Tower Bridge is one of London's most iconic, recognisable landmarks, visible on tea towels, postcards and tourist guide books along with Big Ben, St Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London. Connecting the North and South banks of the city, close to the Tower of London and the Shard, it can be found on every tourist's London bucket list as a must visit attraction.
It's a common misconception that this magnificent twin towered bridge with swooping blue steel links is London Bridge - visitors can't believe that such a famous river crossing, immortalised in its own nursery rhyme, is actually a very grey, significantly less snazzy, 1970s concrete structure about half a mile upriver.
What can you see at Tower Bridge?
Walking across Tower Bridge is well worth doing (it has wide pedestrian walkways on both sides with railings between you and the traffic), or you could catch a red double decker bus over it (routes 15, 42, 78, 100, and 343 all go over Tower Bridge) or the Thames Clipper under it. For a more in depth visit, you can pay to go up the Bridge's North Tower and across the high level walkways to the South Tower, taking in magnificent views on both sides, and looking down at the traffic below through a glass floor.
Your ticket also includes access to the Victorian Engine Rooms where you can see the original coal furnaces and steam engines that once powered the bridge's bascules (the sections of road that lift) and some of the original hydraulic machinery.
The Ticket Office is on the west side of the North Tower, where visitors can climb the stairs (or take a lift) to the high-level Walkways.
The biggest tip we can give you before visiting Tower Bridge is to book a timed ticket in advance!! There are two queues, one for pre-booked slots and one for general walk ups (including London Pass holders) and if the bridge is very busy, those with timed tickets will get priority and those without could be in for a long wait...
The Walkways were built as part of the original design of the bridge, with the intention that pedestrians could use them to cross when the bridge was open. However, the lifting mechanisms were so efficient that by the time you got up there, the bridge would have closed again, and so they were shut in 1910.
Once you're up there, there are plenty of information boards about the history of the Bridge and the people who built and worked on it. The Walkways also provide amazing views over London and the Thames. You're right above the Tower of London, with the Shard and HMS Belfast close by, but you'll also see St Paul's Cathedral in the distance along with other famous London buildings such as the Gherkin and the Walkie Talkie. The Eastern Walkway looks out over the Pool of London and Canary Wharf.
The highlight of the Walkways are their glass floors, 11.5 metres long and 1.8 metres wide, where you can look down to see the traffic, pedestrians and river 42 metres below. No need to worry, the glass is 7cm thick and can hold the weight of 4 London black taxis or 6 elephants! The Eastern Walkway also has a mirrored ceiling so you can take a selfie lying on the glass floor. The top 'sacrificial layer' is replaced every 18 months or so.
If you're visiting with young children, we've also written Top tips for visiting Tower Bridge with a baby.
From the South Tower, visitors head back down to street level and follow the Blue Line of Fame to the Victorian Engine Rooms. This collection of 80 bronze plaques commemorates dozens of people who worked on the Bridge, from the Bridge Master to a 14 year old rivet boy.
Keep your ticket safe to gain entry to the Engine Rooms, a short walk from Tower Bridge on the south side of the river, where you can see the original Victorian steam engines, accumulators and boilers. Today, the bascules are still operated by hydraulic power, but in 1976 they switched to oil and electric power rather than steam.
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Useful information:
Tower Bridge is open daily 09:30 - 18:00. Last entry is 17:00.
On the second Saturday every month, between 9:30 and 11:30, entry to Tower Bridge is reserved for Relaxed Opening: for "anyone who would like to explore the Bridge in a calm, tranquil atmosphere, including people with autism and any other needs, as well as their siblings, families and carers."
Tower Bridge tickets
Tickets can be booked online or on the door, however as mentioned before, we'd strongly recommend booking a timed slot in advance so that you don't end up waiting for ages.
Adult | £13.40 |
Child (aged 5-15) | £6.70 |
Disabled Adult | £10.10 |
Disabled Child (aged 5-15) | £5.00 |
Companion (one per disabled visitor) | Free |
Student (aged 16+ with ID) | £10.10 |
Senior (aged 60+ with ID) | £10.10 |
Under 5s | Free |
If you're a resident of City of London Square Mile, Southwark or Tower Hamlets, you can buy £1 ticket! (Proof of residency will be required)
Security/restrictions at Tower Bridge.
Tower Bridge operates bag searches upon entry. Shoulder bags and small backpacks are allowed inside, but suitcases, wheeled bags and oversize items are not.
Accessibility
Tower Bridge, the Walkways and the Engine Rooms are all fully accessible for buggies, prams and wheelchairs. There is a lift in the main entrance that will take you up to top of the North Tower, and one on the far side in the South Tower to bring you back down to street level. There is also an external lift to access the Engine Rooms entrance and the Tower Bridge Gift Shop from bridge level to the Thames footpath level on the southeast side of the Bridge.
NB: When we visited in July 2024 the South Tower lift was out of action, so we needed to retrace our steps back across the walkway to the North Tower lift, and then crossed the bridge on foot to link up with the Blue Line of Fame and the Engine Rooms.
You can book Deaf led guided tours (BSL signed Tour without spoken translation) and guided tours accompanied by live British Sign Language interpretation.
Toilets, accessible toilets and baby changing facilities are located in both Towers and in the Engine Rooms.
Quick facts about Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge took 8 years to build from 1886 -1894.
Tower Bridge's Walkways were opened to tourists in 1982, and their glass floors were installed in 2014.
In December 1952, as a number 78 double-decker bus was crossing Tower Bridge from the south side, the bridge began to open. The driver, Albert Gunter, made a daring decision. He accelerated, propelling the vehicle across a 3-foot gap, dropping 6 feet and safely landing on the other side, which had yet to rise. Miraculously, no one was seriously hurt.
Tower Bridge is a used by over 40,000 motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians every day. Its location on the Inner Ring Road, just outside the congestion charge zone, makes it a popular route for drivers looking to avoid the fee.
Watching Tower Bridge lift
Tower Bridge opens around 800 times per year to allow tall vessels through. If you'd like to see if your visit coincides with a bridge lift and what is sailing through, you can check lift times here and watch the bascules in action! Please be aware that scheduled bridge openings may be cancelled unexpectedly without public notice.
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