The Shard

What The Shard does

The Shard is a 310-meter, 87-floor mixed-use skyscraper at 32 London Bridge Street in London, opened in 2012 and recognised as Western Europe's tallest building. It is jointly owned by developer Sellar and the State of Qatar, with asset management handled by Real Estate Management (UK) Ltd (REM) and day-to-day commercial operations run through LBQ Ltd. The asset operates as a self-contained "vertical city" combining premium offices across multiple levels, a 202-room Shangri-La hotel on levels 34-52, seven restaurants and bars, a public viewing gallery on levels 68-72, a retail arcade, and an adjacent 176-apartment Shard Place residential development. Notable technical features include WiredScore Platinum connectivity (7 fiber providers, dual meet-me rooms), BREEAM Excellent and EPC B sustainability credentials, naturally ventilated winter gardens on each office floor, and state-of-the-art security infrastructure.

Name

The Shard

Legal name

LBQ Ltd

Website

https://the-shard.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Shard is a 310-meter mixed-use skyscraper in London, jointly owned by Sellar and the State of Qatar, that leases premium office space to enterprise tenants and operates a Shangri-La hotel, restaurants, a public viewing gallery, retail arcade, and adjacent luxury residences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Office Leasing: Commercial office space rental to enterprise tenants across multiple floors. Revenue generated through rental rates, business rates, and service charges.
2. Hotel Operations (Shangri-La): Shangri-La Hotel operates 202 rooms and suites across levels 34-52, generating revenue through room bookings, dining (TĪNG, GŎNG, Sky Lounge), and events.
3. Restaurant and Bar Tenancies: Seven restaurants and bars operate as independent businesses within The Shard including Aqua Shard, Hutong, Oblix, and others, paying rent for their spaces.
4. Viewing Gallery: The View from The Shard offers public access to levels 68, 69, and 72 for panoramic views of London, generating ticket revenue from visitors and tourists.
5. Retail Arcades: Retail units and kiosks in The Retail Arcade adjacent to London Bridge Station, including tenants like Superdrug, IT.SU, Cards Galore, and Three Wheels Coffee.
6. Residential (Shard Place): Luxury apartments at Shard Place with 176 furnished studio, one, two, and three-bedroom apartments featuring concierge service and premium amenities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Shard is a privately operated mixed-use skyscraper that leases premium commercial office space to enterprise tenants across multiple floors, operates the Shangri-La luxury hotel (202 rooms, levels 34–52), runs a public viewing gallery (The View from The Shard on levels 68–72), and hosts seven independent restaurants and bars. The asset-managed property also includes the adjacent Shard Place residential development with 176 luxury apartments, and the Shard Quarter retail arcade serving commuters and visitors above London Bridge Station.

Product overview

The Shard is a vertical city combining multiple distinct products and services within a single iconic mixed-use skyscraper in London. The core offering comprises premium commercial office space (offices across multiple levels with best-in-class amenities, winter gardens, and WiredScore Platinum connectivity), a public viewing gallery (The View from The Shard spanning Levels 68-72), and luxury hospitality including the Shangri-La Hotel (Levels 34-52 with 202 rooms and Western Europe's highest hotel pool). The food and beverage portfolio includes seven restaurants and bars operating as independent sub-brands: Aqua Shard (contemporary British, Level 31), Hutong (Northern Chinese, Level 33), Oblix (modern British, Level 32), and Shangri-La venues TĪNG (Level 52), GŎNG Bar (Level 52), and Sky Lounge (Shangri-La). Residential offerings include Shard Place with 176 luxury apartments featuring London's highest outdoor pool. The broader Shard Quarter encompasses retail arcade, The News Building (News UK's headquarters), and public spaces, creating an integrated live-work-dine-visitor ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Offices at The Shard Premium commercial office space across multiple levels of The Shard with flexible floor plates, naturally ventilated winter gardens, floor-to-ceiling glazing, and WiredScore Platinum internet connectivity for enterprise tenants.
• The View from The Shard Public viewing gallery spanning Levels 68, 69, and 72, offering panoramic views across London from Western Europe's tallest building.
• Shangri-La Hotel at The Shard Five-star luxury hotel occupying Levels 34–52 with 202 rooms and suites, an outdoor swimming pool (highest in Western Europe), and on-site restaurants and lounges.
• Shard Place Luxury residential development comprising 176 furnished studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments in a 27-storey building adjacent to The Shard, featuring a private roof garden, outdoor pool, and winter gardens.
• Shard Quarter Retail Arcade Retail units and kiosks in The Retail Arcade adjacent to London Bridge Station, occupied by independent retailers and global brands serving commuters, tourists, and local professionals.
• Shard Quarter Events & Venues World-class events and venue hire spaces for private celebrations and corporate gatherings with the iconic London skyline as backdrop, complemented by exclusive dining options.
• Aqua Shard Restaurant Contemporary British restaurant on Level 31 of The Shard offering all-day dining with panoramic London views and seasonal British cuisine.
• Hutong Restaurant Northern Chinese restaurant on Level 33 of The Shard specializing in spicy Sichuan cuisine with panoramic London skyline views.
• Oblix Restaurant Restaurant on Level 32 of The Shard offering modern takes on British classics with panoramic views and afternoon tea experiences.
• TĪNG Restaurant and Lounge Restaurant and lounge on Level 52 at Shangri-La The Shard offering Asian-influenced afternoon tea, British cuisine with panoramic views, and elegant event spaces.
• GŎNG Bar Sophisticated cocktail bar on Level 52 at Shangri-La The Shard featuring signature cocktails, Asian-inspired bar bites, and London skyline views.
• Sky Lounge

Quantifiable outcome

• London Bridge Station serves 55 million passengers annually with connections to 247 direct mainline destinations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Real Estate Management (UK) Ltd (REM)coreOthersREM provides property development and asset management services to The Shard from Level 10. They manage the building's operations, leasing, and overall asset management.
• Shangri-La Hotels and ResortscoreOthersShangri-La operates the luxury hotel within The Shard across levels 34-52, featuring 202 rooms, multiple restaurants (TĪNG, GŎNG, Sky Lounge), and Western Europe's highest hotel pool.
• Knight FrankcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKnight Frank serves as joint agent for The Shard office leasing, handling commercial property enquiries and viewings.
• NewmarkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNewmark serves as joint agent for The Shard office leasing, working alongside Knight Frank on commercial property transactions.
• Renzo Piano Building WorkshopcoreOthersRenzo Piano designed The Shard, creating the iconic 310-meter vertical city that combines offices, residences, hotel, restaurants, and public viewing gallery.
• Team London BridgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness Improvement District organization that The Shard collaborates with on security and local community initiatives.
• Aqua Restaurant GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates Aqua Shard restaurant (Level 31) and contributes to The Shard's culinary ecosystem with modern European cuisine.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sun Hung Kai Properties: Hong Kong-based developer and operator of International Commerce Centre (ICC) and ICC's observation deck Sky100 — a mixed-use vertical city with hotel, offices, residences and tourism, structurally analogous to The Shard.
• Battersea Power Station Development: A landmark London mixed-use regeneration combining offices, residences, retail, dining and an observation-style lift experience in a single iconic asset, closely comparable to The Shard as a destination-based commercial property.
• Hudson Yards: New York's Hudson Yards is a mixed-use vertical development by Related Companies and Oxford Properties combining offices, residences, retail, dining and an observation deck (Edge) — directly analogous to The Shard's vertical-city model and its viewing gallery proposition.
• Canary Wharf Group: Canary Wharf Group manages one of London's largest mixed-use commercial estates with offices, retail, leisure and residential, and competes with The Shard for premium London occupiers in the same geographic market.

Broad incumbents

• British Land: UK-listed REIT with a London-centric portfolio of trophy and campus office, retail and residential assets; competes with The Shard for the same enterprise occupier pool but operates a diversified portfolio rather than a single vertical.
• Tishman Speyer: Global developer and operator of trophy office and mixed-use assets including The Spiral at Hudson Yards; comparable to The Shard as an owner-operator focused on iconic, premium-grade commercial real estate.
• Great Portland Estates: London-focused REIT specialising in office-led mixed-use developments; competes with The Shard for premium mid-market and enterprise tenants in central London.
• Brookfield Property Partners: Global owner-operator of trophy commercial real estate including London offices; comparable as a large-scale, institutional-grade property platform serving enterprise occupiers in core CBD markets.
• Landsec (Land Securities): UK-listed REIT owning significant London office, retail and residential assets; an incumbent owner-operator whose trophy office assets overlap directly with The Shard's enterprise tenant proposition.

Regional players

• Marina Bay Sands: Singapore integrated resort combining hotel, dining, retail and an observation deck within a single landmark tower; comparable as a destination-based mixed-use asset with a similar revenue mix to The Shard but in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheShardLondon
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheShardLondon
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/showcase/the-shard
• Instagraminstagram.com/theshardlondon

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Shard