Tower Bridge

What it is

Tower Bridge is the 1886–94 steel-framed bridge designed by engineer Sir John Wolfe Barry and architect Sir Horace Jones. Its stone-clad Gothic towers were an architectural wrapper for a practical requirement: keep a road crossing open while allowing tall vessels to reach the Pool of London.

The central span is split into two bascules—lifting road sections—balanced by counterweights inside the piers. The bridge remains operational, so a scheduled lift can interrupt road traffic while a vessel passes.

What to see inside

The ticketed route starts in the North Tower, where displays introduce the bridge’s construction and workforce. From there, the High-Level Walkways cross between the towers, 42 metres above the Thames. Look west for the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral and The Shard; eastward views follow the river towards Canary Wharf.

The glass-floor sections reveal the road and river directly below. Solid strips run alongside the glass if you prefer not to stand on it.

Descend through the South Tower, then follow the marked Blue Line to the Victorian Engine Rooms. The preserved steam-driven hydraulic machinery explains how the original lifting system worked for more than 80 years. This is the essential final stop: it turns the bridge from a skyline landmark into an engineering story.

Visiting the bridge

A standard ticket covers the North and South Towers, High-Level Walkways, Glass Floors and Engine Rooms. The visitor entrance and Ticket Office are on the west side of the North Tower. The route finishes at the Engine Rooms on the south side, so plan the rest of your walk from there.

Standard opening is daily 09:30–18:00, with last entry at 17:00. It closes on 24–26 December and opens at 10:00 on 1 January. Scheduled bridge lifts are published in advance; time a visit around one if seeing the bascules move matters to you.

Getting there and access

Tower Hill station is about a seven-minute walk and is served by the District and Circle lines. London Bridge station is about 1 km from the Engine Rooms and is served by the Northern and Jubilee lines. Tower Pier and London Bridge City Pier are nearby riverboat stops.

Lifts serve the High-Level Walkways and Engine Rooms, and step-free toilets are available. Visitors may use the stairs, but each tower involves roughly 200 steps. All bags, pushchairs and wheelchairs are searched; bags larger than 45 × 35 × 20 cm, wheeled bags and suitcases are not admitted. Glass bottles are not allowed near the Glass Floors.