Tower Bridge: Grade I listed, neo-Gothic designed bridge in London

As London’s most fabulous visually stunning crossing, the Tower Bridge is well known for its neo-Gothic design and rising pivotal passages. London’s coupled bascule and closure bridge has been around for 127 years and is listed as grade I.

It is one of five London bridges that the bridge house estates, a private foundation, owns and maintains. It spans the river Thames parallel to the tower of London. Because of its illustrious past, stunning architecture, and breathtaking views of London, Tower Bridge is still a well-liked tourist destination.

 

How to reach the Tower Bridge?

Visitors can go to the Tower Bridge by train. The London bridge train station is just 2.7 km from Tower Bridge. London city hall bus is 78m apart from the Tower Bridge at stop L. Visitors can also travel in the Pier boat to reach the tower in 482 metres.

Walking is even more interesting as you can alight at Edgware road and board the circle line. Get off at tower hill, and Tower Bridge is a 7-minute stroll from here.

Address: Tower bridge road, London, United Kingdom

 

Tower Bridge: History

• In 1876, the city of London corporation launched a design contest. After receiving more than 50 entries, they selected Horace Jones and John Wolfe Barry’s Tower Bridge design in 1884. The Tower Bridge was constructed in April 1886 and was inaugurated on June 30, 1894.
• The Tower Bridge was constructed between 1886 and 1894 to reduce traffic in the east end of London while maintaining access to the river Thames.
• On June 30, 1894, the Prince and Princess of Wales formally inaugurated the bridge.
• The high-level walkways were shut down in 1910 for lack of use.
• Tower bridge switched to an electrified hydraulic system in 1976, replacing its steam-driven system.
• The Tower Bridge was painted red, white, and blue in 1977 to commemorate the queen’s silver jubilee.
• In 1982, the Tower Bridge reopened to the public with the Tower Bridge experience as a permanent installation.

There were difficulties in integrating the architectural design with the then-current Victorian technology. However, the architects combined various components, such as the chimney between the north tower’s lamp posts, to preserve the aesthetics without sacrificing their usefulness.

 

Tower Bridge: Design elements

The Tower Bridge construction was ongoing from 1886 up until 1894, and around 432 people from five firms worked on it. The Tower Bridge and the neighbouring tower of London are beautifully merged with a Victorian Gothic design. Each tower’s base is home to machinery that raises two of the bridge’s components, allowing river traffic to pass beneath the bridge.

Source: Pinterest

• The bridge is 800 feet and 244 metres long and has two pier-built towers, each 213 feet and 65 metres tall.
• The 200 feet/61 metres long central span between the towers is divided into two equal bascules or leaves that can rise to an 83-degree angle to let river traffic pass.
• The word “bascule” is derived from the french for “seesaw.” Hydraulic energy is used to raise these bascules to their maximum angle.
• This 240-metre-long suspension bridge has two side spans that are each 82 metres long. Additionally, it has 2 million rivets and approximately 31 million bricks.
• It is clad in cornish granite and portland stone to protect the steel structure and as an aesthetic element.
• It has 70,000 tonnes of concrete and about 10,000 tonnes of steel in the foundations.
• A pair of glass-covered walkways well-liked by tourists extend between the towers. The walkways were initially intended to let people stroll across while the bridge was being raised.
• About 42 metres above the river Thames are where the walkways are located.
• It is not just a bridge but also an excellent location for royal weddings, celebrations, and festivities.
• The Tower Bridge’s construction cost £1,184,000 in total.

Tower Bridge: Informative details

• Around twice a day, 800 times a year, the Tower Bridge’s bascules open. The Tower Bridge’s bascules were raised 17 times each day in the starting year of 1894!
• The bridge was prominently shown in an exhibition in June 2012 along the Thames during Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee pageant.
• The Tower Bridge was initially painted in a chocolate-brown hue. It was painted red, white, and blue in 1977 to commemorate the queen’s silver jubilee.
• Steam engines that burned coal were used to power the Tower Bridge when it opened, but in the 1970s, these were replaced by machines that ran on electricity and oil.
• A gigantic set of Olympic rings was on display on Tower Bridge as part of the festivities honouring London’s hosting of the 2012 Olympic games.

 

View from the Tower Bridge

Source: Pinterest

Visitors can view The Shard, the highest structure in Europe, from this side of the river. Tourists can visit London Bridge by crossing Tower Bridge and walking along the river. Along the route, it is good to pass by Shakespeare’s Globe and the Tate Modern, home to a wide variety of contemporary works and consistently exciting exhibitions.

 

Today’s Tower Bridge

As a part of the Tower Bridge experience, an exhibition primarily housed in the bridge’s twin towers, they have now been reopened. The museum also offers access to the steam engines that initially propelled the bridge’s bascules. The tower is constructed in a building near the south end of the bridge and features images, holograms, and a film chronicling the construction.

Source: Pinterest

Hyde Park hotel visitors will find enough to enjoy Tower Bridge and its galleries, which also offer a window into London’s past as a centre for infrastructure. It is possible to observe the bridge’s command centre, where the rising of the bridge as a vessel passes underneath is regulated, during a behind-the-scenes tour that visitors can schedule in advance. As of now, about 900 times a year, the bridge’s bascules are raised.

 

Tower Bridge timings

Opening and closing times	9.30 am to 6 pm
Last entry	5 pm
Shut down period	Between December 24 and 25
Reservation time	Third Saturday of the month (9.30-11.30 am)
Tour period of Tower Bridge	One hour

 

FAQs

Is there a difference between London Bridge and Tower Bridge?

Plainer than the Tower Bridge, the London Bridge is located further up the river and is different.

What is accessible at the Tower Bridge?

Tourists can travel to all towers and engine room floors via lift access as everyone can experience the iconic monument of London without risk. You can also use the accessible restrooms.

What other sights can I find nearby?

There are several attractions and the city of London's most significant sites close to Tower Bridge: Tower of London, HMS Belfast, Shards view and The monument to the great fire of London.