Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge, one of London’s most iconic landmarks, spans the River Thames and connects the Tower of London with Southwark. The bridge was designed by Sir Horace Jones and engineered by Sir John Wolfe Barr between 1886 and 1894. It was built to ease traffic congestion while maintaining river access to the Pool of London, a key port area. Its unique combination of bascule (drawbridge) and suspension elements makes it an architectural and engineering marvel of the Victorian era. One of Tower Bridge’s defining features is its two massive towers, which house the mechanisms that raise the bascules to allow large ships to pass underneath. Today, visitors can experience the Tower Bridge Exhibition, where they can walk across the high-level glass walkways between the towers, offering breathtaking views of London, as well as explore the Victorian engine rooms that once powered the bridge’s operation. A common misconception is that Tower Bridge is often mistaken for the more modest-looking London Bridge, which is located further upstream. London Bridge, while historically significant, does not have the iconic grandeur of Tower Bridge. This confusion is partly due to the nursery rhyme "London Bridge is Falling Down," which refers to a much older iteration of London Bridge, not Tower Bridge. Interesting fact: In 1952, a double-decker bus had to leap across the rising bascules after the bridge began lifting unexpectedly—a dramatic moment in the bridge’s history! Today, Tower Bridge stands as a symbol of London’s rich past and modern-day vibrancy, drawing millions of tourists every year.