Laser show opens the Shard

The website that allows visitors to buy a ticket to travel up Europe's tallest building has crashed less than hour after opening.

The View from the Shard experience does not open until February.

Visitors to the website were greeted with the following message this morning.

Thank you for visiting The View from The Shard website.

We are currently experiencing technical difficulties due to exceptionally high demand.

We apologise for the inconvenience caused and are working hard to resolve this problem.

Please keep checking the website for further updates.

• UK
• The Shard

The response to Thursday night's laser light show to launch Europe's tallest building, the Shard, has been less than enthusiastic from some of those watching the display.

Londoners were promised a wonderful spectacle that would be visible across the capital.

That was bitterly disappointing. We were expecting a light show and saw fairy lights twinkling in the distance - nothing out of the ordinary.

With such hype, we were so underwhelmed. We couldn't see a thing, the only difference was some flashing lights on St Paul's.

Okay, so still waiting for the Shard to start its laser show. Oh. You mean that was it? Money well spent, Boris.

If the opening of the Shard is some sort of prelude to the opening of the Olympics, may I suggest this: lower your expectations.

• UK
• The Shard

• UK
• The Shard

• UK
• The Shard

Londoners were treated to a dramatic light and laser show to mark the official opening of Europe's tallest building. The Shard stands on the southern bank of the river Thames in London and will contain a mixture of retail, office and residential space.

• UK
• The Shard

• UK
• The Shard

Londoners are watching a dramatic light and laser show to mark the official opening of the Shard:

London Bridge waiting for the #Shard to light up http://t.co/1wBkFr4o

From @PetronaBowbells on Twitter: ( 9:09 pm, Thu 05 Jul 2012)

Beam me up! #shard laser show - as seen from Barbican roof http://t.co/eTehnBsN

From @GeorgiaDehn on Twitter: ( 9:24 pm, Thu 05 Jul 2012)

5 minutes to go! @theshardlondon hundreds of 'revellers' on the Heath getting bitten by knats #shard

From @FashionFiltered on Twitter: ( 9:09 pm, Thu 05 Jul 2012)

• UK
• The Shard

At over 1,000 feet, the Shard towers over even the high-rise buildings of the City and Canary Wharf. The future owners of the 10 flats on floors 53 to 65 will have 360-degree views across the capital.

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• The Shard

The Shard, Europe's tallest skyscraper, was officially opened in London today. Here are some facts about the building:

• Stands at 1016 feet (309.6 metres)
• Covered by 11,000 glass panels with an area of eight football pitches
• Contains 306 flights of stairs and 44 lifts
• The top nine levels are exposed to the elements
• 72 floors contain a mall, offices, restaurants, a hotel, flats and a viewing platform

• UK
• The Shard