The Shard becomes the country's tallest timepiece.


Starting on 30 March 2025, The Shard will celebrate the start of British Summer Time with an hourly light show every night, as it becomes the UK's tallest timepiece.

London’s tallest building stands at a height of 1,016 feet and will be lit up from sunset to 1am every night, marking each hour to celebrate the beginning of British Summer Time. The lights are visible up to 40 miles away from several London locations, such as Tower Bridge and the London Eye.

The top 20 floors of the building will dazzle with a staggering 575 energy-efficient LED bulbs. They’ll be re-lit every hour, then transition back to a low-power mode, returning the tower to its ever-glowing resting state, lighting up the centre of the city.

The Shard

Traditionally, the lights mark national events and holidays that the capital celebrates, but this new display focuses solely on marking the arrival of summer. The building acts as a cultural hotspot for many, and its light shows have previously shone for significant events such as New Year's Eve, a tribute to the NHS, the World Cup and Valentine’s Day.

The Shard lights are rarely used for political or commercial reasons; they’re instead a vessel to reflect London's mood as a city, lighting up during national celebrations and for tributes to major figures.

Designed by Renzo Piano in 2012, The Shard is made up of 26 floors of offices, six internationally esteemed bars and restaurants. The venues include Aqua Shard, Oblix, and the five-star hotel Shangri-La The Shard, London, which spans 19 floors.

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GO: Visit www.the-shard.com for more information.