Know before you go: London Bridge and Tower Bridge


London Bridge brings to mind an old nursery rhyme, but are you picturing the right one when you hear the name?

If this is the bridge that pops up in your head… sorry, this isn’t London Bridge—it’s Tower Bridge. If it’s any consolation, Fergie didn’t get it right either in her 2006 smash hit “London Bridge”.
London Bridge vs Tower Bridge
There are 35 bridges over the Thames River, and while London Bridge is arguably the most well-known bridge, the stately Tower Bridge is the most visually iconic bridge in London, often used as a symbol to represent the city.
The fact that both bridges are right next to each other along the river further adds to the confusion. Here’s a look at what makes London Bridge and Tower Bridge different and why they are both worth adding to your London itinerary.
London Bridge

History of London Bridge
The London Bridge has existed around the same area over the last 2,000 years, from as early as the Roman times. It has been rebuilt several times since. The London Bridge featured in the nursery rhyme and popular culture is likely referring to the older incarnations.
The current-day London Bridge is an 880 foot-long box girder bridge with three sections, a much more modest structure compared to the Tower Bridge a short distance away.

From the 13th to early 19th century, Old London Bridge was the only dry Thames crossing. It was a 292 foot-long bridge with 19 stone arches and an entire residential and commercial district consisting of 140 houses atop it, as well as a waterwheel and mill. Unfortunately, the houses here succumbed to fire several times and were eventually torn down.
The new London Bridge built by architect John Rennie in 1831 was a bridge with five stone arches. While the bridge never actually collapsed, it was one of the most congested areas in late 19th century London and it started sinking into the river at the rate of about an inch every eight years.
In 1967, London Bridge was sold to an American oil entrepreneur who dismantled the bridge and shipped over 10,000 individual bricks to Lake Havasu in Arizona, where it was painstakingly reassembled.
Fun Facts about London Bridge
Some people joke that the American magnate who bought London Bridge might have mistakenly thought he was getting the more statuesque Tower Bridge instead, but that has been proven to be just a rumor in interviews with the City Council man who engineered the sale.
While not the most exciting of architecture, London Bridge is often featured as a backdrop in news segments and documentaries about London, showcasing pedestrians crossing this busy bridge on their daily commute.
Where is London Bridge located?
Located in Central London, the closest Tube stations for London Bridge are Monument (Circle Line, District Line) on the north bank and London Bridge (Jubilee Line, Northern Line) on the south bank. London Bridge is bookended by the Church of St. Magnus the Martyr and London’s oldest Gothic church Southwark Cathedral.
Here are some useful tips for using the Tube like a seasoned local.
Tips for visiting London Bridge

Despite its history, London Bridge today is a pretty ordinary bridge that vehicles and people use to cross the Thames. It’s one of the better spots to get a view of Tower Bridge, which is a short walk away.
For something a little more fun, you can check out the London Bridge Experience, a theatrical tour that takes you through the vaults beneath London Bridge, but be prepared for some jump scares. Other things to do nearby include enjoying the selection of food at Borough Market or heading up The Shard for the highest panoramic view of London.
Tower Bridge

History of London’s Tower Bridge
The construction of the 800 foot-long Victorian Gothic-style Tower Bridge started in 1886 and took eight years to complete.

While it’s often referred to as a drawbridge as the center portion can rise up to allow larger boats to pass through, it’s technically a bascule (French for seesaw) bridge where the two road sections move in a seesaw manner to open and close instead of being drawn up by ropes or chains.
Fun Facts about Tower Bridge
In 1952, a London bus driving towards Shoreditch somehow ended up on the bridge while the bascule was rising. It successfully crossed the gap with its 20 passengers mostly unharmed, save for the bus driver who broke his leg.
In more recent times, the bridge was featured prominently in the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, which included a scene with James Bond and a stunt double of the Queen in a helicopter flying past the bridge.
Where is Tower Bridge located?
Tower Bridge is located right next to the Tower of London on its northern end, which is also where the entrance to the Tower Bridge walkways is located. The closest Tube station is Tower Hill Station (District Line, Circle Line), a 7-min walk away.
You can visit both bridges on the same day as the latter is a mere 15-mins walk east of London Bridge. Other notable landmarks to spot along the way include the Gherkin and HMS Belfast.
Tips for visiting Tower Bridge

You can walk across the bridge for free any time of day and if you time it right (tip: check the Tower Bridge website to see the projected bridge lift schedule), you can see the roads rise up to allow boats through. Avoid the big crowds by visiting the bridge as soon as it opens, or just before closing.
With a ticket, you can climb the towers of the bridge and enjoy the London cityscape from an elevated walkway with glass floors. Tower Bridge also offers one of the best views in London at night, making it a popular spot for night photography tours.
There are also permanent exhibitions showcasing the people who helped build the bridge and visits to the Victorian engine rooms that once powered the bridge lifts.
There are discounted tickets for families, students, seniors, and the disabled. Children under 5 can enter for free. Every third Saturday of the month, there are Relaxed Openings catered to visitors with sensory overload.
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