Westminster Bridge, London
Westminster Bridge is the bridge that nobody initially wanted. Back in the day, the Church, the City, and especially the watermen (who were not too keen on losing their river taxi business) all threw shade at the idea. But once it was finally built鈥攚ith 15 graceful semi-circular arches鈥攊t was hailed as the first proper stone bridge across the Thames in over 500 years. Suddenly, everybody loved it鈥攅specially artists like Samuel Scott, Canaletto, and Claude Monet, who all went watercolor-wild, capturing its curves.
But then came the drama. In 1831, the old, crumbling London Bridge was torn down, which鈥攕urprise!鈥攃hanged the river鈥檚 flow and started eroding Westminster Bridge鈥檚 foundations like a soggy biscuit. Something had to be done, so Parliament passed an Act in 1853, handing over the bridge to the Commissioners of Public Works. It was at that point that Thomas Page, the engineer, came along with Sir Charles Barry, fresh off designing the new Houses of Parliament (after the great fire of 1834), who was brought in to make sure that the new bridge would match Parliament鈥檚 fancy new Gothic threads.
The result was a beauty unveiled on Queen Victoria鈥檚 43rd birthday, May 24, 1862鈥攃omplete with a 25-gun salute for her 25 years of ruling the realm. The bridge stretches 827 feet across the Thames and flaunts seven elliptical cast-iron arches, gray granite abutments, and more neo-Gothic flair than a Victorian novel. As for the green paint, that鈥檚 a cheeky nod to the House of Commons (which, conveniently, is the closest part of Parliament to the bridge). And if you look closely, the ornate ironwork is dripping with UK symbolism: portcullises, roses, thistles, shields, and St. George鈥檚 cross.
The view from the middle of the bridge is a postcard waiting to happen. You鈥檝e got the Palace of Westminster on the one side, the London Eye on the other, and the Thames doing its timeless shimmer underneath. North, south, east鈥攖here鈥檚 not a bad angle in sight. So go on鈥攕trike a pose, soak in the skyline, and cross like a monarch.
But then came the drama. In 1831, the old, crumbling London Bridge was torn down, which鈥攕urprise!鈥攃hanged the river鈥檚 flow and started eroding Westminster Bridge鈥檚 foundations like a soggy biscuit. Something had to be done, so Parliament passed an Act in 1853, handing over the bridge to the Commissioners of Public Works. It was at that point that Thomas Page, the engineer, came along with Sir Charles Barry, fresh off designing the new Houses of Parliament (after the great fire of 1834), who was brought in to make sure that the new bridge would match Parliament鈥檚 fancy new Gothic threads.
The result was a beauty unveiled on Queen Victoria鈥檚 43rd birthday, May 24, 1862鈥攃omplete with a 25-gun salute for her 25 years of ruling the realm. The bridge stretches 827 feet across the Thames and flaunts seven elliptical cast-iron arches, gray granite abutments, and more neo-Gothic flair than a Victorian novel. As for the green paint, that鈥檚 a cheeky nod to the House of Commons (which, conveniently, is the closest part of Parliament to the bridge). And if you look closely, the ornate ironwork is dripping with UK symbolism: portcullises, roses, thistles, shields, and St. George鈥檚 cross.
The view from the middle of the bridge is a postcard waiting to happen. You鈥檝e got the Palace of Westminster on the one side, the London Eye on the other, and the Thames doing its timeless shimmer underneath. North, south, east鈥攖here鈥檚 not a bad angle in sight. So go on鈥攕trike a pose, soak in the skyline, and cross like a monarch.
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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Westminster Bridge on Map
Sight Name: Westminster 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
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
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
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...