In short: Tripplo’s analysis covers a sample of 67 guest reviews of Shangri-La The Shard. Guests in the sample highlight Location, The rooms and Service & staff. The most common complaints: Breakfast is not included despite the high room rate. Restaurant and room-service orders were sometimes wrong or slow.
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Occupying levels 34-52, the Shangri-La Hotel The Shard, London offers 5-star luxury and breathtaking views of the capital and beyond. It features an exquisite restaurant and serves cocktails until late at the highest bar in London.
Each uniquely designed guest room has floor-to-ceiling windows providing spectacular views of the city, and maintains the theme of Oriental elegance found throughout the hotel. Featuring the body-contouring-technology ‘Shangri-La Bed’, rooms include a TV, coffee machine, complimentary WiFi and a set of binoculars.
The en suite, marble-clad bathrooms have underfloor heating, separate bath tubs and a glass-enclosed shower. They include plush bathrobes and Jo Loves toiletries. All rooms feature climate control to complement the building’s integrated sun shielding.
The hotel features 3 dining and drinking venues, including TING, the signature restaurant and lounge on level 35. GŎNG, set on level 52, provides the setting for London's highest cocktail bar.
Shangri-La Hotel The Shard is located on St Thomas Street, less than 1 minutes' walk from London Bridge Train and Tube Station.
The Tower of London and Tower Bridge can be reached in 20 minutes by foot. You can enjoy a stroll along the River Thames' South Bank to The London Eye, Big Ben and Westminster, approximately 1.5 miles away.
Tripplo’s hotel summary
Tripplo’s analysis · Updated 21 October 2026 · How we review hotels
Shangri-La The Shard is a hotel you choose for the view. It occupies levels 34 to 52 of The Shard, and with floor-to-ceiling windows in every room, London fills the room from morning to night. Guests return again and again to that view, to the sky pool on level 52 and to the spa that looks out over the city. The staff are praised for marking anniversaries, and GŎNG and Oblix in the same building win over those who stay in for the evening. The trade-off is the cost. Even delighted guests call it very expensive. Housekeeping can be slow, and arrivals and departures sometimes bunch up in a busy spot next to London Bridge station. For a celebration or a first sight of London from above, it delivers; for a long stay on a budget, look elsewhere.
Guests score it 9.0 out of 10 — the average across the 31 hotels we list in London is 9.3.
- Floor-to-ceiling windows turn the city into the backdrop of the room, and the view is what guests mention first and most often. Several say it is at its most striking in the evening, when London lights up below.
- The indoor pool sits on level 52, and guests describe swimming and using the spa with the skyline in front of them as a highlight of the stay rather than an extra.
- Even guests who loved the stay call it very expensive. It works best as a treat rather than a base for a long stay.
- A few guests found that the room took a long time to be made up, or that cleaning did not quite match the standard of the rest of the hotel.
Free PDF: what guests really say about Shangri-La The Shard
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Should you book it?
Shangri-La The Shard is worth booking for couples celebrating an anniversary or another special occasion — but pick somewhere else if you put value for money above everything else.
Book it if you want
- Couples celebrating an anniversary or another special occasion
- Travellers who want the view of London to be the main event
Pick somewhere else if
- You put value for money above everything else
- You prefer a quiet residential street to a busy station area
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What guests actually say
Tripplo’s analysis uses a sample of 67 guest reviews. Texts may be shortened. Mentions are counted after automated classification and describe the sample, rather than every guest’s experience.
The sample follows how Booking.com and Google sort reviews, which puts satisfied guests first, so criticism is under-represented. Read the drawbacks below and the latest reviews on Booking.com before you book.
Food & restaurants
- +Breakfast is often described as excellent
- +The afternoon tea, restaurant and cocktail bar get glowing praise
- +Room-service food is highly rated
- –Breakfast dishes were sometimes lukewarm
- –Some found the restaurant overpriced for the quality
”Breakfast exceeded every expectation.” — guest, translated
Service & staff
- +Professional staff who go the extra mile
- +The team helps make birthdays and anniversaries special
- +Nothing seems too much trouble, down to the nightly turndown
- –Restaurant and room-service orders were sometimes wrong or slow
- –Some met awkward or unfriendly staff
- –Complaints were not always followed up
”An absolutely amazing team of staff who went the extra mile and beyond all expectations.” — guest, translated
Pools, beach & aquapark
- +The pool and spa high up in the tower have remarkable views
- +Guests could swim on arrival without booking
- –The pool is small and can feel busy and loud
- –The water was a little chilly for some
”The pool and spa, and the views from them, are unbeatable.” — guest, translated
The rooms
- +Beautiful, well-equipped rooms with sweeping views over London
- +Watching the blinds rise to reveal the skyline is a highlight
- +Comfortable beds, and baths with a view
- –Some found their room underwhelming for the price
- –Faults such as a broken TV, a running toilet or a noisy air conditioner
- –The requested room type was not always provided
”The room was beautiful, high up in the sky with absolutely fantastic views across London.” — guest, translated
Condition & cleanliness
- +Rooms are very clean
- +Many describe the hotel as immaculate
- –Some found parts of the hotel dated or a little tatty
- –Dirty windows and bathrooms not properly cleaned on arrival
”Everything was immaculate and amazing.” — guest, translated
Location
- +Breathtaking views over London, especially at night
- +Trains, buses and taxis right outside the door
- +Borough Market, shops and restaurants close by
- –A few felt it was some way from the central sights
”Unique view. Special in the evening with all the lights, and the most beautiful sunrise.” — guest, translated
Value for money
- +Some say it is very expensive but worth it for a special occasion
- –Breakfast is not included despite the high room rate
- –Unexpected charges on the bill, from minibar items to a discretionary service charge
- –Billing mistakes and slow deposit refunds
”For the cost of the hotel I would have expected at least a basic breakfast to be included.” — guest, translated
Noise levels are mentioned too rarely in the sample for an honest picture — we don't guess.
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Frequently asked questions
How far is Shangri-La The Shard from Heathrow Airport (LHR)?
Shangri-La The Shard is approximately 26 km from Heathrow Airport (LHR) in a straight line, calculated from map coordinates. This is not a road distance or transfer time; check the route and transport options before booking.
How do guests rate Shangri-La The Shard?
On Booking.com it scores 9.0/10 from 1,635 guest reviews.
How many stars does Shangri-La The Shard have?
Shangri-La The Shard is a 5-star hotel.
What amenities does Shangri-La The Shard offer?
Shangri-La The Shard offers indoor Pool, free Wifi, spa, fitness Centre, restaurant and bar.
Weather & sea temperature — London
Right now: 9°
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31 St Thomas Street, Southwark, London, SE1 9QU, United Kingdom