16.02.05
The new 5 star London Shangri-La Hotel will be the tallest in Europe, so tall that it will be a hotel 'in the clouds - and many of the rooms will even have a sea view'.
Hotel chain Shangri-La plans to take over more than 20 floors of the capital's new tower 70 storey, 1000 feet tall tower block nicknamed the 'Shard of Glass' building, it was announced today. The building is officially the London Bridge Tower, it's design looks like a shard of glass rupturing the london skyline.
The new London Shangri-La will be Europe's tallest hotel and the first purpose-built 5 star hotel in the London for more than a decade. Rooms will offer a stunning bird's-eye view of London's landmarks - including the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and, on a clear day, even Windsor Castle and all the way from the to the English Channel.
As well as the fabulous views, guests will be able to enjoy a series of restaurants and bars, a spa and an infinity pool. Kate Jones of Hong-Kong-based chain Shangri-La added: 'It will really have the wow factor. Shangri-La hotels are renowned for their opulent interior design and our first hotel in Europe will be no exception.'
Directly above the main hotel floors will be a public viewing gallery - standing 735 feet off the ground - and above that will be 15 floors of heating and ventilation plants.
But although news of the Shangri-La deal is a great boost for the future of the Shard of Glass, it is still by no means certain that it will actually be built. Planning permission for the London Bridge Tower was given by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott in November 2003, but the developers have said they need to pre-let about 40% before they start work. It is thought that none of the lower floors have yet been let.
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