The Tower Bridge is one of the icons of the London capital. The Tower Bridge is one of those must-sees that you have to do in the great British city and the following guide provides you with all the necessary information so that you are well prepared for your walk.
If you want to know 30 things you must do in London click here.
1. What is Tower Bridge?
Tower Bridge or Tower Bridge is one of the most famous places in London. Its main characteristic is that it is a drawbridge, that is, it can be opened to allow the passage of boats. It is also a suspension bridge, since it has two sections that are secured by cables.
2. Is it the same London Bridge?
No, although confusion is very common. The current London Bridge, located between the Tower Bridge and the Cannon Street Railway, is neither tilting nor hanging, although it is also an emblematic place, since it is on the site where the first bridge in the city was built, makes about 2,000 years.
3. Where is the Tower Bridge located?
The bridge crosses the River Thames very close to the famous Tower of London, hence its name. The Tower is a castle that dates back almost a thousand years, built by William the Conqueror and has had different uses during the last millennium. The main fame of the Tower comes from its use as a place of execution for great characters in English history, such as Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard.
4. When was the Tower Bridge built?
The bridge was inaugurated in 1894, after 8 years of construction, according to a Victorian-style design by the English architect Horace Jones, who had already died when his work was commissioned. The two cams, weighing more than 1000 tons each, are raised 85 degrees to allow vessels to pass.
5. How did they lift such heavy cams in the late 19th century?
The two lift arms of the bridge were raised with the hydraulic energy provided by pressurized water pumped with steam engines. The hydraulic opening system has been modernized, replacing water with oil and using electrical energy instead of steam. You can see this Victorian engine room on the Tower Bridge tour.
6. Were the walkways also built with the original bridge?
So is. These walkways were conceived to allow the passage of pedestrians while the cams were raised. However, people did not use them to cross the river because they preferred to watch the movement of the cams. In addition, for a time, the catwalks were haunts of ruffians and prostitutes.
7. Can I currently go on the catwalks?
You can see the Tower Bridge exhibition and climb the catwalks by buying the corresponding ticket. From the catwalks, located more than 40 meters high, you have spectacular postcards of London, both with the naked eye and from telescopes. In 2014, the floor of the walkways was glazed to provide a unique perspective of the drawbridge, the motor traffic on it and the water traffic on the river, although problems have been recorded with the materials used.
8. Will I be able to see the opening and closing of the bridge?
The Tower Bridge opens and closes about 1,000 times a year to allow boats to cross. This means that the cams are raised between 2 and 4 times daily, so it is very likely that you will see one or more openings during your stay in London if you are aware of the times when they will occur. Those responsible for ships interested in crossing must request the opening 24 hours in advance. Opening and closing are controlled by a computer system.
9. Are there restrictions on crossing the Tower Bridge on foot and by car?
The bridge remains a vital pedestrian crossing over the Thames and is used daily by several thousand cars. As it is a historical monument that must be preserved, cars must circulate at a maximum speed of 32 km / hour and the maximum weight per vehicle is 18 tons. A sophisticated camera system captures everything that happens on the bridge and identifies license plates to punish violators.
10. Can I see the bridge from the river?
Of course. You can cruise down the River Thames and go under the lift arms, very close to them and the huge support piles. The boats are air-conditioned, so they are suitable for any time of the year, and have panoramic vision. From these boats you have unique perspectives of various London attractions, such as Big Ben, the House of Parliament, the Shakespeare’s Globe and others. You can also go to the Royal Greenwich Observatory to see the famous meridian.
11. What is the price to visit the Tower Bridge?
The ticket to see the bridge exhibit, including the catwalks and the Victorian engine room, costs £ 9 for adults; 3.90 for children and young people between 5 and 15 years old; and 6.30 for people over 60 years old. Children under 5 years old are free. If you have purchased the London Pass, the visit to the bridge is included. There are also packages that include the bridge and the nearby Tower of London.
12. What is the opening hours to the exhibition?
There are two schedules, one for spring - summer and another for autumn - winter. The first, from April to September, is from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (last entry at 5:30 p.m.) and the second, from October to March, is from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (idem).
We hope we have given you all the necessary information for a pleasant and successful visit to the Tower Bridge and other nearby places of interest. If you are left with any questions, please write them in a short note and we will try to clarify them in a future post.
