Using Guys Hospital to take photos

[DasLunatic]

I am planning a trip to London during the Christmas break, and because I'm tight,I don't want to go up The Shard. However, a search on Google Maps revealed that the tower at the Guys Hospital is rather high off the ground, but seeing as it is a hospital, I am unsure about the legality of this. Could someone please advise me whether or not I can take photos out of the windows, and give me directions there from Liverpool Street.

Thanks in advance

 

[telstarbox]

Please don't do this.

 

[Jonny]

It is rather questionable, at best...

On the one hand, as long as you stick to pointing the camera out the window they should be agreeable.

On the other hand, there are a lot of patients and sensitive data around, and they might be a bit concerned. Also, it might be hard to find anywhere that is open to the general public and has a window.

 

[fergusjbend]

You will find yourself escorted off the premises by the ever-present security staff. And quite right too! If you deliberately cause a security alert during this period of heightened vigilance following the Paris events, you deserve all you get.

 

[FQ]

So, to sum it up, the answer is no.

 

[DasLunatic]

That's that plan foiled...

Are there any other buildings in London that are about that height? Ones I can get into without breaking the law...

 

[Barn]

You could get an overpriced drink in the bar half way up the Shard. Think it's called Aqua. Not sure how much cheaper it is than a ticket to the top.

You could also try the Skygarden in the walkie talkie but you need to book in advance on the website. Free though.

Or the Monument, or the tower at the catholic Westminster Cathedral for a cheap ticket but lower height.

 

[me123]

As above, please don't. Hospitals are not tourist attractions. They are busy places, and the staff will not want to be dancing around a tourist with a camera. Apparently the top floors are office facilities for King's College medical school and a lecture theatre, and I suspect that you won't even get in without a pass.

One thing to remember about climbing the tallest buildings is that they are iconic buildings in themselves, and as such the view from the top will be missing often the most spectacular thing - the building you're standing on top of! The one thing that The Shard won't offer you is a view of one of London's most iconic buildings.

 

[PHILIPE]

Any tall building with good views could be regarded as suspicious at this time.
Please don't land yourself in trouble or cause inconvenience to others while searches take place.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Why?

Why would you do this?

 

[yorksrob]

Ask them and see if they'll let you.

I don't really understand the horror expressed in this thread, particularly as these hospitals seem to have plenty of people in them filming already (judging by the TV schedules). Taking a few pictures out of the window seems far less intrusive and they can always say no.

By this I mean seek written permission first, rather than just turning up.

 

[me123]

The people filming in hospitals will have to go through rigorous checks, likely including PVG checks. They'll be there for an express purpose, which will have been agreed in advance. All participants will need to consent in some capacity. That's very different to someone turning up with a camera and going "Hello, I'm going to take some photos".

Although, as I've said, the top floors are office space not clinical areas. So, it's more akin to walking into any random office with a camera. Again, you will have difficulty accessing the area. Of course, if they agree there's no issue. But they're highly unlikely to agree IMO.

 

[PermitToTravel]

I agree that in a hospital getting in peoples' way is a bit of a daft thing to do, but I'm not sure the trespass or terrorism things are worth worrying about so much. Pick a random tall office building, follow someone through the barriers, and look like you belong until you get to a suitable window

 

[Tetchytyke]

Guy's is a working hospital with wards on that side of the building. Don't do it.

The highest building with open public access (i.e. you don't need tickets, unlike the roof garden at the Walkie Talkie) is probably the roof terrace of the shopping centre at One New Change.

http://www.onenewchange.com/roof-terrace

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I'm not sure the trespass or terrorism things are worth worrying about so much.

It's directly opposite the sodding Houses of Parliament. Snooping around taking pictures IS going to get noticed, and noticed by people you really wouldn't want to have to justify yourself to.

No, that's St Thomas'. Point still stands though.

 

[PermitToTravel]

You'd be surprised - if you look and act like you belong then no one will bat an eyelid usually. If you want to be completely sure of that, a hi viz jacket will ensure you're left alone in 99% of places (you need steel toe capped boots, a hard hat, and a clipboard for the remaining 1%)

 

[ajb690]

From http://londonist.com/2012/01/where-can-you-get-views-cheaper-than-the-shard:

The Monument is 62m high and costs £3 but you have to do all the legwork yourself (literally). The Golden Gallery at St Paul's Cathedral is a bit higher at 85m, accessible via 528 increasingly tiny steps. It costs £14.50 get into St Paul's but if you Gift Aid your admission you get free entry for 12 months. For £8 you can get into the Tower Bridge Exhibition and cross the 44m high walkways, while 30 minutes on the London Eye costs from £17.01.
If you prefer to be more laid back about your viewing, there are plenty of bars and restaurants offering vistas of the capital. If you're organised enough to book ahead you could try the Paramount bar in Centre Point (£5 for a bottle of Bitburger); Galvin at Windows on the 28th floor of the Park Lane Hilton will offer you a Budvar for £7.50; there's tea and coffee for £3 in the Oxo Tower Bar; the Heights Bar at the Saint Georges Hotel on Langham Place doesn't have an online menu but from memory it's not extortionate; and Tate Modern's 7th floor restaurant will knock you up afternoon tea for £10.95. The Shard will have similar arrangements, with restaurants on floors 31-33.
Alternatively, you could always wait for the cable car and O2 Skywalk to be finished.

I'd probably suggest the OXO Tower or Tower Bridge (the exhibition is brilliant & well worth the entry). One other thought is the upper floor of the Tate Modern, which I saw on another website. Free entry, but no idea how good the views are.

 

[scotsman]

Wouldn't be surprised if OP is escorted from the building by the Met. What a bizarre idea.

 

[Barn]

If there is ticket availability at http://skygarden.london/ (click 'book a free visit' in top right corner) then that will be your best option for a free, very high building with good views.

 

[DaleCooper]

I agree that in a hospital getting in peoples' way is a bit of a daft thing to do, but I'm not sure the trespass or terrorism things are worth worrying about so much. Pick a random tall office building, follow someone through the barriers, and look like you belong until you get to a suitable window

You'd be surprised - if you look and act like you belong then no one will bat an eyelid usually. If you want to be completely sure of that, a hi viz jacket will ensure you're left alone in 99% of places (you need steel toe capped boots, a hard hat, and a clipboard for the remaining 1%)

This is someone I would not take advice from.

 

[TheEdge]

"DasLunatic", never has a screename been so apt...

Please, stay away from hospitals, office buildings and the general public.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

"DasLunatic", never has a screename been so apt...

Please, stay away from hospitals, office buildings and the general public.

Or the planet in general

 

[ainsworth74]

And I think with that we'll call it a day on this thread. The OP has their answer and a few alternative suggestions they can explore