Page 69 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

L ONDON  67

home to offices, top restaurants,
the five-star Shangri-La hotel,
and apartments. The main
indoor viewing gallery is on
floor 69 while floor 72 (the
building's last habitable floor)
has a partially outdoor
observation deck, with 360
degree panoramas covering
64 km (40 miles).

s Tower of London
See pp68–9.
d Tower Bridge
SE1. Tel 020-7403 3761. 1 Tower
Sculpture from the inaugural exhibition in the vast Turbine Hall, Tate Modern Hill, London Bridge. The Tower Bridge
Exhibition: Open 10am–5:30pm daily.
Originally designed by Sir Giles A detailed reproduction of an Closed Dec 24–26. & 7 e
Gilbert Scott, the architect of Elizabethan theater has been ∑ towerbridge.org.uk
London’s red telephone kiosks, built on the riverside close to
the huge Bankside building was the site of the original Globe, This flamboyant piece of
acquired by the Tate Gallery in Shakespeare’s “wooden O,” Victorian engineering,
2000; it had been disused since where many of his plays were completed in 1894, soon
1981. Swiss architects were first performed. Open to the became a symbol of London.
responsible for the building’s elements, the theater operates Its two Gothic towers contain
redesign, which allows the only in the summer. Seeing a the mechanism for raising the
works of art to be displayed in play here can be a lively roadway to permit large ships
a dynamic style. experience, with “groundlings” to pass through. The towers are
Unusually, the permanent (those with cheap standing- made of a supporting steel
collection is exhibited in four room tickets) in front of the framework clad in stone. When
themed groups: poetry and stage encouraged to cheer or raised, the roadway creates a
dream, idea and object, states jeer. An informative tour of the space 40 m (135 ft) high and
of flux and material gestures. theater is offered by “resting” 60 m (200 ft) wide. In its heyday,
The paintings and sculptures Globe actors, and visitors can it was raised and lowered five
embrace Surrealism, Abstract enjoy being center stage times a day.
Expressionism, Pop Art, and among them. Beneath the The bridge now houses
Minimal and Conceptual Art. theater is the Underglobe, The Tower Bridge Exhibition,
Major works include Picasso’s where every aspect of with displays which bring its
The Three Dancers, Dalí’s The Shakespeare’s work is vividly history to life. There are fine
Metamorphosis of Narcissus, brought to life through the river views from the walkways
and Andy Warhol’s Marilyn use of modern technology between the towers, and the
Diptych. There are also and traditional crafts. steam-engine room, which was
temporary exhi bitions of works in use until 1976, can be visited.
by lesser-known artists, and by
more controversial newcomers. a The Shard
At the top of the building are London Bridge St, SE1. Tel 0844-499
two floors enclosed in glass. 7111 (bookings). 1 London Bridge.
One is a restaurant with superb Open 9am–10pm daily. Closed Dec
views. Natural light filters down 25. & 7 ∑ theviewfromthe
to the upper galleries. shard.com
p Shakespeare’s Designed by the Italian architect
Renzo Piano, The Shard is the
Globe tallest building in the European
214 New Globe Walk SE1. Tel 020- Union at 310 m (1,016 ft). Its
7401 9919. 1 London Bridge, iconic shape dominates the
Mansion House, Southwark. London skyline, its appearance
Open daily. Closed Dec 24, 25. changing with the weather
Performances: Apr–Oct. thanks to the crystalline facade
& 7 8 every 30 mins. that reflects the sunlight and
∑ shakespearesglobe.com sky. The building’s 87 floors are Tower Bridge, a symbol of London

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