Tower Bridge, London (must see)
Tower Bridge鈥攜es, that famous one with the twin towers and rising roadways鈥攕urprisingly didn鈥檛 swing into action until 1894. That鈥檚 right: it鈥檚 younger than your great-great-grandma鈥檚 fruitcake recipe, though you'd never guess it based on the number of fridge magnets it鈥檚 starred on. Indeed, in just over a century, it鈥檚 managed to become one of London鈥檚 most iconic symbols鈥攑ractically the Victorian era in bridge form.
Now here鈥檚 a royal twist: Queen Victoria wasn鈥檛 exactly thrilled about it at first. She worried the bridge might compromise the security of the nearby Tower of London, which at that time doubled as an armory. Still, they painted it her favorite color鈥攃hocolate brown鈥攁nd forged ahead, perhaps hoping that a well-dressed bridge would soothe Her Majesty鈥檚 nerves.
Under the hood (well, under the road), it was all quite steamy鈥攍iterally. Sophisticated steam-powered engines lifted the bridge鈥檚 bascules to allow tall ships to pass through. In its very first year, the bridge went up over 6,000 times鈥攖alk about an overachiever! These days, it opens around 1,000 times a year, and somehow, they鈥檝e managed to avoid any major mishaps. If you鈥檙e lucky, you might even catch one of those dramatic lifts in real time鈥攆ree theater, London-style...
For an unforgettable experience, take in the sweeping views of the Thames, the sci-fi egg that is City Hall, the gleaming glass Shard, and the chaos of central London from the top of the bridge. Better yet, grab a ticket and ride the elevator to the elevated walkways. Up there, you鈥檒l find a glass floor for peeking at the world below (great for photos, or mild panic), plus a museum showcasing the original steam engines鈥攂ecause nothing says Victorian romance like big brass machinery. Bonus points: Yes, there are restrooms at the top, so no need to 鈥渉old it鈥� at altitude.
And in case you wonder, why you should go?鈥擳his masterpiece of Victorian engineering also sparkles at night, and鈥攍et鈥檚 face it鈥攜our trip to London wouldn't be complete without seeing it.
Now here鈥檚 a royal twist: Queen Victoria wasn鈥檛 exactly thrilled about it at first. She worried the bridge might compromise the security of the nearby Tower of London, which at that time doubled as an armory. Still, they painted it her favorite color鈥攃hocolate brown鈥攁nd forged ahead, perhaps hoping that a well-dressed bridge would soothe Her Majesty鈥檚 nerves.
Under the hood (well, under the road), it was all quite steamy鈥攍iterally. Sophisticated steam-powered engines lifted the bridge鈥檚 bascules to allow tall ships to pass through. In its very first year, the bridge went up over 6,000 times鈥攖alk about an overachiever! These days, it opens around 1,000 times a year, and somehow, they鈥檝e managed to avoid any major mishaps. If you鈥檙e lucky, you might even catch one of those dramatic lifts in real time鈥攆ree theater, London-style...
For an unforgettable experience, take in the sweeping views of the Thames, the sci-fi egg that is City Hall, the gleaming glass Shard, and the chaos of central London from the top of the bridge. Better yet, grab a ticket and ride the elevator to the elevated walkways. Up there, you鈥檒l find a glass floor for peeking at the world below (great for photos, or mild panic), plus a museum showcasing the original steam engines鈥攂ecause nothing says Victorian romance like big brass machinery. Bonus points: Yes, there are restrooms at the top, so no need to 鈥渉old it鈥� at altitude.
And in case you wonder, why you should go?鈥擳his masterpiece of Victorian engineering also sparkles at night, and鈥攍et鈥檚 face it鈥攜our trip to London wouldn't be complete without seeing it.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in London. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Tower Bridge on Map
Sight Name: Tower Bridge
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Walking Tours in London, England
Create Your Own Walk in London
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.
London's Historic Pubs Walk
If there鈥檚 any more iconic symbol for London than Big Ben or the London Eye, then it must be the traditional English pub. And London sure is full of them, dating from pre-Victorian times to just about five minutes ago.
With so much history surrounding London there is no shortage of historic pubs to choose from. Whether you fancy half-timbered, rambling watering holes or small but perfectly... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.6 Km or 3.5 Miles
With so much history surrounding London there is no shortage of historic pubs to choose from. Whether you fancy half-timbered, rambling watering holes or small but perfectly... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.6 Km or 3.5 Miles
Jane Austen鈥檚 London
The celebrated English novelist Jane Austen primarily lived between Bath and Hampshire. However, London also held a special significance in Austen's life. Many of her novels drew inspiration from the capital, like Lydia Bennet and Mr Wickham鈥檚 elopement in 鈥淧ride & Prejudice.鈥�
One of Austen's cherished spots in London was Twinings, a renowned tea shop. Jane Austen was known... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 Miles
One of Austen's cherished spots in London was Twinings, a renowned tea shop. Jane Austen was known... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 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
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
London Souvenirs: 18 Distinctively British Products for Travelers
Most visitors to London consider shopping as part of their must-do London experience. From street markets to Victorian arcades to snobbish Sloane Square to busy Oxford Street, there are a host of shops selling items which typically represent this vibrant city. Whether you are shopping for souvenirs...