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

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
Our visit to Tower Bridge in London was truly one of the best experiences we had as a family during our trip. The iconic structure is not only a marvel to look at from the outside, but the inside tour adds so much depth and excitement to the visit. The high-level glass walkways gave us stunning views over the River Thames and the city, and walking across them was both thrilling and memorable—especially for the kids!
One of the highlights for us was the family activity session inside the Tower Bridge Exhibition. It was a hands-on creative experience where my child and I got to make art using patterns we had seen around the bridge. We used threads and aluminum foil to recreate these patterns, and then brought them to life with color. It was such a fun and engaging way to tie in art with history, and it really kept the little ones interested and involved.
We also planned our visit to coincide with the bridge opening, which added something extra special to the day. Thanks to the online schedule available on the official website, we were able to time our arrival perfectly and watch the bridge lift for a passing boat—a really unique and cool thing to witness in person!
A quick tip: I highly recommend booking your tickets in advance. It helped us avoid the long queues and get straight to enjoying everything Tower Bridge has to offer. Between the amazing views, the interactive exhibits, and the well-organized family activities, it was a fantastic day out that we’ll all remember for a long time.
Lino James - a month ago
The combination of its historic architecture and stunning views of the Thames makes it truly special. You can walk across the high-level glass floors for a unique perspective of the city or explore the engine rooms to learn about the bridge’s fascinating Victorian engineering.
The area around the bridge is lively and offers great photo opportunities, especially at sunset. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning, Tower Bridge never loses its charm.
Sharjin Usman - a month ago
Tower Bridge never gets old—I’ve visited it many times, but today was special. The weather was sunny, full of summer vibes, and I finally captured it! The iconic structure, the light, the energy—everything was perfect😍 A timeless London landmark that always delivers.♥️
YoYo - a week ago
Lovely part of central London to explore, even as a South London local. I didn't book the tour for Tower Bridge but I did find out that London residents especially living in South London post codes can get a really good discounted entry price. I plan to go again, and will update/confirm if this is the case.
London Bridge, Tower Bridge and the surrounding areas are definitely worth a visit even if you just want to chill by the riverside or walk across the Tower Bridge itself.
And you do have other places to consider visiting such as the Tower of London and The HMS Belfast - but maybe not all in the same day. ..
😎
Sarah ساره - a week ago
We got the tickets via GetYourGuide. We were 10 minutes late, so I was worried that we wouldn't be able to get in. But we were able to go straight in without queuing. Lucky us :) Very interesting. You have to walk up a lot of steps, so not for people who are not good on their feet. The bridge is impressive and you have a great view. To see the engine room, you have to leave the bridge and walk to the shop. You can get through there quickly. But also very impressive. Would recommend it.
Mona - 2 weeks ago
Directions
Tube Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
---|---|---|
Northern and Jubilee Lines | London Bridge Station | 12 MInutes |
District and Circle Lines | Tower Hill Station | 10 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.
Map & Instant Route Finder
Click&Go Map and Route Finder with public transit, walking, driving or cycling directions. Get up-to-the-minute transit times for your route.
Accommodations near Tower Bridge:
Photo Gallery
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View of London's famous Tower Bridge framing the 40 storey Gherkin Tower -
Tower Bridge with bascules being raised -
Photo Credit: Croydon Clicker - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Giuseppe Milo (www.gmilo.com) - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Croydon Clicker - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Stuart Smith. - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Croydon Clicker - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: www.mgaylard.co.uk and thanks for looking - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Stuart Smith. - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: KirkandLynn_photos - cc license via Flickr
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