London Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is one of London's most recognized landmarks and one of the most recognized bridges in the world

Striking view of the Tower Bridge at dusk
Striking view of the Tower Bridge at dusk cc licensed photo by James Petts

One of London's most iconic landmarks, Tower Bridge is one attraction you won't want to miss seeing up close. You might also want to check out the Tower Bridge Exhibition where you can learn more about the history of the bridge and enjoy some great views of London from the upper walkways.

London's Tower Bridge was constructed between 1884 and 1892 to fill the need for an additional crossing over the Thames River east of London Bridge. The challenge was to build a bridge without disrupting the river traffic. This resulted in the final design which utilized bascules (counterbalanced spans) between two tall towers that could be raised to allow ships to pass through. The powerful hydraulic system that opens the bridge is located in the base of the towers and can raise the bridge in just one minute. Originally powered by steam, they have been converted to oil and electricity since 1976.

The upper portion of the towers are joined by a unique high level walkway that allowed foot traffic to cross the bridge when the spans where raised. These were closed in 1910 due to lack of use and crime, but reopened in 1982 as part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition. In 2014 glass floors were installed in the walkways enabling visitors to experience a dizzying straight down view as they walk across the bridge.

Tower Bridge is located adjacent to the Tower of London so you may want to combine both into one visit.

The Tower Bridge Exhibition is open daily from 10am to 5:30pm during Summer and from 9:30am to 5pm during Winter except on December 24th to 26th. There is a nominal admission charge to see the inside exhibits.

For more information about Tower Bridge including hours and admission charges for the Tower Bridge Exhibition visit their official website at the link below.



Facts For Your Visit

Fee: No - except for the inside exhibits which you can purchase tickets for on the official website.

Tower Bridge Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays

  • Monday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Thursday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Friday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Saturday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Sunday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Address: Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 2UP, UK

Phone: 020 7403 3761

Official Website: Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge Reviews

Rated 4.8 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating I arrived in mid-August 2024. I walked from the Monument station along the river, enjoying the view of London's iconic landmarks from a distance. It was beautiful!!! I used a city pass and made an online reservation for the 9 AM entry. I only had to wait in line for 15 minutes before heading up. I was really impressed by the creativity of the people of England who built such a beautiful structure. The floor in the middle of the tower has glass, which gives a thrilling view of the traffic moving below. You should also try taking a double-decker bus across the bridge. Seeing London's landmarks from a different perspective is also a very enjoyable experience.
Suzuki Emily - 2 weeks ago

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5 Star Rating This was an absolutely amazing visit, and we were happy to be able to do it. I made a reservation online one day before as we were four people. It also applied an online discount, which was nice perk. The bridge is full of history, amazing signs explaining all about it. It's definitely one of our highlights of visiting London and especially with beautiful weather.
Jana Miskarova - a week ago

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5 Star Rating Visited and passed the Tower Bridge many times but never wrote a review. This time was at night. Crossed over to see the beautiful view over the bridge. Tower Bridge is one of the most iconic London attractions. It's also very easy to visit and London's next must-see architectural marvel, not to mention the most famous bridge that crosses the beautiful River Thames. You can walk across the bridge for free or, for a slight fee, you can walk up inside the bridge, take in the breathtaking skyline and walk across the glass bottom walkway. I walked, crossed over, passed the Tower of London, then turned right to the tube station and had easy access to other places.
Siri - 2 weeks ago

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5 Star Rating What an experience! We went during the evening and it was so nice to see the night lights from the surroundings as well as the cars from the glass floor! We enjoyed the introduction video and walking on the glass was a whole new experience! There are some extra things to see as well as well as you can read more Information about them by scanning the QR codes for each of them! We also made a postcard with our on photo taken on the tower bridge which is a great souvenir! Then we visited the museum under the bridge with the mechanism which was really interesting! Definitely worths every pound!
Ελένη Μαυρουδή (Eleni Mavroudi) - a week ago

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5 Star Rating Tower Bridge stands as one of London’s most iconic landmarks, seamlessly blending Victorian engineering with timeless grandeur. By day, it is an architectural marvel; by night, illuminated against the city skyline, it transforms into a breathtaking spectacle. Beyond its striking design, the bridge offers a fascinating glimpse into history, with its glass walkway and exhibition providing insight into its construction and significance. A must-visit attraction, Tower Bridge remains a testament to London’s enduring heritage and engineering excellence.
Ken Wong - 2 weeks ago

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Directions

Tube Line Nearest Station Walking Time
Northern and Jubilee LinesLondon Bridge Station12 MInutes
District and Circle LinesTower Hill Station10 MInutes

How to get to Tower Bridge by Tube

From London Bridge Tube Station on the south bank exit onto Tooley Street and walk to your right (east) to Potters Field Park and then north through the park to the foot of the bridge.

From Tower Hill Station on the north bank exit to the south and follow Tower Hill Terrace east to the Tower Bridge approach.

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