano (who also designed the Pompidou Centre in Paris), it is called The Shard due to its 'shard of glass' design and structure. It was inaugurated on 5th July 2012 when hundreds of people gathered to watch a lightshow as The Shard was illuminated in an array of colour and light beams. It was only opened to the public on 1st Feb 2013 so it's still very new, shiny and undiscovered.

As a regular commuter from London Bridge station where The Shard is based, I've witnessed its creation as it has teasingly loomed ever higher by the day. Now complete, it is 1,016 feet (310m) tall which makes it the tallest building in Western Europe. Watching its gradual exterior construction from afar was one thing, but like everyone, I was longing for it to be finished so I could get a chance to experience the view from inside The Shard. Well that chance became a reality yesterday when I took my very pregnant bump for a special trip up to The View from The Shard. It was amazing! And luckily baby didn't come early (although giving birth to the first Shard baby would have been very memorable).

The View is a highly efficient, luxurious, state of the art experience. The staff are super friendly, knowledgeable and helpful and definitely made the experience even more fantastic. Once you've purchased your ticket and gone through an airline-style security system, you take two high-speed 'kaleidescope' lifts - dazzling images surround you as you ascend to level 68 in a matter of seconds. Very speedy, and apart from a bit of ear-popping, you won't feel a thing. You then take one flight of steps to level 69 where you'll get your first glimpse of the breathtaking view. 'Wow' doesn't even begin to describe it! With an incredible 360 degree view of the cityscape, it really is quite fantastic looking out over 40 miles of stretching scenery. London and beyond in all its glory spread out before your very eyes. You can see absolutely everything from up here, including Wembley Stadium, Battersea Power Station, Borough Market, Crystal Palace, Canary Wharf, St Paul's Cathedral, BT Tower and Greenwich. With a beady eye (or even the help of one of the many telescopes on offer), you can probably see the ends of the earth on a good day.

Then you ascend a final 3 floors to level 72 which is the highest level available. You're standing at a height of 800 feet (244m). Even though it's only 3 floors up, the feeling is quite different. For a start, this floor is exposed to the elements as you find yourself gazing up at the actual 'shards' of glass above your head which form the top of the building. It's a strange and wonderful perspective looking down on London from above. Ant-like people scurrying along the bridges and streets. The tiny trains pulling out of London Bridge station. Miniature boats chugging along the Thames. Everything looks so small and vulnerable. Up here you feel almost invincible. A strange sense of peace.

Tickets are expensive, but this isn't any old London attraction. The View is definitely worth it as you're not rushed (there's no time limit to how long you spend up there) so you can enjoy the experience at your own leisure with no queuing or overcrowding. You can also buy gift certificates, so if you want to treat someone to something special, this is a great present. My advice would be to go later in the day so you can enjoy both day and night views. I went during the day which was brilliant, and I can only imagine how stunning watching the sunset from The View would be like. I'll have to return with my little one and witness a sunset sometime. Apart from The View, The Shard is also going to comprise smart offices, a shopping complex, lovely restaurants, luxury private apartments and a top notch 5* Shangri-La hotel, all due to open later this year.

And here's a nice little story. During construction in 2011 a fox (later named Romeo) was found living up the Shard. The cheeky chap found his way all the way up to the top and spent several days up there living off construction workers' scraps. He was soon rescued and returned to ground level safety but has left his mark as a bit of a Shard mascot. Cuddly fox toys can even be found in The Shard gift shop in his honour!

I love The Shard and think it's an absolute must for locals and visitors alike. Admire it from afar, then go and experience The View. You won't be disappointed. I reckon even vertigo-sufferers could be transformed, it's that good! And I'm very much looking forward to going for cocktails at the Shangri-La when it opens.

Miss Immy was a guest of The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard
London Bridge, SE1
@shardview

Open 09h00 - 22h00 daily (except Christmas Day) Last entry 9pm

Advance tickets available online here or telephone 0844 499 7111

£24.95 adult (advance booking)

£18.95 child (advance booking)

Disappearing Dining Club at The Townhouse

Just when I think I've exhausted my continuous search for the quirkiest, secret gems in London, I stumble upon somewhere I haven't discovered, and it fills me with the same thrill and excitement that inspired me to start this blog in the first place. It happened last week when those lovely folk at The Disappearing Dining Club invited me to a private dinner to preview their latest venue - The Townhouse in the heart of historical Spitalfields. 

By day, The Townhouse is a fantastic antiques shop, art gallery and tea room, which has now expanded its repertoire by collaborating with the Disappearing Dining Club to offer a stunning 18th Century dining room. Situated at 5 Fournier Street (opposite Hawksmoor's beautiful Christ Church), this old weavers building has been home to a manner of all kinds of businesses including a furrier; a doctor's surgery and a coffee store. Since World War II until 2000, it was a market cafe and was then bought by its current owner, Fiona Atkins, an antiques collector, who has restored and renovated it into the magical and tasteful establishment it is today.

Despite it supposedly being spring, it was actually far more fitting to arrive at 5 Fournier Street on a dark, chilly evening. The glow of candlelight through the window was so welcoming as I stepped through the old wooden door into what felt like The Old Curiosity Shop. A gorgeous room, brimming with antiques, ambience, warm log fires and a long dining table beautifully set, ready for its lucky, unsuspecting diners. Welcome drinks were served from an old wooden wagon and introductions made as I met Fiona, the owner of The Townhouse and Stuart, our Host Extraordinaire from the Disappearing Dining Club. After a little tour of this exquisite building, it was soon time to take our places for dinner.

We started with a small glass of creamy artichoke veloute, followed by a delicious crab salad with homemade crostini. Then along came one of the best duck confits I've ever had. The food was absolutely superb. It was a struggle, but we managed to find a little bit of room left to devour the most amazing pudding -  chocolate tart served with popcorn parfait and thick salted caramel. Such a fabulous combination of flavours. The Reserve St Vincent Merlot went perfectly with dinner. And what a great bunch of guests too, all sorts of fun and interesting people, all clearly loving this new Disappearing Dining Club venture as much as I was.

And if you feel like stepping back in time and want an unusual place to stay in London for a few days (or even weeks), there is a wonderful antique-laden two double bedroom self-catering apartment to rent in this old Georgian building, complete with a four-poster bedroom; a dining room for hosting your own intimate dinners; a fully-equipped kitchen and a bathroom with a roll-top bath. Even as a London resident, I'm very tempted to find an excuse to stay at this heavenly home-from-home. Check out Stay In Spitalfields for more information.

I can't tell you how glad I am to have been introduced to The Townhouse and think everyone should book a Disappearing Dining Club dinner here. It is without a doubt, the best dining room in London!

Disappearing Dining Club at The Town House
5 Fournier Street
London E1 6QE
@TownhouseWindow
@DiningClub

Stay In Spitalfields (shortstay home to rent)
5a Fournier Street
020 7247 4745
From £600 for 3 nights (4 guests)

Chinwag

Everyone loves a good chinwag over tea and cake. Or over a lunchtime chicken wrap and a glass of wine. Or even over an evening cocktail and a gourmet burger. But what kind of cafe is open all day to satisfy all your eating, drinking and chinwagging desires? Well, Chinwag of course! This little beauty has just opened in New Cross and is already a huge hit and just what the area has been crying out for. It means one less fried chicken shop and one new exciting eaterie, made even more special by its quirky interior, great food, enthusiastic staff and excellent feel-good tunes.

Chinwag is the result of Eren & Ellie's pure hard graft and determination - a couple who have plucked this old chicken shop back to its bare walls with their bare hands and given it a complete overhaul with their unique stamp. You enter Chinwag via an original red telephone box door, and once inside you are surrounded by bicycle spoke chandeliers; exposed brickwork; random tables (including old school desks) and fresh flowers in tin buckets. There's a giant old cash til on the counter nestling against a bunch of old hardback classic books, sneakily disguising the menus. And if you need a pee, then you just need to step behind the door of No.10 Downing Street. There's a definite buzz in the air as Curtis Mayfield and Toots & The Maytals play in the background, competing with the gurgling coffee machine. And on a decent day, you can take a pew outside on the wooden deck and drink your coffee as you watch the world go by. It's bang opposite Goldsmiths, so I reckon it's worth going to Uni, just so you can hang out here!

Even though the paint has barely dried, Chinwag is already hugely popular and still in the throws of finding its feet.  I popped along for a top notch hot chocolate and a slice of white chocolate and raspberry cake which was good but admittedly shop-bought. They assured me that once they're fully up and running, all their cakes will be homemade, and their booze licence should be in place soon to sell all sorts of lovely wines, beers and even cocktails, which means it'll be open even later than it's current 10pm closing time. I'm going back soon to try one of their gourmet burgers which I hear are already getting a reputation as being the best massive, juicy (horse-free) burgers in South East London, for a bargain £6.99. In fact, Chinwag is so reasonable, so you can treat yourself everyday if you like. And the best thing of all, is it's literally a scone's throw from my house, so I can see this becoming a regular haunt. So if you fancy a chinwag, see you there...

Chinwag
21 Lewisham Way
London SE14 6PP
@ChinwagNewCross
(website hopefully coming soon)

Open for breakfast, lunch, tea & dinner
Mon - Sat 10am - 10pm  Sun 10am  - 5pm