Point of interest
Tower Bridge
in London, United Kingdom
The iconic Victorian bascule bridge over the Thames; inside, a museum with a glass walkway high above the river.
Where it is
Tower Bridge spans the Thames between the Tower of London on the north bank and the Southwark district on the south bank, at the eastern edge of central London.
Address: Shad Thames, SE1 2LY Greater London
What it is
Visitors can walk the high-level walkways 42 metres above the water, where glass floors look straight down onto the Thames, and explore the historic Victorian engine rooms. From the outside the bridge is one of London's most recognisable landmarks, especially striking when lit up at night.
History
This combined bascule and suspension bridge was built between 1886 and 1894 to handle growing traffic in the East End without blocking ships heading to the port. Its Victorian Gothic towers conceal the originally steam-powered machinery that raises the roadway to let tall vessels pass.