People have coffee near the Borrows-market in Southwark with the Shard in the background. Photo: IC

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts opened its first hotel in London, marking its third property in Europe, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday.   

It is the first time the group has entered the British market, the Asian hotel group announced Tuesday.

The new hotel follows the openings of Shangri-La Hotel, Paris and Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul in 2010 and 2013, respectively.

Located in the tallest building in Western Europe on floors 34 to 52, Shangri-La Hotel at the Shard, London is the city's first high-rise hotel, said the Asian group.

The hotel offers views of London in every direction, overlooking such landmarks as the Houses of Parliament, Tower of London and St. Paul's Cathedral, said Shangri-La.

"The sweeping views from Shangri-La Hotel at the Shard provide an entirely new perspective on London. It is a spectacular setting in which to introduce our signature Asian-inspired hospitality to the UK," said Shangri-La President and CEO Greg Dogan.

Celebrating Shangri-La's Asian heritage, the hotel's opening ceremony began with a Chinese "lion dance," which was followed by the official ribbon cutting led by Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently manages more than 80 hotels under the Shangri-La brand with a room inventory of over 34,000.