A complete guide to visiting Tower Bridge

There are plenty of options to get to London’s famous bridge. Here’s the lowdown: 

• Tube & Trains: Tower Hill is your closest tube stop and just a 7-minute walk. You’ve also got London Bridge station if you’re up for a 10-15-minute walk instead. London Bridge and Fenchurch Street, or Tower Gateway DLR Station, are the nearest National Rail stations and a 10-15-minute walk away. 
• Bus: Routes 15, 42, 78, 100, 343 all take you to Tower Bridge. If you’re ticking off landmarks, major sightseeing buses pass Tower Bridge, so a Big Bus tour could be the choice for you. 
• Riverboat: If you want to be fancy, you can take a riverboat to Tower Pier or London Bridge City Pier - both are short walks from Tower Bridge. 

You’ve arrived - yay! Before you head in, there are some key bits of info to know that will make your visit a whole lot smoother. 

First of all, are you at the right bridge? It might be a silly question, but Tower Bridge and London Bridge get mixed up all the time. If the bridge looks like the one in the picture, you're at the right place.

Once you’ve scanned your pass, you’ll need to get your bags checked. Shoulder bags and backpacks with maximum dimensions 45 x 35 x 20cm are allowed, but suitcases, wheeled bags and oversize items can’t come in (pushchairs and wheelchairs are a-okay to enter). 

For those with accessibility needs, you can enjoy your visit without stress. Tower Bridge is wheelchair- and assistance pet-friendly, can video call BSL interpreters if extra guidance is needed, and offers Deaf-led guided tours. Free plans of Tower Bridge's layout can also be picked up at the ticket office that show the location of lifts and accessible toilets. If you need a hand, Tower Bridge employees wear blue and are your first point of contact for any info and guidance you need. 

So, what’s all this fuss about a bridge for? Well, Tower Bridge isn’t just a boring crossing – it’s one of London’s most recognised landmarks, so just standing outside and looking at the gothic structure is an experience in itself. But what’s inside? Here are the top things to see: 

• Walkways: Stride (or hide) on the glass walkways 42 metres above the Thames and enjoy some incredible panoramic views of London’s skyline. Glimpse other landmarks like St Paul’s Cathedral, The Shard, and The Tower of London (and why not also pay them a visit with your pass?). 

• Exhibition: Step inside and get the full lowdown—interactive displays spill all the secrets of Tower Bridge’s past, from Victorian drama to powerhouse engineering. Who knew she had such a colourful past! 

• Engine rooms: These rooms still house the original pumping engines that powered the bridge back in the day, before they switched to electric in 1976. What was once a hot and steamy place of work for over 100 years is now an atmospheric, industrial time machine that gives you a glimpse into the bridge’s past. Pretty cool, right? 

• Blue Line: Between the towers and the engine rooms, you’ll find a blue line painted on the pavement. Follow it and it’ll guide you through exhibits shining a light on the workers that kept Tower Bridge living and breathing long before tourists flocked. 

• Bridge in action: The bascules on the bridge (fun fact: 'bascule' comes from the French word for 'seesaw') are still in action today! They lift around 700–850 times a year— roughly twice a day on average, so you may be lucky enough to see the event for yourself.

We don’t want to spoil the fun of what you can learn about Tower Bridge from your visit, but here are some fun historical facts to whet your appetite! 

• Tower Bridge was opened in 1894 by the Prince and Princess of Wales after eight years of construction and was designed with bascule arms for passing boats.  

• The walkways, which were for pedestrian traffic, grew a bad reputation for shady activity and were closed until the 80s when they opened back up to the public.  

• The bridge suffered minor damages during WWII but was restored in just a few years.  

• In 1952, a bus leapt across the rising bascules and made the jump (the driver even got £10 for it!).  

• The original colour of the bridge was brown but was repainted to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977.  

• The bridge turned 125 in 2019 and continues to stand as an iconic beauty of London. 

Tower Bridge has a whole lot of screen time and references in pop culture, which isn’t surprising considering its facade screams “London”. Here are some of its most notable acting credits that you could attempt to replicate during your visit! 

Films

• In Sherlock Holmes (2009), the final showdown takes place on Tower Bridge while it's still in construction. The half-complete landmark plays the role of industrial-Victorian-London gracefully. 

• In the Bridget Jones’ Diary franchise, Bridget can be seen walking solemnly or strutting across Tower Bridge (depending on if her life’s going well or not), popping up like a proud London extra in Bridget’s chaotic city escapades. 

• In Spider-Man: Far From Home (2018), the final battle between Spider-Man and Mysterio takes place around and inside Tower Bridge, most notably on the glass walkways. Seems like this bridge has a knack for being a great spot for movie face-offs! 

TV

Tower Bridge has made many appearances in iconic British shows like Doctor Who, The Crown, and Eastenders, mainly serving as establishing shots to add to the drama of the city and its stories. 

Pop culture

You can see Tower Bridge just about everywhere you look from music videos to video games, and even LEGO® sets!  

One of Tower Bridge’s most unforgettable cameos? That legendary 2012 Olympic opening ceremony stunt—when James Bond whisked “The Queen” off in a helicopter. The pair soared through London skies and even flew through Tower Bridge itself, Olympic rings hanging proudly from the walkways. 

While you’re there, you may as well take advantage of Tower Bridge’s unbeatable location – right between the City of London and Southwark. This place is always bustling with locals and tourists. Here are a few of our suggestions for more things to keep you busy: 

Tower of London: Home to the Crown Jewels and dripping with history, the Tower of London is basically a stone’s throw away from Tower Bridge and is a fantastic way to get your fill of ghost stories and royal bling. 

St Katharine Docks: Just east of the bridge you’ll find St Katharine’s Docks – a cosy, little marina with fancy yachts, cute cafes and riverside restaurants. It’s gorgeous in the sun and an ideal spot to unwind and rest your feet. 

The Shard: Want more views? A short 10-minute walk (and a 60-second lift ride) takes you to the viewing platform of The Shard with stunning 360-degree views of the entire city. With no time limit, you can take in the scenery at your own pace and plan what to do next. 

Shad Thames: If you were expecting cute, cobbled streets when visiting London, then head over to Shad Thames, south-east of Tower Bridge. It used to be one of London’s busiest warehouse districts but is now home to restaurants, art galleries, and cool flat buildings, all while maintaining that old-school, Victorian edge.   

Borough Market: This historic market has been a food hub since the 12th century and today houses fresh produce, gourmet street food, international treats, and plenty more. It’s sure to cater for whatever your taste buds are craving.