A complete guide to visiting Tower Bridge

You've seen it in the movies, now come and see this star of a bridge in real life. Read on for our tips on how to get there and what to look out for. Don't forget your camera!

By Beth Levicki
Published: May 22, 2025
Tower Bridge

Wait, should I visit this bridge? 

Yes, is the short answer, particularly if you’re into the following:  

  • Skyline views. 
  • Glass walkways. 
  • Re-creating your fave movie scenes. 
  • A chance to see the bridge in action.

Sounds good, how do I get there?

Wide shot of 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. 

Anything I should know beforehand?

Woman holding a child look at Tower Bridge in the distance

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. 

Give me the highlights

View from the walkways

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! 
Engines in the engine room of Tower Bridge
  • 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.

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What about its history?

Informational placard in Tower Bridge

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. 

This bridge looks familiar...

Wide shot of Tower Bridge

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. 

Okay I'm sold, but where could I visit after?

Image of boats on a sunny day at St Katharine's Docks

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.

Wanna stretch those legs even more? Check out some debunked Tower Bridge myths, or discover London in just one day (almost).

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Beth Levicki
Content Executive

Beth is a Content Executive at Go City and a casual writer of many things. She particularly loves songwriting and has written over 50 original songs since childhood. She loves travelling, especially to the US to see her friends, and enjoys more scenic destinations like hiking in upstate New York or Washington. When she’s not writing, she enjoys playing video games, watching Formula 1, and trying to stop her dog Odin from stealing her socks.

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How to Visit London on a Budget

London’s reputation as one of the most expensive cities on the planet is not without justification. Grimacing out-of-towners can often be seen experiencing this first-hand as – in a state of utter bewilderment and disbelief – they count the meager change from a ten pound note after purchasing their first London pint. Luxury hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants, and consistently high demand due to its evergreen status as one of the world’s top bucket-list city destinations: all of these things help keep London prices sky high. Now the good news: it is possible to visit London on a budget. A little savvy here, a willingness to sleep in the suburbs there and hey presto, you have the beginnings of a wallet-friendly London adventure on your hands. Read on for our top tips on how to visit London on a budget... Budget London Accommodation Ok, so you’re going to have to manage your own expectations here. 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Brick Lane street sign.
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East London Attractions

East London may well lay claim to being the city’s coolest quarter, thanks to its proliferation of urban art, bleeding-edge galleries, buzzy markets, global street food and hipper-than-thou cocktail bars and speakeasies. It’s also where you’ll find landmarks including the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Walthamstow Wetlands, and Whitechapel’s haunting, haunted lanes, which have retained the best of their Victorian character. Take a walk with us as we explore some of the finest attractions East London has to offer... Brick Lane The good news is that, in spite of the area’s ongoing gentrification attempts, Bangladeshi and Jewish influences continue to dominate along Brick Lane. You’d still be hard-pressed to find a better curry or bagel anywhere else in London, and that’s reason enough to visit this characterful kaleidoscope of cultures, in our humble opinion. But there’s so much more to see and do along these iconic cobbles. 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Victoria Park Victoria Park (or Vicky Park as it’s known to locals) is perhaps East London’s best-loved green space, chock-full of walking trails, playgrounds, cafés and interesting monuments. Look out for the Grade II-listed drinking fountain designed by Henry Darbyshire and the famous Dogs of Alcibiades statues. Keep your eyes peeled and you might even spot some stone alcoves from the original London Bridge tucked away in the park’s northeast corner! There’s a cool food market with live music every Sunday and the V&A playground is a boon for all parents of energetic toddlers. Come back in summer for a whole host of live entertainment, including major music festivals such as All Points East. Save on Activities and Attractions in London Save on admission to Paris attractions with The London Pass. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
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Discover Kensington’s charm with our must-visit neighbourhood guide.
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