Tower Bridge spans the River Thames between Southwark and Tower Hamlets, and it is one of the most photographed structures in the world. Opened in 1894, it took eight years to build and cost over £1 million — a staggering sum at the time. Today it carries around 40,000 people across the river every day, and it still opens to let tall ships pass through. If you are planning a trip to London, Tower Bridge deserves more than a glance from the South Bank. It is worth going inside.
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The History Behind the Bridge
By the 1870s, London’s population had grown rapidly and the existing Thames crossings could not cope. The Pool of London — the stretch of river east of London Bridge — was one of the busiest commercial ports in the world. A new bridge was needed east of London Bridge, but it could not be a fixed structure. Ships had to be able to pass through.
The solution was a bascule bridge — a design where two large sections of the road deck lift upwards to create a gap for river traffic. The City of London Corporation held a competition in 1876 and received over 50 designs. It took another eight years before a design was agreed upon. The winning design came from City Architect Sir Horace Jones and engineer Sir John Wolfe Barry. Jones died in 1887, before construction had properly begun. Barry carried the project through to completion.
Construction started in 1886. Over 400 workers were employed on the project. Two piers were sunk into the riverbed and filled with concrete to support the weight of the towers. The towers themselves are steel-framed, clad in Cornish granite and Portland stone. The Victorian Gothic style — pointed arches, decorative stonework — was chosen to match the nearby Tower of London. When the bridge opened on 30 June 1894, it was officially declared by the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII.
How the Bridge Works
Tower Bridge is both a bascule bridge and a suspension bridge. The two bascules — each weighing around 1,000 tonnes — can be raised to an angle of 86 degrees. When the bridge first opened, the mechanism was powered by hydraulic engines fuelled by coal-fired steam boilers. Each lift took about one minute. In 1976, the original hydraulic system was replaced with an electro-hydraulic system, which is still in use today.
The bridge opens around 800 times per year, though the frequency varies. Historically it opened several times a day when the river was heavily used by cargo ships. Today, most traffic is recreational — sailing yachts, tall ships visiting for events, and the occasional naval vessel. You can check the scheduled bridge lifts on the Tower Bridge website before your visit. Watching the bascules rise is a spectacle in itself and does not cost anything to witness from the riverbank.
The Tower Bridge Exhibition
The Tower Bridge Exhibition runs through both towers and the high-level walkways. Entry is ticketed and covers the entire experience — the walkways, the Victorian engine rooms, and an exhibition telling the story of the bridge’s construction and history.
The exhibition uses original photographs, archive documents, and interactive displays. You learn about the workers who built the bridge, the engineering challenges involved, and how the design evolved over time. It is well presented and accessible without requiring any specialist knowledge. Allow around 90 minutes for the full experience, though you could spend longer if you have children or a particular interest in Victorian engineering.
Tickets can be booked in advance online, which is recommended during the summer months and school holidays. Prices are reasonable compared with many London attractions, and the exhibition is included in several London pass programmes.
The High-Level Walkways and Glass Floor
The high-level walkways sit 42 metres above the Thames, connecting the two towers. They were part of the original design — intended to let pedestrians cross the bridge even when the bascules were raised. In practice, most people preferred to wait for the bascules to close rather than climb the stairs, so the walkways were closed to the public in 1910 and did not reopen until 1982.
Today, the walkways are one of the highlights of the exhibition. The views up and down the river are exceptional. On a clear day you can see St Paul’s Cathedral, the Shard, Canary Wharf, and the winding Thames stretching towards Greenwich. On the north walkway, a section of the floor has been replaced with glass panels, allowing you to look straight down to the road and the river below. It is not for those with a dislike of heights, but it is a genuinely impressive experience.
The Victorian Engine Rooms
Below the bridge, in the southern approach road, sit the original Victorian engine rooms. These are now part of the exhibition and are well worth the visit on their own. The original steam-driven hydraulic pumping engines are still in place, restored and polished to their original condition. The scale of the machinery is striking — these are enormous industrial engines, and the detail of the Victorian ironwork is remarkable.
The engine rooms explain how the hydraulic system worked, including the accumulators — large weighted cylinders that stored hydraulic pressure so that the bascules could be raised quickly when needed. The original system could raise both bascules in under two minutes. Displays in the engine rooms explain the technology in clear, accessible language without being overly technical.
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Getting There: Practical Visitor Information
Tower Bridge is straightforward to reach by public transport. The nearest Underground station is Tower Hill on the Circle and District lines, a short walk from the north end of the bridge. London Bridge station on the Jubilee and Northern lines, and National Rail services, is about a 10-minute walk from the south end. Several bus routes stop nearby.
If you are arriving by river, Thames Clipper services stop at Tower Pier, directly beneath the north side of the bridge. This is one of the most scenic arrivals possible and gives you a view of the bridge from the water before you visit.
The bridge and exhibition are open daily, with last entry in the late afternoon. Opening hours do change seasonally, and the bridge occasionally closes for private events, so check the official website before you travel. There is no parking directly at the bridge, and driving into this part of central London is subject to the Congestion Charge and ULEZ charges.
The Tower of London: Right Next Door
The Tower of London sits immediately to the north of Tower Bridge on the riverbank. These are two separate attractions with separate entry fees, but their proximity makes it natural to visit both on the same day. The Tower of London is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited monuments in the country. It houses the Crown Jewels, the famous Yeoman Warders (Beefeaters), and nearly 1,000 years of history.
If you are visiting both, most people find it easier to start at the Tower of London in the morning when it opens, then cross to Tower Bridge for the afternoon. The Tower can get very busy — pre-booked tickets are essential during peak season. Combined ticket deals for both attractions are available and represent good value.
Tips for Your Visit
- Book tickets online in advance. Queues at the entrance can be long in summer. Online booking saves time and sometimes offers a small discount.
- Check the bridge lift schedule before you go. If you want to watch the bascules rise, knowing the lift times in advance is useful. The schedule is published on the Tower Bridge website and is updated regularly.
- Wear comfortable shoes. The walkways involve stairs and the surfaces can be uneven in places. The glass floor sections are smooth but wear shoes with good grip.
- Visit early or late in the day. The bridge and surrounding area are busiest mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Arriving when it opens or in the late afternoon means shorter queues and better photographs without crowds.
- The south bank has good cafés and restaurants nearby. Borough Market is a 15-minute walk west along the South Bank and makes an excellent choice for lunch or a post-visit meal. Bermondsey Street, also close by, has a good selection of independent restaurants.
- Photography from the bridge is excellent. The walkways offer views that most tourists never see. Bring a decent camera if photography matters to you — the light on the Thames is particularly good in the early morning and late afternoon.
Why Tower Bridge Still Matters
Tower Bridge is over 130 years old and still fully operational. It still opens for river traffic. The Victorian engineering inside still works. The exhibition is genuinely interesting, and the views from the walkways are among the best in London. It is not simply a postcard image — it is a functioning piece of infrastructure with a remarkable story behind it.
Whether you are visiting London for the first time or have lived here for years, Tower Bridge rewards a proper visit rather than a photograph from the shore. Go inside. Walk the glass floor. Look at the engines. Understand how it was built and why. It is one of those rare things in a major city: a genuine landmark that lives up to its reputation.
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