Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is one of London's most recognisable landmarks — a Victorian Gothic bascule-and-suspension bridge opened in 1894, with its distinctive twin towers housing a museum and two high-level glass-floored walkways 42 metres above the Thames. It still opens to let tall ships through, and the bridge lifts schedule is published online.

Tickets & What's Included

Adult tickets start from around £11.40 online (discounts for children, seniors and families). The ticket includes the two high-level glass walkways connecting the towers, the Victorian Engine Rooms below where the original hydraulic machinery that powered the bridge lifts is displayed, and a permanent exhibition on the bridge's construction and history. A free app provides additional audio content throughout.

Opening Hours

Open daily 9:30am–6:00pm (April to September) and 9:30am–5:30pm (October to March), last entry one hour before close. Closed 24–26 December.

The Glass Floor Walkway

The high-level walkways offer views down through a glass floor directly onto the bridge's road surface and the Thames below — a reliable crowd response generator. Some people find it more unnerving than expected; others walk across without a second thought. Worth experiencing either way.

Bridge Lifts

Tower Bridge still lifts around 800 times a year for river traffic. Lift times are published in advance on the official website — if you time your visit around one, it's worth seeing.

Getting There

Tower Hill (District and Circle lines) is about a 10-minute walk, or Tower Gateway DLR. The bridge sits right next to the Tower of London — a natural combination for the same day.

Tips for Visiting

• Book online — cheaper than the door and avoids potential queues on busy days.
• Check the bridge lift schedule on the official site — free to watch from the riverbank.
• Combine with the Tower of London, a 5-minute walk away, on the same day.
• The glass floor walkway is about 42 metres up — worth knowing if heights are an issue.

Prices and hours change — check the official Tower Bridge site before booking.