By Laura Porter
London Travel Expert, about.com
Tower Bridge is one of the most recognized bridges in the world and the views of London from the high walkways are impressive. When it was built, Tower Bridge was the largest and most sophisticated bascule bridge ever built ("bascule" comes from the French for "see-saw").
The
Tower Bridge Exhibition is on the two high walkways (above the opening
section) and then down in the Engine Rooms. All areas are completely
accessible and there's a lift/elevator to take you up to the high
walkways (and back down again).
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You can get some great views from the two high walkways and the staff are knowledgeable so do ask questions. The Tower Bridge glass floor was
added in 2014 on both walkways so there are now sections in the middle
where you can see the road and river below. This has brought in many
more visitors and it's well worth checking the Tower Bridge lift times to see if you can visit to see one from above.
It
would be great if a 'countdown to the next bridge lift' screen could to
be added to both walkways so this might be something to suggest.
There is also new free wifi on the high walkways so you can share your photos to social media immediately. Plus, there's a free app to download to see the bridge raise on your phone or iPad, in case you don't see an actual bridge lift while visiting.
The high walkways also have displays in multiple languages including touchscreens for quizzes and information.
Photography is absolutely encouraged and there are small 'camera windows' you can open to take photos of the sights.
What To Expect
From
the ticket office in the north tower, you start with an elevator (lift)
up to one of the high walkways, 42 meters above the river Thames. The
lift attendant explains what to expect on the high walkways. Up in the
North Tower there is an animated video of John Wolfe-Barry, Horace Jones
and Queen Victoria as talking portraits discussing the bridge and how
it came about. It's interesting and informative yet fun too.
Top tip: Look out of the window in the north tower, where you first arrive, for a great view of the Tower of London.
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are two high walkways offering incredible views and there are some
signs to explain the history of Tower Bridge. There is usually a
temporary exhibition in one of the walkways so you can learn something
topical. I discovered the Thames is 9 meters deep at low tide and there
are 100 species of fish living below the bridge.
The elevator
(lift) down is from the south tower and takes you to bridge level. From
there you follow a blue line painted on the sidewalk (pavement), go down
some steps and enter the Victorian Engine Rooms. If you can't manage
the steps it's a short walk to the end of the bridge and turn left,
left, left and you'll reach the same spot.
In the engine rooms you
can find out about hydraulic power and be amazed by this masterpiece of
Victorian engineering. Learn about the 6 stages of steam and hydraulic
power used from 1894 to 1976. In 1976 Tower Bridge changed to electric
power.
Your visit ends at the small gift shop selling plenty of London souvenirs.
Visit Duration: 1.5 hours
Bridge Lifts
When Tower Bridge was powered by steam it raised 600 times a year but now it is powered by electric motors it is raised about 1,000 times a year. Tower Bridge needs to lift to allow tall ships, cruise ships, naval vessels, and other large craft to pass through.
When Tower Bridge was powered by steam it raised 600 times a year but now it is powered by electric motors it is raised about 1,000 times a year. Tower Bridge needs to lift to allow tall ships, cruise ships, naval vessels, and other large craft to pass through.
Tower Bridge History
In
1884, Horace Jones and John Wolfe Barry started building Tower Bridge
but Horace Jones died a year later. Barry continued and it took 8 years
to build. 432 men were employed to build the bridge and over the 8 years
only 10 men died which is quite exceptional as there were no health and
safety rules back then.
Two massive piers had to be sunk into the
river bed to support the construction and over 11,000 tons of Scottish
steel provided the framework for the Towers and Walkways, with 2 million
rivets holding it all together. This was then clad in Cornish granite
and Portland stone; both to protect the underlying steelwork and to give
the Bridge a more pleasing appearance. The Prince of Wales opened Tower
Bridge on 30 June 1894.
The high walkways were originally
completely open, i.e. no roof or windows. By 1910 they were closed as
people preferred to wait at street level when the bridge was raised
rather then heading up the stairs with heavy loads.
On 28 December
1952, a number 78 double decker bus failed to stop as the Bridge began
to rise. It just managed to clear the three feet drop to the other
bascule. No photographs exist, but an artist's impression immortalized
the event.
In 1976, Tower Bridge was painted red, white, and blue
to celebrate the Queen's Silver Jubilee (25 years as Queen). Before that
is was a chocolate brown color.
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In 2009, freestyle motocross star
Robbie Maddison performed a backflip over an open Tower Bridge in the
middle of the night. His bike is now on display in the Engine Rooms.
Opening Hours:
Summer Opening Hours: April to September: 10:00 – 17:30
Winter Opening Hours: October to March: 09:30 – 17:00
Closed 24 and 25 December. Open from 10am on 1 January.
Summer Opening Hours: April to September: 10:00 – 17:30
Winter Opening Hours: October to March: 09:30 – 17:00
Closed 24 and 25 December. Open from 10am on 1 January.
Address: Tower Bridge Exhibition, Tower Bridge, London SE1 2UP
Official Website: www.towerbridge.org.uk
Nearest Tube Stations:
- Tower Hill (on the north of the river)
- London Bridge (on the south of the river)
Use Journey Planner or the Citymapper app to plan your route by public transport.
Tickets:
There is a charge for the Tower Bridge Exhibition. See the latest admission prices.
There is a charge for the Tower Bridge Exhibition. See the latest admission prices.
I would recommend getting a London Pass and combining a trip to the Tower Bridge Exhibition with the Tower of London to make it a better value day out.
- Visit this attraction for free with a London Pass
- Find out more about the London Pass.
- Buy the London Pass now.
Where to Eat Locally:
- St. Katherine's Dock (I've tried Dicken's Inn and The Riverside Cafe and can recommend both)
- Cafe in the basement of City Hall (week days only).
- The Refectory at Southwark Cathedral
Local Attractions:
- Tower of London
- And many more on the South Bank including HMS Belfast, Golden Hinde, and short walk to Tate Modern, and the London Eye.
You can also look for Love Locks on Tower Bridge and at other locations in London.
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