The View From the Shard opened in London at the beginning of February and immediately became the city’s highest viewing platform.
And that got us thinking: Which other spots in England offer a lovely lofty view? Here are our picks:
ArcelorMittal Orbit – Olympic Park, London (377 feet tall)
Loved by some, loathed by others, this garish red sculpture looks over the Olympic Stadium, London’s East End and beyond. It took 18 months to position its 1,837 feet of tubular steel. Anyone wondering about the origin of the sculpture’s name need look no further than the material it was made from – the steel company ArcelorMittal funded its construction. At almost 4.5 million pounds, the whole thing weighs the equivalent of 1,136 London black cabs. Anish Kapoor’s creation will open again to the public at the end of March as part of a new program of tours designed to showcase the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Scafell Pike – Lake District (3,208 feet tall)
No matter whether you call them mountains or merely hills, England’s got more than 200 peaks that rise higher than 2,000 feet. At 3,209 feet, Scafell Pike is the highest. Be sure to plan a walk. Walking routes to the top, maps and weather information can be found at www.scafellpike.org.uk.
Spinnaker Tower – Portsmouth (558 feet tall)
Soaring 558 feet above Portsmouth Harbor and the Solent, the Spinnaker Tower is taller than the London Eye and can, with its unique design, be justifiably described as a national icon. Situated on the waterfront at Gunwharf Quays, it offers panoramic views of Portsmouth Harbor, the south coast and out to the Isle of Wight, with views stretching for up to 23 miles – breathtaking by day and a glittering sea of lights by night.
Up at the O2 – London (173 feet tall)
Perhaps better for the thrill of clambering over an iconic building than for the views offered from the top, the Up at the O2 experience makes for a fun afternoon out. Tethered to a safety cord all the way across, visitors are ushered over a blue tensile fabric walkway that’s suspended above the white dome, 173 feet above ground level. Forget about collecting great SLR shots of Canary Wharf during the walk over the building – the only type of camera allowed up is a camera phone, and that has to be securely stored in the pocket of the jumpsuit offered to visitors.
Big One – Blackpool Pleasure Beach (236 feet tall)
When it opened in the summer of 1994, the Big One was both the tallest and steepest roller coaster in the world. Though it’s fallen well back on the world stage, it remains the largest in the UK. Its famous first drop has an incline of 65 degrees, propelling riders to speeds of up to 87 mph.
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
(Main image: ArcelorMittal Orbit)
