The Shard

Hi, just trying to get some information, has anyone been to the viewing area ? If so, as you have to book a time, is there then a time limit you can stay or is it when you get bored? Only reason I ask is, I'm trying to book the viewing area for my father, but afterwards going down to one of the resturants for a meal. That's my next dilemma, as I'm trying to arrange it for the end of dec, I don't know weather to book for the evening when it'll be dark and dinner, or midday'ish for daylight and lunch.? Has anyone any thoughts on what's the best time for the view ?
Any help on this will be much appreciated.
Many thanks Terry...

You won't get bored up the Shard. It's magnificent at daytime providing the weather holds. It's excellent at night provided its a clear sky. Not sure for December as it's quite cloudy.
We went up there during Midday. I was there last Christmas time and it was better than the London Eye in my opinion.
I haven't been to the restaurant yet as we had booked a River Thames dinner dance cruise later.

Thanks for that Jitenc, I did think about the river cruise but as he's not as mobile as he once was, thought I'd try and keep everything in one place. ( although I do like the sound of the river cruise ) As you pointed out, being late dec there's agood chance of a lot of cloud cover so might be better in the evening with dinner, for the light show

I went there this year, had lunch booked in the restaurant and 2 hours later was booked to go up the View, you can stay as long as you want, it was changeable when I was there, made it exciting seeing a storm come in, there's covered areas and an open bit at the top. nice day out.

Note the view and restaurants are in different lifts up, so you go back to ground and walk round.

       

When I was at Temple on Wednesday this week the cloud base was so low that I doubt whether you would have seen anything except the inside of the clouds! I have also been on several flights into City Airport when we have had to take a circuit round the Shard due to something on the ground - you get a pretty good view INTO the Shard from an Embardier business jet when a flight has to do an emergency circuit after aborting final approach into the airport!