Europe
England
London
Bridge
Tower Bridge
Name:Tower Bridge
Construction period:1886 – 1894
Architects:Sir Horace Jones and John Wolfe Barry
Length:244 meters
Tower height:65 meters
Architectural style:Neo-Gothic
Number of vehicles:approx. 21,000 per day
Number of visitors:approx. 800,000 per year (Tower Bridge Exhibition)
Tower Bridge in London spans the River Thames with its distinctive Victorian Gothic towers.

22 Fascinating Facts about the Tower Bridge

 

  1. Location: Tower Bridge stands in the eastern part of central London, spanning the River Thames and linking the districts of Tower Hamlets and Southwark. It takes its name from its close proximity to the historic Tower of London.
  2. Significance: Tower Bridge is one of London’s most recognisable landmarks and among the most iconic bridges in Europe. Every day, over 40,000 pedestrians and vehicles cross it—around 15 million crossings each year.
  3. Traffic problems: In the 19th century, traffic in London’s East End grew rapidly, while London Bridge—the only river crossing at the time—became hopelessly congested. At the same time, the busy shipping route known as the Pool of London, the stretch between London Bridge and Limehouse that had been the city’s commercial heart for centuries, had to remain open for vessels. For this reason, no bridge was built there for many years. As a temporary measure, the Tower Subway was opened in 1870—a narrow pedestrian tunnel beneath the Thames—but it soon proved too cramped and impractical. After the completion of Tower Bridge, the tunnel lost its purpose and was eventually closed.
  4. Design competition: In 1876, the City of London launched a competition to find a new crossing over the Thames. More than 50 designs were submitted, including proposals for high-level bridges, swing bridges, and tunnels. The winning design came from architect Horace Jones and engineer John Wolfe Barry, whose idea for a bascule bridge was officially approved in 1884.
  5. Construction history: Construction of Tower Bridge began in 1886 and took eight years to complete. About 11,000 tons of steel formed the framework for the twin towers and the moving bridge sections, which were later clad in granite and Portland stone. On 30 June 1894, the bridge was officially opened in a grand ceremony by the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, and his wife, Alexandra of Denmark. They activated the hydraulic system and raised the bridge for the very first time as crowds lined the Thames to watch the spectacle.
  6. Tragic accidents: Building Tower Bridge was an extremely dangerous undertaking. According to official records, ten workers lost their lives—four during the foundation work, one while constructing the approach roads, and five while assembling the steel framework. With around 400 people working on site each day, this was considered a relatively low number for the time, but it still shows how hazardous construction work was in the 19th century.
  7. Construction costs: The total cost of Tower Bridge was around £1.6 million, equivalent to roughly £130–200 million today. The entire project was financed by the Bridge House Estates, a centuries-old charitable trust founded by the City of London to fund, maintain, and manage the city’s Thames bridges. To this day, the trust remains responsible for Tower Bridge’s upkeep.
  8. Architecture: Tower Bridge is made up of two distinctive towers connected by a central roadway and two elevated walkways. These walkways were originally designed so pedestrians could still cross the Thames even when the bridge was raised for passing ships. Today, they are part of the paid Tower Bridge Exhibition, while the lower roadway is freely open to both vehicles and pedestrians.
  9. Military use: During the planning phase, there were discussions about arming Tower Bridge with cannons and using it as part of the Tower of London’s defence system. Although this plan was never carried out, the Tower Bridge Act of 1885 states that, in an emergency, the highest-ranking officer of the Tower may take military command of the bridge. This clause was actually used during World War I, when anti-aircraft guns were installed on it.
  10. Tower Bridge Exhibition: The high-level walkways of Tower Bridge were closed in 1910 because they were rarely used and had become a meeting place for pickpockets and prostitutes. In 1982, they reopened as part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition, where visitors can explore the bridge’s history and engineering. The exhibition features original Victorian steam engines, historical displays, and glass floors that offer a thrilling view of the traffic and boats passing below.
  11. River traffic: To let large ships pass through, the two central bascules of Tower Bridge can be raised hydraulically to an impressive angle of up to 86 degrees. This ingenious system allows tall sailing vessels and cargo ships to glide beneath the bridge with ease.
  12. Lifting mechanism: Tower Bridge’s two enormous bascules each weigh more than 1,200 tons and are perfectly balanced by 400-ton counterweights. The mechanism was originally powered by a steam-driven, high-pressure hydraulic system, which was replaced in 1976 with a modern electro-hydraulic setup. A full lift takes about one minute. Today, the bridge opens roughly 800 times a year, compared with more than 6,000 times in its opening year of 1894. The original steam engines can still be seen in the Victorian Engine Rooms on the bridge’s south side.
  13. Colour: When it first opened, Tower Bridge was painted a deep brown. During the Second World War, it was coated in grey camouflage paint. In 1977, to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee, it received its now-famous red, white, and blue colour scheme, which is regularly refreshed. During the major restoration between 2008 and 2011, around 22,000 litres of paint were used.
  14. Stunt pilot: On 10 August 1912, British aviation pioneer Francis McClean made headlines when he flew a seaplane between the raised bascules and beneath the upper walkways of Tower Bridge. He then continued his daring flight under several other London bridges. The breathtaking stunt made him an overnight sensation and remains one of the most legendary moments in British aviation history.
  15. Second World War: Despite heavy bombing raids, Tower Bridge survived the Second World War with only minor damage. As a safety measure, an additional hydraulic motor was installed to ensure the bridge could still operate in the event of a power failure. While many surrounding neighbourhoods were heavily bombed, the bridge remained fully functional throughout the war.
  16. Bus jump: On 30 December 1952, bus driver Albert Gunter demonstrated extraordinary quick thinking when the bridge began to lift as he crossed in his number 78 double-decker. Acting on instinct, he accelerated and managed to jump the widening gap, landing safely on the other side. All 20 passengers escaped unharmed, though Gunter broke his leg. For his bravery, he received a £10 reward—about £300 in today’s money.
  17. Spectacular flight: On 5 April 1968, Royal Air Force pilot Alan Pollock flew a 14-metre-long Hawker Hunter jet beneath the upper walkways of Tower Bridge—without official permission. His daring protest was aimed at government defence cuts and the lack of a proper celebration for the RAF’s 50th anniversary. After landing, he was arrested and dismissed from service, but his bold flight has since become one of the most legendary moments in RAF history.
  18. Famous legend: In the 1960s, when the old London Bridge was replaced, the City of London decided to sell the structure. In 1968, American entrepreneur Robert P. McCulloch purchased it, had it dismantled stone by stone, shipped to Arizona, and rebuilt in Lake Havasu City. A long-standing but false legend claims that McCulloch thought he was buying Tower Bridge instead. No one knows exactly how the rumour began, but it quickly spread through newspapers and tour guides. McCulloch and his family never denied the story, as it brought their desert city plenty of free publicity.
  19. Olympic Games 2012: During the 2012 Olympic Games, Tower Bridge was adorned with enormous Olympic rings, each about 25 metres wide. The bridge also featured in the opening film, in which Daniel Craig, as James Bond, accompanied Queen Elizabeth II by helicopter across London. Later, David Beckham carried the Olympic torch by boat beneath the bridge on its way to the Olympic Stadium.
  20. Record: In 2016, to unveil its new Discovery SUV, British carmaker Land Rover built a 13-metre-high replica of Tower Bridge made from nearly six million LEGO bricks. Designed by LEGO artist Duncan Titmarsh, the structure took five months to complete, stretched about 44 metres across, and set a Guinness World Record. During the event, adventurer Bear Grylls abseiled down the bridge while Olympic champion Ben Ainslie drove the new Discovery beneath the giant LEGO creation.
  21. Hay bundle warning: A curious old regulation requires that whenever maintenance work takes place on Tower Bridge, a bundle of straw must be hung beneath the arch to warn ships of reduced clearance. This 19th-century rule is still officially in force today and is actually observed during repair work.
  22. Replica in China: In 2013, the Chinese city of Suzhou unveiled a replica of Tower Bridge with four towers and a fixed roadway instead of a lifting mechanism. Standing about 40 metres tall, the towers feature viewing platforms and cafés, making the bridge a popular photo spot and local landmark. It forms part of a series of remarkable architectural replicas that have earned Suzhou fame for its eye-catching cityscape.
  • Tower Bridge is illuminated at night while spanning the River Thames in London.
  • Aerial view of Tower Bridge with the London skyline along the River Thames.
  • Tower Bridge in London is shown from a slightly angled, almost frontal viewpoint.
  • Tower Bridge in London spans the River Thames with its distinctive Victorian Gothic towers.
  • Tower Bridge stands against the London skyline at sunrise or sunset.