Tower Bridge is the Victorian bascule bridge with twin Gothic towers that people often mistake for London Bridge, its plainer neighbour upstream. It is free to walk across, but Tower Bridge also has a paid exhibition inside, with high-level walkways that have glass floors and the original steam engine rooms that once powered the lifting roadway.
Why visit Tower Bridge
The bridge opened in 1894 to give the growing East End a crossing without blocking ships heading for the busy Pool of London. The solution was a bascule design: two huge leaves that lift to let tall vessels through. The steel frame is clad in stone so that the bridge would fit beside the Tower of London, which is why it looks older than it is.
Today the bascules are raised by modern machinery, but the bridge still opens several hundred times a year for sailing ships, cruise vessels and other tall craft. Seeing a lift from the riverbank is one of the small pleasures of a day in London.
Getting to Tower Bridge by Tube
The nearest station is Tower Hill on the District and Circle lines. From the station, walk down past the Tower of London towards the river; the bridge is about ten minutes away on foot. Signs for the Tower and the bridge make it easy to follow.
- Tower Gateway on the DLR is right next to Tower Hill, handy if you are coming from Canary Wharf or east London.
- London Bridge on the Jubilee and Northern lines is the best choice for the south bank. Walk east along the riverside past HMS Belfast and City Hall, roughly 15 minutes.
- Uber Boat by Thames Clippers stops at Tower Pier, close to the north end of the bridge.
Tower Bridge tickets and the exhibition
Walking across the bridge costs nothing. The paid Tower Bridge Exhibition takes you up one of the towers by lift to the two high-level walkways that link them, 42 metres above the river. Sections of the walkway floors are glass, so you can look down on the traffic and, if your timing is lucky, watch the bascules rise beneath your feet.
The ticket also includes the Victorian Engine Rooms on the south side, where the original steam engines, boilers and accumulators are preserved. It is a short walk from the exit of the walkways and many people miss it, so follow the blue line on the pavement.
Buy tickets on the official website, towerbridge.org.uk, which has current prices and opening hours. Booking online is often slightly cheaper than paying on the door, and some combined tickets with nearby attractions exist.
Catching a Tower Bridge lift
There is no fixed daily schedule for lifts. The bridge opens when a vessel has booked it, and the official website lists upcoming lift times. If you want to see one, check the list before you set out and pick your spot: the riverside path by the Tower of London, the south bank near City Hall, or the glass floor of the walkways for a view from above.
Best time to visit and how long to stay
Crossing the bridge and taking photos from both banks takes about 30 minutes. Add an hour to 90 minutes for the exhibition. The walkways are quieter early in the day, while the bridge itself looks best at dusk and after dark, when it is lit up. In summer, the riverside paths on both sides are pleasant for a slow evening walk.
For the classic photo, stand on the north bank by the Tower of London or on the south bank near Potters Fields Park. For a less familiar angle, walk along Shad Thames, where old warehouses frame the towers.
Nearby on the same Tube stop
Tower Hill station puts several sights within a short walk:
- Tower of London: the medieval fortress holding the Crown Jewels, right next to the bridge.
- St Katharine Docks: a marina with cafés and restaurants just east of the bridge.
- Shad Thames: cobbled streets of converted warehouses on the south side.
- HMS Belfast: a Second World War cruiser moored on the south bank towards London Bridge.
See more places around this station on Tower Bridge on Around the Metro, or explore the full London Tube map.