Millennium Bridge, London
The Millennium Bridge鈥擫ondon鈥檚 bold leap into the 21st century, and quite literally, a wobbly one.
This sleek steel span holds not one, not two, but three distinctions. First, it鈥檚 the youngest of the Thames crossings. Second, it鈥檚 the only bridge in London where cars are banished鈥攐nly pedestrians, photographers, and the occasional rollerblader. And third? It set a record for the fastest closure in UK bridge history. Opened with great fanfare... then swiftly shut down just two days later because, well, it couldn鈥檛 handle people's excitement. Or their footsteps...
Designed to mark the year 2000, the bridge was formally inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II as the winning brainchild of Foster & Partners and Ove Arup & Partners鈥攖hose clever folks you call when you want something to be both futuristic and structurally sound. Stretching 325 meters (or 1060+ feet), it tiptoes across the Thames with eight low-slung suspension cables (tensioned to exert a formidable 2000-ton force against the sturdy piers rooted on each bank) that don鈥檛 dare obstruct your Insta-worthy shot of St. Paul鈥檚 Cathedral.
Indeed, as a pedestrian-only portal between the Tate Modern and Shakespeare鈥檚 Globe on one end, and the mighty dome of St. Paul鈥檚 on the other, the views it affords are truly a chef鈥檚 kiss.
Of course, its opening-day wobble鈥攖hanks to 90,000 enthusiastic pedestrians striding in unintentional unison鈥攅arned it the affectionate moniker 鈥淭he Wobbly Bridge.鈥� But fear not: engineers came to the rescue with over 50 high-tech dampers and stabilizers galore, and by 2002, the bridge was back in action, shimmy-free.
Speaking of dramatic comebacks鈥攜es, that was the very bridge you saw disintegrating in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Death Eaters swoop in, chaos erupts, and the Millennium Bridge bends like a paperclip. Don鈥檛 worry, though鈥攊t was all movie magic. The real bridge stood firm and survived the scene unscathed, unlike its fictional counterpart.
Tip:
Wear good walking shoes, bring a raincoat (because it's London), and don鈥檛 forget to glance down鈥攕ometimes there are funky little art stickers underfoot. Because, again, this is London, and even the pavement might be making a statement.
This sleek steel span holds not one, not two, but three distinctions. First, it鈥檚 the youngest of the Thames crossings. Second, it鈥檚 the only bridge in London where cars are banished鈥攐nly pedestrians, photographers, and the occasional rollerblader. And third? It set a record for the fastest closure in UK bridge history. Opened with great fanfare... then swiftly shut down just two days later because, well, it couldn鈥檛 handle people's excitement. Or their footsteps...
Designed to mark the year 2000, the bridge was formally inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II as the winning brainchild of Foster & Partners and Ove Arup & Partners鈥攖hose clever folks you call when you want something to be both futuristic and structurally sound. Stretching 325 meters (or 1060+ feet), it tiptoes across the Thames with eight low-slung suspension cables (tensioned to exert a formidable 2000-ton force against the sturdy piers rooted on each bank) that don鈥檛 dare obstruct your Insta-worthy shot of St. Paul鈥檚 Cathedral.
Indeed, as a pedestrian-only portal between the Tate Modern and Shakespeare鈥檚 Globe on one end, and the mighty dome of St. Paul鈥檚 on the other, the views it affords are truly a chef鈥檚 kiss.
Of course, its opening-day wobble鈥攖hanks to 90,000 enthusiastic pedestrians striding in unintentional unison鈥攅arned it the affectionate moniker 鈥淭he Wobbly Bridge.鈥� But fear not: engineers came to the rescue with over 50 high-tech dampers and stabilizers galore, and by 2002, the bridge was back in action, shimmy-free.
Speaking of dramatic comebacks鈥攜es, that was the very bridge you saw disintegrating in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Death Eaters swoop in, chaos erupts, and the Millennium Bridge bends like a paperclip. Don鈥檛 worry, though鈥攊t was all movie magic. The real bridge stood firm and survived the scene unscathed, unlike its fictional counterpart.
Tip:
Wear good walking shoes, bring a raincoat (because it's London), and don鈥檛 forget to glance down鈥攕ometimes there are funky little art stickers underfoot. Because, again, this is London, and even the pavement might be making a statement.
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Millennium Bridge on Map
Sight Name: Millennium Bridge
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in London, England
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Creating your own self-guided walk in London is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
South Bank Walking Tour
London鈥檚 South Bank, stretching along the southern side of the River Thames, roughly between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge, is one of the most interesting and liveliest parts of the British capital. Here, London鈥檚 old soul and modern edge shake hands... and then probably go grab a pint together. Famous for its arts, culture, food, and scenic riverside walks, the area has a long and... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.8 Km or 3 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.8 Km or 3 Miles
Shakespeare's London Walking Tour
You might know him as 鈥渢he Bard,鈥� but to England, William Shakespeare is practically the patron saint of poetic plot twists. Born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon to John Shakespeare, a glove maker and town official, and Mary Arden from a prosperous farming family, young William started life with ink in his veins and Latin on his mind. Grammar school likely gave him his first taste of rhetoric.... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
Covent Garden Walking Tour
A shopping and entertainment hub on the eastern fringes of London's West End, Covent Garden is a district historically associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market 鈥� currently a shopping spot popular with locals and tourists alike.
Once a slum area, today the north of the district is given over to independent shops centered on Neal's Yard and Seven Dials. Both places offer... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Once a slum area, today the north of the district is given over to independent shops centered on Neal's Yard and Seven Dials. Both places offer... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Harry Potter Walking Tour II
The Harry Potter movies and London go together like Butterbeer and a cold winter night at Hogsmeade. While much of the magical world was brought to life with computer-generated images and studio sets, quite a few iconic scenes were filmed right in the heart of the British capital, transforming ordinary city spots into wizarding landmarks. Here's a look at six more London locations where the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Kensington/Knightsbridge Walking Tour
Situated just below Hyde Park, Knightsbridge and South Kensington are two adjacent neighborhoods with grand Victorian homes and leafy garden squares. Home to London鈥檚 most expensive homes, Knightsbridge has some of the highest density of millionaires in the world. This is clearly reflected in the selection of stores & restaurants in the area, including the famous Harvey Nichols and Harrods... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles
Beatles London Walking Tour
The Beatles, often hailed as one of the most influential bands in music history, began their journey in Liverpool in 1960, but it was in London that they truly became global icons. While Liverpool gave them their start, the British capital became their professional playground during the peak of Beatlemania. From recording sessions and business deals to public performances and personal milestones,... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.8 Km or 3 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.8 Km or 3 Miles
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