Tower Bridge is probably one of the most famous chain bridges in the world. It stands near the Tower and connects the City of London with Tower Hamlets.

You can walk across the bridge, take a double-decker ride, book a guided tour and get on the upper footbridges, or just sit on the banks of the Thames and watch the bustle of the surrounding area.

Hotels with Thames views

In order to allow the passage of taller boats, the bridge is a lifting bridge and to this day this mechanism is functional and in use.

Tower Bridge is one of the pinnacles of Victorian engineering and, along with Big Ben, is probably one of the most iconic symbols of London and the whole of Britain.

Many tourists mistakenly believe that London Bridge is another name for Tower Bridge, but the fact is that London Bridge is a very different, older (but rather drab) bridge closer to the centre.

The history and appearance of the bridge

The industrial expansion of east London in the 19th century prompted the need for a new bridge across the Thames. The hitherto easternmost London Bridge was no longer sufficient in capacity.

The architectural choice was a difficult one, as the new bridge had to allow the passage of taller ships into the main London harbour, which was located between London Bridge and Tower Bridge.

The architect Horace Jones eventually came up with a solution in the form of a chain bridge with massive 65 metre high ornate piers and a lifting central section of bridge deck. Two pedestrian footbridges run over 45 metres high to allow free passage for pedestrians when the bridge deck is raised for boat passage.

Construction began in 1886 and was completed in 1894. During 1888, the originally medieval style of piers was replaced with a more ornate Victorian Gothic style.

Today, the bridge serves both pedestrian and road traffic and is still one of the main thoroughfares of east London. More than 40,000 cars cross the bridge every day, despite the fact that there is also a motorway tunnel under the Thames in this part of the city.

Boat crossing and lifting times

Although London's main port has long since moved to a modern terminal at the mouth of the Thames, many mainly cruise, but also occasionally freight, boats still travel up the river to the centre.

Hence Tower Bridge to this day functions as a lifting bridge and the bridge deck is lifted surprisingly often for many: usually 50-80 times a year. On some days the bridge is lifted more than once a day, and there are other times when the bridge deck is not lifted for more than 14 days.

If you don't want to rely on chance and see Tower Bridge raised, you can plan your visit according to fixed times, which are set more than six months in advance, but can change operationally.

Keep an eye on the bridge's official website under the 'lift times' tab: towerbridge.org.uk.

When the bridge deck is down, boats can pass under Tower Bridge with a maximum height of 8 metres, while when the bridge deck is up, the height is multiplied up to 42 metres.

Raised Tower Bridge

Footbridges and a visit to the engine room

The suspended footbridges arching over the river at 43 metres have not met with much success.

Pedestrians had to climb 40 metres of stairs in one tower and descend again in the other, so they preferred to wait until the bridge was lowered again. One such frequency takes about 20 minutes. In addition, prostitutes were descending on the footbridges, so they were closed by 1910.

They are now open to the public again, but only as part of a paid tour that also takes you into the unique engine room of the bridge deck lifting.

The tourist sections of the bridge are open daily from 9:30am-5pm.

Admission and online booking

As places are limited, we recommend buying tickets at least 2 days in advance on the official website: towerbridge.org.uk/whats-inside, where you will also find options for guided tours.

13,40 gbp - Admission to the footbridge
30 gbp - 90-minute guided tour

If you just want to cross the bridge on foot on a level where cars drive, there is of course no admission charge and it is open 24 hours a day, just like for road traffic.

Walking across Tower Bridge

How to get to the bridge?

Tower Bridge connects north and south London in the east of the city and offers great views from both banks.

Nearest tube station:

Tower Hill - 300 metres: Circle and District lines
London Bridge - 600 metres: Jubilee line

If you would like to take a typical red doubledecker on the regular line, bus routes 42, 78 and 343 pass over the bridge.

Hotels at Tower Bridge

If you like hotels with views of iconic landmarks, then you should ignore the higher prices from 183 eur per night and book a stay in a nice 4* The Tower Hotel right on the banks of the Thames.

For a more affordable price, one of central London's most popular hotels Motel One London - Tower Hill less than a mile from the bridge.