The Tower Bridge

The Tower Bridge built between 1886 and 1894 is one of the most iconic symbols of London. With 244 m length (801 ft) and 65 m high (213 ft), it is considered as a significant part of British heritage. Tower Bridge as the name implies consists of two connected towers with two horizontal walkways at the upper level. These walkways allow visitors to admire the City from the bridge perspective. The structure crosses the River Thames and connects two London boroughs- Tower Hamlets on the north side and Southwark on the Southside.

The deck is fully accessible for pedestrians and vehicles. The bridge’s twin towers, Victorian engine rooms and high level walkways are part of Tower Bridge Exhibition and thus come with admission charge. The entrance to the exhibition is from the west side of bridge deck to the northern tower. The exhibition consists of the bridge history including glass-floored section. Southern Tower allows visitors to see the engine rooms with the original steam engines.

What’s nearby?

There are several Tube stations near, including Tower Hill, Tower Bridge and London Bridge Station and a National Rail station at Fenchurch Street and London Bridge. The Tower Bridge is still busy with over 40000 motorist, cyclists and pedestrians crossing it every day. There’s a 32km/h (20 mph) restriction limit enforced by camera that measures the speed, using a number plate recognition system that sends fixed penalty charges. River traffic still has a priority over road traffic which confirms the fact that the bridges bascules are being raised around a thousand times a year.

Check: “Tower of London“

According to Connect Click, here are some interesting facts about The Tower Bridge:

• In 1968 Lt Alan Pollock, was so unimpressed with senior staff decision not to celebrate RAF’s 50^th birthday by flying through Tower Bridge that he decided to disobey and flew his plane at a very low altitude down the Thames, past the Houses of Parliament and continued towards the Tower Bridge, flew under the bridge’s walkway! Unfortunately for him he was arrested and discharged from RAF after this reckless incident.
• In October 2003, David Crick, member of Fathers 4 Justice, climbed a 30 m tower crane near Tower Bridge and started his six-day protest dressed up as Spiderman. With this action he unconsciously caused a widespread traffic across the whole City as the police created a cordon on the area nearby worrying about this gentleman’s safety.