Visiting the Tower Bridge London: History, Views, and a Glass Walkway
Tower Bridge stands as one of London’s iconic landmarks. It’s a must-visit attraction in London, and did you really go to London if you didn’t visit the Tower Bridge?
So many people I chat with have no idea you can actually walk up to the top of the Tower Bridge! It’s one of London’s more budget-friendly attractions and a great experience! There’s even a glass walkway over the River Thames!
Visiting the Tower Bridge: History, Views, and a Really Cool Glass Walkway
History of the Tower Bridge in London
Crossing the Thames in this location was only possible at the nearby London Bridge, which was generally overcrowded. Londoners needed a new bridge to ease the congestion and maintain the flow of shipped goods coming into the city. Sir Horace Jones and engineer Sir John Wolfe Barry designed a drawbridge in a Neo-Gothic style to match the Tower of London, per the request of Queen Victoria.
Construction of the Tower Bridge started in 1886 and took eight years to complete, using over 11,000 tons of steel! Powered by steam and pressure, the drawbridge could be raised within minutes, allowing ships to pass and keeping the industry flowing. Today, the bridge no longer relies on steam power, but you can visit the Victorian Engine Room as part of your Tower Bridge attraction ticket.
The glass walkway was added in 2014 and has slowly been gaining more and more visitors every year, but still hasn’t broken the million mark! So hop on this attraction before it gets overcrowded!
Things to Do at the Tower Bridge
Views from the Tower Bridge
One of the main reasons for visiting the Tower Bridge is the view over London. Yes, there are other places in London where you can get amazing views, but the view from the middle of The Thames is on another level.
You are surrounded by glass, and the view is amazing. You can open the small window panels if you want a better shot with no glass glare!
The Glass Walkway
The 11-meter-long glass walkway is suspended 42 meters above the River Thames and will take your breath away (literally!). If you are afraid of heights, you probably don’t want to look down, and if you are scared to step on the glass walkway, you can keep to the side and avoid it altogether!
Two bridges connect the towers, each with a glass walkway. The second walkway has a mirror on the ceiling where you can take a selfie on top of the glass. There are six glass panels per floor with a total thickness of 70mm and can hold the weight of an elephant! (or two London cabs)
Once you complete the first walkway to the next tower, you don’t have to go to the second bridge as it’s a dead end, but you will get views of the Tower of London and The Shard from this side.
The Victorian Engine Rooms
If you’ve ever wondered what kept the Tower Bridge moving before the age of modern hydraulics, the Victorian Engine Room is where the magic happened. Hidden beneath the bridge, this fascinating space houses the original steam engines and the bascule (lifting) system.
I think it’s fascinating to see how the bridge used to be powered and how advanced the technology was for the period.
The Victorian Engine Rooms are included in your Tower Bridge ticket, so when you are finished with the glass walkway and the top half of the bridge, walk down the tower onto street level and follow the markings on the floor to the Tower Bridge gift shop and engine rooms. You will have to show your ticket again to gain entry.
If you want to know more history about the Tower Bridge and how the original steam system worked, there is a chance you will be able to take a Behind the Scenes Tour. The tours are very rare and sell out quickly, but give you an inside look at the workings of the bridge, you even go under the bridge and the river into the massive Bascule Chambers! If you want to join the mailing list for tour notifications, you can do so on the TOWER BRIDGE OFFICIAL WEBSITE.
Tower Bridge as a Filming Location
It’s not surprising to hear that one of London’s most iconic landmarks has made an appearance in several movies and TV shows… in fact, I can’t even name them all because it’s so many.
But here are some iconic scenes involving the Tower Bridge…
The Friends episode, “The One with Ross’ Wedding: Part 1”, Joey and Chandler take an open-top bus across the Tower Bridge and the season three finale of Killing Eve when Eve and Villanelle meet on the bridge.
Spider-Man: Far From Home was actually filmed inside the Tower Bridge experience and the bridge is destroyed in Independence Day: Resurgence.
Visiting the Tower Bridge in London
How to Get to the Tower Bridge
The closest underground station to the Tower Bridge is Tower Hill on the Circle and District lines. It will take you under 10 minutes to walk from the station to the Tower Bridge attraction entrance. When you exit the station, cross the main road and walk to the left of the Tower of London. Stay on the right side of the bridge and you’ll see the entrance at the first tower.
If you take the Uber Boat (a great, budget-friendly option for exploring London from a different perspective), the ferry docks in front of the Tower of London, so walk along the river banks towards the bridge (you can’t miss it) and stay on the right side of the bridge once you climb to the top.
Several buses stop at the Tower Bridge bus stop, including buses 15, 42, 78, and 100. It is the cheapest way to get around London, but it can also take a while with the amount of stops and traffic in the city. My advice is to grab an Oyster card and then you have the option to use all three modes of transport!
Accessibility
The Tower Bridge is very accessible, there is an elevator that guests can request to use… no need to pre-book, just ask one of the staff on duty! You will come down in the same elevator and have to continue across the bridge to the other side where the Victorian Engine Rooms are. There is also an elevator at the end of the bridge to get to ground level.
Unfortunately, the Behind the Scenes Tour is not accessible.
Things to Do Around Tower Bridge
The Tower Bridge is conveniently located close to other landmarks and plenty of other things to do in London. So when you are finished visiting the Tower Bridge, you can include these other places and experiences on your London itinerary!
- Tower of London: Luckily, the Tower Bridge is next to the Tower of London, so you can combine the two attractions before lunch! Walk around the iconic fortress, check out the dazzling crown jewels, take a Yeoman Warder tour, and spot all the famous ravens.
- Coppa Club: This is an amazing restaurant with views of the Tower Bridge and The Shard. If you want to eat in one of their Insta-Famous igloos, you will need to book a spot, but totally worth it! If you go for breakfast, there is no booking fee or minimum requirement for the igloos before 11am!
- The Shard: If you want food with a view, then head up to one of The Shard’s seven restaurants and bars. These are more on the pricey side, but afternoon tea at Aqua Shard is magical. There is also a set of observation decks on the top, including an open-air sky deck on level 72.
- St Katharine Docks: I feel like this is somewhat of a “hidden gem” in London… you can take a stroll around away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Visit the annual Classic Boat Festival or check out one of the restaurants or bars. My favorite is the Dickens Inn, a classic wooden tavern with three floors and balcony seating.
- St Dunstan-in-the-East: This is a pretty garden in the middle of church ruins. It’s unusually quiet for being in the middle of the city, and worth a wander around.
- HMS Belfast: Explore the nine-deck WWII warship which is permanently moored on The Thames. Purchase tickets in advance to get ahead of the queue.
Why You Should Visit the Tower Bridge Experience
If you haven’t been convinced yet, this is the final plea. Visiting the Tower Bridge is your chance to see iconic views and learn about a small piece of London’s history with fewer people than other London landmarks like the Tower of London or the British Museum… seriously, it will not be like this forever (unfortunately)!
It’s also very family-friendly! If you are trying to figure out historical locations that the kids will enjoy too, because let’s be honest, even you didn’t like walking around a boring art museum when you were four! Then the Tower Bridge is perfect, you get a great mix of history and family fun!
The Tower Bridge is one of those classic London memories you won’t be forgetting anytime soon! So add this to your list and get ready to see London in a whole new perspective!
Are you planning your trip to the Tower Bridge? Have you been before? What was your favorite thing about visiting the Tower Bridge? Let me know in the comment below, I love chatting with you!
Check out my other posts about London and the UK!
- 1-Day Itinerary for London
- 3-Day London Itinerary
- Easy Day Trips from London
- How to Get to York from London
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