The Shard captures London’s solar eclipse from Western Europe’s highest vantage point
1 min read13th August 2026
Striking new imagery released today captured last evening’s solar eclipse from the highest vantage point in Western Europe.
As the Moon obscured 91% of the Sun’s visible disc over the capital, The Shard, one of London’s most recognisable modern landmarks, provided an extraordinary vantage point from which to record the most significant solar eclipse visible from the British Isles in almost 27 years.
Tenants and visitors gathered at vantage points throughout the building to watch the spectacle. As the eclipse approached its maximum, temperatures dropped and daylight noticeably diminished across London.
As the Sun sank towards the western horizon, the visual effects were captured both from inside The Shard and from street level below. From the eastern side of the building, photography captured the moment The Shard’s familiar shadow across London Bridge Station temporarily faded as sunlight reached its lowest level.
Being at The Shard gives you a unique relationship with the sky and with the changing light over London. During the eclipse, that became incredibly tangible. We watched the light drain from the city, felt the temperature fall and saw The Shard’s own shadow fade across London Bridge Station. It was an extraordinary moment and a remarkable place from which to experience an event on this scale.
At 309.6 metres, The Shard’s height gives it an exceptional relationship with natural light. Its upper levels catch the Sun’s rays before the streets below at sunrise and remain illuminated later as the Sun descends towards the horizon, providing a unique vantage point from which to observe the changing light across London.
