The View From The Shard, the platform at the top of London’s tallest building, has stood head and shoulders above any other towers when it comes to vistas of the capital and beyond since it was opened more than a decade ago by then Mayor Boris Johnson.
Now, in a frankly remarkable coincidence, it has competition from two rivals across the river right bang next to one another on Bishopsgate with both launching within weeks of each other. Not only that, but they are free to the public compared with The Shard’s £28 minimum entry price.
One, The Lookout on the 50th floor of the 8 Bishopsgate tower opened at the end of last month and is already packing them in. Its booking slots are already largely taken through to January.
Tomorrow it will joined, and slightly overlooked, by its hulking neighbour, Horizon 22, on the 58th storey of 22 Bishopsgate. It will be London’s highest viewing platform.
All three provide frankly jaw dropping views. Londoners and visitors really are spoiled for choice.
Perhaps more significantly the two newcomers to the Bishopsgate skyline are both pretty close to being full despite their vast size. Both 22 Bishopsgate and its neighbour number 8 are about 85% let or under offer.
It’s extraordinary in a time of hybrid working that the extra space on offer at these two soaring office citadels can be absorbed so easily.
But it seems they can. There are more tall buildings on the way in the City providing millions more square feet of space.
Like the dizzying pair of viewing platforms hundreds of metres above the pavements of Bishopsgate it appears that for now at least when it comes to top quality office space in London...the sky’s the limit.
