Get ready to cross London’s most famous bridge
Tower Bridge isn’t just somewhere to cross the Thames. It’s one of the city’s best viewpoints, a slice of Victorian engineering history, and a proper London movie star all rolled into one.
There’s plenty more to it than snapping a quick photo from the riverbank. Inside, you’ll find soaring glass walkways, original steam-powered machinery, interactive exhibitions, and some surprisingly dramatic stories from the bridge’s past.
This guide covers:
- The easiest ways to get to Tower Bridge
- What happens when you arrive
- The best things to see inside
- Fascinating history and fun facts
- Famous film and TV appearances
- Accessibility information
- Nearby attractions, food spots, and riverside walks
So, is Tower Bridge worth visiting?
Absolutely, especially if you’re into:
- Skyline views across London
- Glass floors with a side of adrenaline
- Victorian history and engineering
- Famous film locations
- Watching giant boats glide through the city
- Finding the best riverside photo spots
Even if you’ve admired it from the outside before, stepping inside completely changes the experience. One minute you’re learning how steam engines once powered the bridge, the next you’re staring straight down at London traffic through the glass walkway wondering why your legs suddenly feel shaky.
How to get to Tower Bridge
Getting here is easy, whether you’re travelling by Tube, train, bus, or boat.
By Tube and train
Tower Hill Underground station is the closest stop and around a seven-minute walk away. London Bridge station is another handy option if you don’t mind a slightly longer stroll across the river.
Fenchurch Street, London Bridge, and Tower Gateway DLR station are all nearby too.
By bus
Bus routes 15, 42, 78, 100, and 343 stop close to the bridge. Sightseeing buses also pass through the area regularly if you’re planning a full day of landmark hopping.
By riverboat
Possibly the most dramatic arrival option. Hop off at Tower Pier or London Bridge City Pier and enjoy a scenic riverside walk to the entrance.
What to know before you go
Before you stride onto the glass floor like a fearless action hero, there are a few useful things worth knowing.
First things first: are you at the right bridge?
It sounds obvious, but plenty of people mix up Tower Bridge and London Bridge.
Tower Bridge is the one with the giant towers, blue suspension details, and dramatic gothic styling. London Bridge is... considerably less theatrical.
Security and bags
After your ticket or pass gets scanned, you’ll head through a quick bag check.
Small backpacks and shoulder bags are allowed, but large suitcases and oversized luggage can’t come inside. Pushchairs and wheelchairs are welcome.
Accessibility
Tower Bridge does a great job making the experience accessible.
You’ll find lifts throughout the attraction, accessible toilets, wheelchair access, assistance animal access, and even Deaf-led guided tours. Staff members in blue uniforms are dotted around the site and happy to help if you need directions or support.
The best things to see inside Tower Bridge
The glass walkways
This is the big one.
Standing 42 metres above the Thames, the famous glass floors give you incredible views across London and a direct look down at the traffic crawling beneath your feet.
If you can tear your eyes away from the transparent floor, you’ll spot landmarks including:
- St Paul’s Cathedral
- The Shard
- The Tower of London
- HMS Belfast
- Canary Wharf
We watched several people confidently step onto the glass before immediately retreating backwards. No judgement here.
The exhibition spaces
The exhibitions tell the story of how Tower Bridge came to life in the late Victorian era.
You’ll learn why the bridge needed moveable bascules, how engineers tackled the challenge of river traffic, and what daily life looked like for the workers who kept everything running.
Interactive displays and old photographs bring the bridge’s history to life without making it feel like a school trip.
The engine rooms
Down below, the original steam engines are still beautifully preserved.
These atmospheric rooms once powered the bridge lifts using enormous hydraulic machinery before the system switched to electricity in the 1970s.
There’s something oddly satisfying about seeing all the polished metalwork, giant pistons, and industrial pipework still standing proudly after more than a century.
The blue line trail
Keep an eye out for the blue line painted along parts of the route.
Follow it and you’ll discover stories about the bridge workers, engineers, and maintenance crews who kept Tower Bridge operating long before it became one of London’s biggest attractions.
Watching the bridge lift
Yes, the bridge still opens.
The bascules lift roughly 700 to 850 times every year to allow larger boats to pass through.
If your timing lines up, you’ll get to see one of London’s most famous engineering spectacles in action.
A few fascinating Tower Bridge facts
Have some juicy tidbits on us to impress your friends when you visit!
- Tower Bridge officially opened in 1894
- Construction took eight years to complete
- The bridge originally operated using steam power
- The upper walkways once closed because they attracted pickpockets and other questionable activity
- In 1952, a London bus famously jumped across the rising bascules after the bridge started opening underneath it
- The current blue and white colour scheme arrived for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977
Tower Bridge on screen
If the bridge feels strangely familiar, there’s a good reason for that.
Tower Bridge has appeared in countless films, TV shows, games, and music videos over the years.
Film appearances
In Sherlock Holmes (2009), the climactic showdown unfolds on a half-built version of the bridge during Victorian London.
Spider-Man: Far From Home turned the walkways and towers into a superhero battleground during the final fight scenes.
And Bridget Jones has wandered across the bridge more than once during her chaotic London adventures.
TV appearances
You’ll spot Tower Bridge popping up constantly in shows like Doctor Who, The Crown, and EastEnders whenever London needs to look dramatic.
Pop culture moments
One of the bridge’s most memorable modern appearances came during the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony, when “James Bond” escorted “The Queen” through London by helicopter before their fictional parachute stunt.
Honestly, few landmarks commit harder to the role of “main character” than Tower Bridge.
Best photo spots for Tower Bridge
The glass floor
A classic for obvious reasons.
Try standing still for a second while someone snaps a photo from a low angle for maximum drama.
Butler’s Wharf
Head to the riverside near Butler’s Wharf for one of the best full-bridge viewpoints in London.
Sunset works particularly well here.
The South Bank riverside walk
Walk east along the Thames path for quieter angles with fewer crowds.
St Katharine Docks
This nearby marina gives you lovely waterside views with boats, cafés, and the bridge framed in the background.
What else is there to do nearby?
One of the best things about visiting Tower Bridge is how close it sits to loads of other great London attractions.
The Tower of London – Right next door, and well worth pairing together for a full day of sightseeing. Expect royal history, ravens, medieval towers, and the Crown Jewels.
The Shard – Around 10 minutes away on foot, London’s tallest building offers another completely different perspective over the city.
Borough Market – Perfect if you’re hungry after all that sightseeing. You’ll find everything from artisan pastries and fresh pasta to giant sandwiches and excellent coffee.
Shad Thames – Cobblestones, converted warehouses, riverside restaurants, and proper old-London atmosphere. It’s one of the prettiest areas nearby and surprisingly peaceful considering how central it is.
St Katharine Docks – A lovely spot to slow things down after your visit. Grab a drink by the marina, watch the boats drift past, and enjoy a quieter side of central London.
Final thoughts on visiting Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge somehow manages to feel both historic and genuinely fun at the same time.
One moment you’re learning about Victorian engineering, the next you’re nervously stepping onto a glass floor above the Thames while trying to look calm for a cute photo.
Whether you’re visiting London for the first time or rediscovering the city from a new angle, Tower Bridge absolutely deserves a spot on your sightseeing list.
Bring your camera, wear comfortable shoes, and keep an eye on the river — you might just catch the bridge lifting in all its glory.
Enjoyed this spiffing spot of London?
Take your trip to the next level with our complete guide to the Tower of London or check out the complete guide to the London Eye, all filled with visitor hacks and money-saving tips.
With Go City® you can skip the stress and save big on London attraction tickets and choose from must-see attractions, tours and experiences, all with one easy-to-use pass.
🎡 Don't explore London without this
💰 How much can you really save in London?
