Tower Bridge

What to expect

Tower Bridge opened on 30 June 1894. Horace Jones designed it, and after his death John Wolfe Barry completed the engineering. The two 65 m towers have steel frames clad in granite and Portland stone, chosen to match the nearby Tower of London. The central span splits into two leaves that rise to let ships through, which still happens roughly a thousand times a year.

You can cross it on foot for free and look along the river. The Tower Bridge Exhibition is a separate visit inside the towers, with the high-level walkways about 44 m above the water, glass floors added in 2014 and the Victorian engine rooms with their original steam engines. The bridge is blue and white.

Don't miss

• The glass floor of the high-level walkways
• The Victorian engine rooms and steam engines
• The raising of the bascules
• The blue and white towers
• View of the Tower of London

Tips for your visit

• Check the bridge lift times on the official site if you want to see it open.
• Cross to the south side for the classic view of the bridge with the Tower of London behind.
• The exhibition is indoors and works well in rain.
• Combine it with the Tower of London on the north bank.