Tower Bridge

Many would argue that a tour of London’s historic sights isn’t complete without a stop at Tower Bridge tour of London’s historic sights isn’t complete without a stop at Tower Bridge. Popular ways to experience the bridge include seeing it from the water on a Thames River cruise or driving along Tower Bridge Road and across the bridge on a hop-on hop-off city tour.

Some London walking tours combine a stroll across the bridge with a visit to the Tower of London (which stands at the northern end of the bridge). Tours often continue along the Thames riverfront past landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament & Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the London Eye. If you want to learn more about the 19th-century bridge and take in the views from the high walkways, visit the Tower Bridge Exhibition, housed in the bridge’s northwest tower. Entrance to the exhibition is free for London Pass holders, and discounted Tower Bridge tickets are available for children and area residents. Tower Bridge tours that visit the towers, high-level walkways, glass floors, and Victorian engine rooms are available on weekends.

• Tower Bridge is a must for architecture and engineering aficionados, and all first-time visitors to London.

• While you can walk, cycle, or drive across the bridge, the most spectacular views are from the top walkways—part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition.

• River traffic takes priority over road traffic, and vehicles and pedestrians have to wait when the bascules are raised.

• The bridge is accessible to wheelchair users and strollers.

Tower Bridge is the easternmost of central London’s main bridges. The Tower Bridge Exhibition entrance is on the northern side of the river. The closest Tube stations are Tower Hill (District and Circle lines) on the north side of the bridge and London Bridge (Northern and Jubilee lines) on the south side. Riverboats stop at Tower Pier on the north bank and London Bridge City Pier on the south bank.

It’s almost impossible to avoid crowds along Tower Bridge, especially in peak season (July and August), but opting for an early morning or late evening stroll across the bridge offers the best chance. Arrive in time for sunrise, when the lighting is perfect and the crowds are thin, if you want to capture a dramatic photograph of the bridge. If possible, time your arrival to coincide with the opening of the bascule bridge. The Tower Bridge website has details on opening times.

At the Tower Bridge Exhibition, you can discover the tower’s fascinating history, peek into the Victorian engine rooms, and learn about its complex mechanics while watching a virtual bridge lift. The highlight is the chance to walk the 138-foot-high (42-meter) walkways at the very top of the towers.

The East Walkway offers great views along the River Thames, including the HMS Belfast and London Bridge, while the Glass Walkway lets you look down through a glass floor to the cars and pedestrians on the bridge below. Guided tours offer behind-the-scenes access to areas including the bridge control room, the machinery room, and the bascule chambers.

Yes, a guided tour of Tower Bridge is worth it. Though you can walk across the bridge on your own, a guided tour puts the inner workings of the iconic monument into context. You see engine rooms, soak up panoramic city views from the towers and walkways, and listen to history and stories you’re unlikely to discover elsewhere.

It takes around one hour to tour Tower Bridge at a relaxed pace on your own. There’s plenty to take in, so you might even want to allow extra time to soak up the views and take photographs. Guided tours of Tower Bridge generally last around 1.5 hours.

The best way to see Tower Bridge for free is from Potters Field Park or Tower Bridge Quay. You can also get a great view of the bridge from the top of The Shard or from London Bridge, the next bridge along the Thames River. Opt for a helicopter tour for unrivaled views of Tower Bridge and the London skyline.

As one of London's most famous landmarks, Tower Bridge gets really busy. The best time of day to visit Tower Bridge is on a weekday, either early in the morning or later in the afternoon. Booking your admission ticket in advance lets you secure a time slot that suits you.

Walking from one end of the bridge to the other takes less than 10 minutes—not including photo stops. Exploring Tower Bridge independently takes an hour, while a guided tour takes 1.5 hours. So if you're heading inside the monument, you should budget around 1.5-2 hours there.

Yes, Tower Bridge is a staple of most London bus tours—they typically travel over it and stop at either side of the famous structure. From other central London bridges bus tours tend to drive over—such as Tower Bridge and Westminster Bridge—you can also enjoy great views of Tower Bridge.