London’s Tower Bridge is among its most recognizable structures. It is easily identifiable thanks to its towers and remarkable Victorian Gothic style. The 240-meter-long bridge is located just next to the Tower of London. It is impossible to overlook. Tower Bridge has even appeared in popular films, such as Harry Potter.

Tower Bridge offers much more than just opportunities for strolling and admiring the breathtaking vistas of London. You may now have a glimpse inside the interior of the bridge as well as the walkway that connects the two towers. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about its history and construction process.  

The most efficient route to Tower Bridge  

You must travel to Tower Bridge before you can visit it. Tower Bridge is easily accessible via London’s public transit system, which consists of the bus, rails, and tube.  

Take the train to London Bridge in order to reach Tower Bridge. All it takes is eleven minutes on foot. Trains from a number of surrounding towns and cities, including Bedford, Brighton, and Kent, arrive at this station. To get to Tower Bridge, you can alternatively take the Circle (yellow) or District (green) tube to the Tower Hill stop, then walk for nine minutes.  

If you wish to view some attractions, you can bike or walk down the Thames to reach to Tower Bridge. Plan your trip with this helpful tool from Transport for London (TFL). 

Tower Bridge versus Thames Bridge  

Many times, people confuse Tower Bridge with London Bridge, which is nearby. However, London Bridge and Tower Bridge can easily be distinguished from one another due to their significant differences. 

London Bridge is unquestionably the more well-known of the two due to its history. A baby song is even about it! However, Tower Bridge is more easily recognized due to its twin towers at either end.  

In 1973, construction on the new London Bridge came to an end. In contrast, Tower Bridge was completed sooner, in 1894. Tower Bridge is a suspension bridge, and London Bridge is a steel and concrete box girder bridge. The sculpture of spikes on the southern side of the bridge is its only architectural feature. It’s also a fairly basic design.  

Tower Bridge crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London. The London Bridge spans the river in London, running between Borough High Street, Southwark, and King William Street.  

There is a road for automobiles and a walkway on both bridges. London Bridge has needed reconstruction, but Tower Bridge has never needed it. 

Information about Tower Bridge’s past and present  

As London’s commercial development accelerated in the 1800s, the city required a second bridge to span the Thames beneath London Bridge. That’s when the idea for Tower Bridge struck.  

The blueprint for constructing Tower Bridge  

In order to design a bridge that wouldn’t impede river movement, the Special Bridge or Subway Committee was established in 1876. In response to the public call for designs for Tower Bridge, the Committee received over fifty drawings. Even now, several of these are still visible at Tower Bridge.  

Constructing the Tower Bridge   

Sir Horace Jones submitted that design for Tower Bridge in October 1884. Jones worked for the City of London as an engineer and surveyor. Together, Jones and civil engineer John Wolfe Barry created the blueprints.  

With the assistance of 432 construction workers, Tower Bridge was completed eight years after work started in 1866. About eleven tons of steel make up the tower frame and staircases.  

On June 30, 1894, the Prince and Princess of Wales officially opened Tower Bridge. It has continued to be a crucial route across the Thames ever since.  

The tiny bridge  

Because the bridge was constructed so near to the harbor, it had to be able to support large ships. The bridge’s center span was divided into two equal bascules, or movable sections, for stability. 

The bascules of Tower Bridge were formerly moved by hydraulics. To provide space for river traffic, they were shifted up or down. Six enormous accumulators held the produced energy, ensuring that it was always available for use.  

Since 1976, oil and electricity have been utilized in place of steam to move the bascules. With a weight of over a thousand tons, each bascule may be raised for a duration of five minutes. The Engine Room displays the engines and accumulators from the original Tower Bridge.