Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge features on the Gingerguide audio walk through London. Give it roughly ~60 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type bridge
- Suggested visit ~60 min
- London London guide
About Tower Bridge
London's iconic Victorian bascule bridge, with glass-floored walkways 42 metres above the Thames.
Tower Bridge is one of the most instantly recognisable structures on Earth. Opened in 1894 after eight years of construction, it was designed by Sir Horace Jones and Sir John Wolfe Barry to solve a growing traffic problem in East London while still allowing tall-masted ships to reach the busy wharves upstream.
The ingenious solution was a bascule bridge whose two massive leaves can be raised to an angle of 86 degrees in just five minutes. The bridge's two Gothic-style towers rise 65 metres above the Thames and are connected by two high-level walkways at 42 metres, now featuring glass floor sections.
Tower Bridge still opens around 800 times a year. The distinctive blue-and-white paint scheme was applied in 1977 for the Queen's Silver Jubilee; before that, it was chocolate brown.
Did you know? Tower Bridge still opens around 800 times a year, the schedule is published online so you can plan to watch.
How long is a visit to Tower Bridge?
Set aside roughly ~60 min for Tower Bridge. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Tower Bridge worth your time?
Tower Bridge is among the 41 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for London, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in London
Hear the story of Tower Bridge
Preview the London tour free in the Gingerguide app.