Every October, London's skyline picks up a rosier hue, and the most eye-catching contributor is The Shard. At 310 metres, the Western Hemisphere's tallest glass pyramid near London Bridge is hard to miss on any day — but when its 11,000-plus glass panels are washed in pink light, it becomes one of the city's most photographed landmarks of the season.
The pink illumination is part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, when buildings across the capital and beyond light up to raise awareness of the disease and support fundraising and screening campaigns. The Shard has taken part in these awareness-lighting events in previous years, joining a tradition that also sees landmarks such as the London Eye and Trafalgar Square's fountains change colour for good causes.
For visitors, it's a cheap and lovely excuse for an evening out. The best views of the pink-lit tower are free: head to the south bank of the Thames near Tower Bridge, or grab a spot around Potters Fields Park right next to the building itself. Photographers tend to favour the riverside walk between Tower Bridge and London Bridge after dark, when the Shard's coloured lighting reflects off the water and the tower's tapered silhouette shows up best against the sky.
If you'd rather see the city from the top, The View from The Shard observation decks on floors 68-72 offer 360-degree panoramas up to 40 miles on a clear evening — though from inside, you won't see the pink on the building itself. Book online in advance for the better rates; walk-up tickets run noticeably higher.
Why care? Because autumn is arguably London at its most atmospheric. Pair an evening walk past the glowing Shard with the bridges, Borough Market's late stalls and a riverside pub, and you've got a classic London night that costs almost nothing. The pink lights typically run through October, so if you're in town during that window, keep your camera handy after sunset.
