Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge spanning the River Thames at the eastern edge of central London, adjacent to the Tower of London. Completed in 1894, it was designed by architect Sir Horace Jones and engineer Sir John Wolfe Barry to provide a crossing that could also allow tall ships to pass.

The bridge has two towers linked by high-level walkways and a central pair of bascule leaves that can be raised to permit river traffic. Visitors commonly use the pedestrian walkways and the Tower Bridge Exhibition to view the original engine rooms, learn about the bridge’s construction and access panoramic views along the Thames.

Constructed in the late Victorian period, the bridge’s steel framework is clad in stone to harmonise with nearby historic buildings; its bascules were originally powered by hydraulic machinery and the structure has been maintained and adapted for modern use while retaining the original mechanical features as part of the museum display.

Tower Bridge sits immediately east of the Tower of London on the north bank of the Thames and connects to the south bank near Bermondsey; it is located in central London and is easily reached from the City’s transport network.

• Bascule openings: The bascule leaves can still be raised for river traffic; openings are scheduled and announced in advance and make for a popular photographic subject.

What to See #

• Tower Bridge Exhibition: Exhibition route through the bridge towers and high-level walkways explaining the bridge's history and engineering, with access to panoramic views of the Thames and the Tower of London.
• Engine rooms and bascules: The Victorian engine rooms housing the original hydraulic machinery that once powered the bascules, now part of the visitor experience.