Many would argue that a tour of London’s historic sights isn’t complete without a stop at Tower Bridge tour of London’s historic sights isn’t complete without a stop at Tower Bridge. Popular ways to experience the bridge include seeing it from the water on a Thames River cruise or driving along Tower Bridge Road and across the bridge on a hop-on hop-off city tour.
Some London walking tours combine a stroll across the bridge with a visit to the Tower of London (which stands at the northern end of the bridge). Tours often continue along the Thames riverfront past landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament & Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the London Eye. If you want to learn more about the 19th-century bridge and take in the views from the high walkways, visit the Tower Bridge Exhibition, housed in the bridge’s northwest tower. Entrance to the exhibition is free for London Pass holders, and discounted Tower Bridge tickets are available for children and area residents. Tower Bridge tours that visit the towers, high-level walkways, glass floors, and Victorian engine rooms are available on weekends.
Tower Bridge is a must for architecture and engineering aficionados, and all first-time visitors to London.
While you can walk, cycle, or drive across the bridge, the most spectacular views are from the top walkways—part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition.
River traffic takes priority over road traffic, and vehicles and pedestrians have to wait when the bascules are raised.
The bridge is accessible to wheelchair users and strollers.
Tower Bridge is the easternmost of central London’s main bridges. The Tower Bridge Exhibition entrance is on the northern side of the river. The closest Tube stations are Tower Hill (District and Circle lines) on the north side of the bridge and London Bridge (Northern and Jubilee lines) on the south side. Riverboats stop at Tower Pier on the north bank and London Bridge City Pier on the south bank.
It’s almost impossible to avoid crowds along Tower Bridge, especially in peak season (July and August), but opting for an early morning or late evening stroll across the bridge offers the best chance. Arrive in time for sunrise, when the lighting is perfect and the crowds are thin, if you want to capture a dramatic photograph of the bridge. If possible, time your arrival to coincide with the opening of the bascule bridge. The Tower Bridge website has details on opening times.
At the Tower Bridge Exhibition, you can discover the tower’s fascinating history, peek into the Victorian engine rooms, and learn about its complex mechanics while watching a virtual bridge lift. The highlight is the chance to walk the 138-foot-high (42-meter) walkways at the very top of the towers.
The East Walkway offers great views along the River Thames, including the HMS Belfast and London Bridge, while the Glass Walkway lets you look down through a glass floor to the cars and pedestrians on the bridge below. Guided tours offer behind-the-scenes access to areas including the bridge control room, the machinery room, and the bascule chambers.
