Quote:
Originally Posted by Aleks
well it's connected to the station right? are there any stores in the station like a mall or something? and there has to be parking somewhere right?
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The following image gives a better indication as to how the Shard integrates with London Bridge Station:
There are shops located on the National Rail station concourse (map here:
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documen...ion%20Map.pdf), but these are primarily for commuters using the National Rail and London Underground station complex (ie flowers for the wife, last-minute rummage for a dinner, a paper in the morning, etc...).
The problem with the station is that because it is so old (174 years) and the result of mish-mashed upgrades over several generations, the layout isn't conducive to a large retail presence unlike say that seen at London Paddington, London St Pancras or London Liverpool Street.
As part of the Thameslink programme, the station is due to be completely re-built and while this work won't start until after the Olympics have finished (which will also be when the Shard is complete), it should provide a larger retail experience for people working/living/staying at the Shard.
Images of the re-built station here:
http://www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk/cms/pages/view/35
Of course the primary retail districts of London (the West End) are four stops away on the Jubilee Line which serves London Bridge Station and 1 minute walk from the station/Shard is the historic Borough Market.
From London Bridge Station you can reach 61 London Underground and 245 National Rail destinations. 15 bus routes run via the station. Naturally because of the rich number of routes available via public transport, there isn't much requirement for car parking - and because of the footprint and location of underground tunnels, the only parking I can think of would be under the adjacent development to the Shard (London Bridge Place - the small squat building in the above picture) and even then that would be severly limited.