Tower Bridge
The Victorian bascule bridge with a glass floor 42 m above the Thames.
About
Why visit Tower Bridge
Completed in 1894 and often mistaken for London Bridge, Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge whose twin Gothic towers open around 800 times a year to let tall ships through. The high-level walkways — 42 metres above the Thames — now feature glass floors looking straight down onto the road and river below.
- Buses have got stuck on the bridge mid-lift twice — the driver in 1952 famously jumped the gap.
- The bridge was painted red, white and blue for Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee in 1977.
- It's frequently mistaken for London Bridge, which is the plainer bridge just upriver.
Not to miss
Highlights
The moments that define a visit to Tower Bridge.
Glass-floor walkways
Look straight down onto traffic and boats from 42 m up.
Victorian Engine Rooms
The original steam engines that powered the bascules until 1976.
Bridge lifts
Watch the road split open for tall ships — schedule posted online.
Panoramic Thames views
The Shard, HMS Belfast and the City skyline all in one sweep.
Right for you?
Is this attraction right for me?
Local know-how
Visitor tips
Small things that turn a good visit into a great one.
Check the bridge-lift schedule online and time your visit to see it open.
The nearby South Bank is the best free photo spot at golden hour.
Combine with the Tower of London next door for a single half-day.
Nearby
Combine with
Other guides within a short walk.
Tower of London
Crown Jewels and 1,000 years of royal history, guarded by Yeoman Warders.
Open guideSt Paul's Cathedral
Christopher Wren's baroque masterpiece — climb 528 steps for the Whispering, Stone and Golden Galleries.
Open guideLondon Eye
135m Thames-side observation wheel with 360° views across Westminster and the City.
Open guideSee it with a guide
Tours & experiences
Curated picks across guided walks, skip-the-line entry and after-hours access.