Tower Bridge is one of the most recognized bridges in the world and the views of London from the high corridors are impressive. When it was built, Tower Bridge was the largest and most sophisticated bascule bridge ever built (“bascula” comes from the French for “up and down”).
The high walkways
The Tower Bridge exhibition is located on the two high walkways (above the opening section) and then in the engine rooms. All areas are fully accessible and there is a lift / lift to take you to the high walkways (and back down).
You can get great views from the two high walkways, and the staff are knowledgeable, so 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 attracted many more visitors and it is worth checking Tower Bridge’s elevation times to see if you can visit it to see one from above.
There is also free Wi-Fi on the high walkways so you can share your photos on social media right away. Plus, there’s a free downloadable app to view the elevated bridge on your phone or iPad, in case you don’t see an actual bridge while visiting.
The high walkways also have displays in multiple languages, including touchscreens for testing and information.
Photography is absolutely recommended and there are little ‘camera windows’ that you can open to take photos of the sights.
What to expect
From the ticket office in the north tower, start with an elevator (lift) up to one of the high walkways, 42 meters above the River Thames. The elevator attendant explains what to expect in the upper corridors. Upstairs in the North Tower is an animated video of John Wolfe-Barry, Horace Jones, and Queen Victoria as portraits talking about the bridge and how it came into being. It is interesting and informative but also fun.
Tip: Look out the window at the North Tower, where you first arrive, for a great view of the Tower of London.
There are two high walkways that offer incredible views and there are some signs to explain the history of Tower Bridge. Usually there is a temporary exhibition on one of the catwalks so you can learn something current. I found out that the Thames is 30 feet deep at low tide and there are 100 species of fish living under the bridge.
The elevator (lift) down is from the south tower and takes you to the bridge level. From there, follow a blue line painted on the sidewalk (pavement), go down some steps, and enter the Victorian engine rooms. If you can’t handle the steps, you have to walk a bit to the end of the bridge and turn left, left, left and you will arrive at the same place.
In the engine rooms, you can discover hydraulic power and be amazed by this Victorian engineering masterpiece. Learn about the 6 stages of steam and hydraulic power used from 1894 to 1976. In 1976, Tower Bridge switched to electric power.
Your visit ends at the small gift shop that sells many London souvenirs.
Duration of the visit: 1.5 hours
Bridge lifts
When Tower Bridge ran on steam, it rose 600 times a year, but now it runs on electric motors, it rises about 1,000 times a year. Tower Bridge needs to be raised to allow the passage of tall ships, cruise ships, ships and other large vessels.
History of the tower bridge
In 1884, Horace Jones and John Wolfe Barry began building Tower Bridge, but Horace Jones died a year later. Barry went on and took 8 years to build. 432 men were employed to build the bridge and during the 8 years, only 10 men died, which is quite exceptional as there were no health and safety rules at the time.
Two massive pillars had to be sunk into the river bed to support the construction and more than 11,000 tons of Scottish steel provided the framework for the Towers and Walkways, with 2 million rivets holding it all together. It was then clad with Cornish granite and Portland stone; both to protect the underlying steel structure and to give the Bridge a more pleasant appearance. The Prince of Wales opened Tower Bridge on June 30, 1894.
The high corridors were originally completely open, that is, without a roof or windows. By 1910 they were closed, as people preferred to wait at street level when the bridge was raised rather than climb the stairs with heavy loads.
On December 28, 1952, a number 78 double-decker bus did not stop as the bridge began to rise. He just managed to clear the three foot drop to the other scale. There are no photographs, 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 it was a chocolate brown color.
In 2009, freestyle motocross star Robbie Maddison performed a back flip over an open Tower Bridge in the middle of the night. Your bike is now on display in the engine rooms.
Visitor Information
Opening hours:
- Summer hours: April to September: 10:00 – 17:30
- Winter hours: October to March: 09:30 – 17:00
- Closed December 24 and 25. Open from 10 am on January 1.
Address: Tower Bridge Exhibition, Tower Bridge, London SE1 2UP
Official website: www.towerbridge.org.uk
Nearest metro stations:
- Tower Hill (north of the river)
- London Bridge (south of the river)
Use Journey Planner or the Citymapper app to plan your route on public transportation.
Tickets: There is a charge for the Tower Bridge exhibit. 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.
Where to eat locally:
- Santa Catalina Pier
- Cafe in the basement of the Town Hall (only on weekdays).
- The refectory of Southwark Cathedral
Places of interest:
- Torre de Londres
- HMS Belfast
- Golden Hinde
- Tate Modern
- London Eye.
You can also look for Love Locks on Tower Bridge and elsewhere in London.
