Shangri-La Hotel at The Shard review: Luxury hotel fantasy with rock star qualities

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This was published 9 years ago

Shangri-La Hotel at The Shard review: Luxury hotel fantasy with rock star qualities

By Fiona Carruthers
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London's first ever elevated hotel - Shangri La Hotel at The Shard - opened its doors to guests in early May. Its 202 luxury suites take up 17 floors of the Renzo Piano-designed pyramid-like Shard Tower - Western Europe's tallest building. Fiona Carruthers was among the first travel writers to sample sleeping at around 244 metres (802 feet).

HIGHLIGHTS

You're staying in the tallest building in West Europe with a bird's eye 360-degree view of London. Prepare to be gobsmacked.

LOWLIGHTS

Tough to think of downsides – other than the fact that a night or two in London's Shangri-La will hurt the credit card.

Some media reviewing the hotel expressed concerns regarding possible privacy issues in the rooms. Due to the Shard's innovative and intriguing design, you can partly see into the adjoining corners of neighbouring rooms. But I didn't think it was a big deal. Most sensible people would just lower the blind on that section of the room if they desired total privacy - or stay away from the corners.

LOCATION

Southwark, a one-minute stroll from London Bridge tube station, just across the road from Borough Markets, and about five minutes from the Thames.

THE SPACE

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I stayed in a Deluxe City View room on the 49th floor (the Shangri-La soars all the way to the 52nd floor of this building, which culminates in a public open-air viewing platform on the 72nd floor). My 34-square-metre room boasted a king size bed; 46 inch flat-screen television with 88 channels; tea and coffee making facilities (including an espresso machine); Japanese-style toilet and bidet in one, complete with heated seat and a dizzying array of other functions I never quite mastered.

COMFORT FACTOR

If you can afford it, you could stay here a week and feel no compulsion to leave the hotel. The rooms are rock-star plus – and brand spanking new. Beautifully fitted-out marble bathrooms (with heated floors) boast fluffy towels, decadent sweeping bath robes and Acqua Di Parma amenities.

In short, the entire luxury hotel room fantasy. There's also state-of-the-art heating and air conditioning, along with automatic blinds and glass shading sun glare control system. Snuggle down with a good book; the TV - and that view. I looked out over the Tower of London, with Canary Wharf in the distance. A fabulous gym on Level 52 (looking towards Battersea Power Station) and an infinity 25m pool (scheduled to open from August) complete the creature comforts.

THE FOOD

Located on Level 35 (along with the reception), the Ting Restaurant is excellent. All my meals are fresh, beautifully prepared – and mostly healthy (if you overlook that large side serve of French fries). For dinner, I go with a beetroot salad with goatscheese, truffle, honey, basil and pistacios followed by grilled fillet steak, fries and salad. The breakfast menu is divided into four main selections: "A la carte", "Healthy", "Full English" and "Arabic". Freshly squeezed juices are a nice touch – as is the fact the Shangri-La at the Shard has opted for no breakfast buffet.

It's worth noting that even if you can't stay, you can book into the restaurant and/or the Gong Bar, the latter on the 52nd floor. But don't just turn up – you must book. Especially at the bar given due to fire restrictions, only 90 people can be accommodated at each sitting. Even guests are encouraged to reserve their spot.

WORTH STEPPING OUT FOR

Ummm, virtually nothing. Perhaps, at a pinch, afternoon tea with the Queen. This view will blow you away, not least when the majority of the rooms have sumptuous deep-soak bathtubs pressed against the floor to ceiling windows. If you know London well, you'll be content to just revel in the view. You might possibly be convinced to get tickets to The Globe Theatre (a 10-minute walk away) one night – or make a quick foray to the markets for a wickedly tasty £5 ham-and-cheese toastie with onion jam. But you'll be hot footing it back to the room quick smart, trust me.

THE VERDICT

There was almost as much build up to the opening of the controversial Shard building last year as there was for Kate and William's 2011 royal wedding. For the average architecture nerd, this Renzo Piano structural masterpiece is definitely one for the bucket list. A true travel experience.

The writer stayed as a guest of Shangri-La Hotels.

Trip notes

Staying there

The Shangri-La Hotel at The Shard opened to the public in early May 2014. A Deluxe City View King starts from 500 pounds (A$901) a night (including VAT). Lead-in Superior Shard rooms start at 450 pounds (A$811) (incl. VAT). The hotel's top room - the Shangri-La suite - will set you back 14,000 pounds (A$25,243) a night.

Getting there

A number of airlines, including Etihad, Emirates and Qantas fly ex Australian capital cities into London.

More Information

shangri-la.com/london/shangrila/

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