Tower Bridge, London

Tower Bridge, London (must see)

Tower Bridge鈥攜es, that famous one with the twin towers and rising roadways鈥攕urprisingly didn鈥檛 swing into action until 1894. That鈥檚 right: it鈥檚 younger than your great-great-grandma鈥檚 fruitcake recipe, though you'd never guess it based on the number of fridge magnets it鈥檚 starred on. Indeed, in just over a century, it鈥檚 managed to become one of London鈥檚 most iconic symbols鈥攑ractically the Victorian era in bridge form.

Now here鈥檚 a royal twist: Queen Victoria wasn鈥檛 exactly thrilled about it at first. She worried the bridge might compromise the security of the nearby Tower of London, which at that time doubled as an armory. Still, they painted it her favorite color鈥攃hocolate brown鈥攁nd forged ahead, perhaps hoping that a well-dressed bridge would soothe Her Majesty鈥檚 nerves.

Under the hood (well, under the road), it was all quite steamy鈥攍iterally. Sophisticated steam-powered engines lifted the bridge鈥檚 bascules to allow tall ships to pass through. In its very first year, the bridge went up over 6,000 times鈥攖alk about an overachiever! These days, it opens around 1,000 times a year, and somehow, they鈥檝e managed to avoid any major mishaps. If you鈥檙e lucky, you might even catch one of those dramatic lifts in real time鈥攆ree theater, London-style...

For an unforgettable experience, take in the sweeping views of the Thames, the sci-fi egg that is City Hall, the gleaming glass Shard, and the chaos of central London from the top of the bridge. Better yet, grab a ticket and ride the elevator to the elevated walkways. Up there, you鈥檒l find a glass floor for peeking at the world below (great for photos, or mild panic), plus a museum showcasing the original steam engines鈥攂ecause nothing says Victorian romance like big brass machinery. Bonus points: Yes, there are restrooms at the top, so no need to 鈥渉old it鈥� at altitude.

And in case you wonder, why you should go?鈥擳his masterpiece of Victorian engineering also sparkles at night, and鈥攍et鈥檚 face it鈥攜our trip to London wouldn't be complete without seeing it.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in London. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Tower Bridge
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in London, England

Create Your Own Walk in London

Creating your own self-guided walk in London is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Bridges of London

Around thirty bridges span the Thames river in London, each with its own story. Our self-guided walk takes you to see nine such historical structures located in the heart of the city, starting from the storied Westminster Bridge and ending at the iconic Tower Bridge.

The latter has stood over the River Thames in London since 1894 and is one of the finest, most recognizable bridges in the... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.2 Km or 3.2 Miles

Jack the Ripper Walking Tour

Jack the Ripper, an unidentified serial killer who terrorized the British capital in 1888, became notorious for the series of brutal and gruesome murders that he carried out in the East End of London. The primary setting for the Jack the Ripper attacks was Whitechapel, at the time a poverty-stricken and crime-ridden district, known for its dark alleys and narrow streets.

The name "Jack the... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles

Harry Potter Walking Tour I

The Harry Potter phenomenon began with author J.K. Rowling, who famously dreamed up the series while delayed on a train from Manchester to London. With the release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher鈥檚 Stone in 1997, the literary world changed forever. Across seven books, readers followed Harry鈥檚 evolution from an orphaned schoolboy at Hogwarts to a brave young wizard confronting evil... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles

Beatles London Walking Tour

The Beatles, often hailed as one of the most influential bands in music history, began their journey in Liverpool in 1960, but it was in London that they truly became global icons. While Liverpool gave them their start, the British capital became their professional playground during the peak of Beatlemania. From recording sessions and business deals to public performances and personal milestones,... view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.8 Km or 3 Miles

Covent Garden Walking Tour

A shopping and entertainment hub on the eastern fringes of London's West End, Covent Garden is a district historically associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market 鈥� currently a shopping spot popular with locals and tourists alike.

Once a slum area, today the north of the district is given over to independent shops centered on Neal's Yard and Seven Dials. Both places offer... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles

Harry Potter Walking Tour II

The Harry Potter movies and London go together like Butterbeer and a cold winter night at Hogsmeade. While much of the magical world was brought to life with computer-generated images and studio sets, quite a few iconic scenes were filmed right in the heart of the British capital, transforming ordinary city spots into wizarding landmarks. Here's a look at six more London locations where the... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles

View all walking tours in London, England

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