Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge over the River Thames, opened in 1894 and designed by the City Architect Sir Horace Jones with the engineer Sir John Wolfe Barry. Its twin Gothic-style towers, high-level walkways and Victorian steam-powered machinery were a remarkable feat of engineering, allowing the road to be raised for river traffic while pedestrians crossed above. Standing beside the Tower of London, it has become one of the most recognisable landmarks in the world and remains a working bridge today.

Compared with its ancient neighbour, Tower Bridge has relatively little ghost lore of its own, and most supernatural tales in this stretch of the Thames attach to the Tower of London rather than the bridge. Even so, some visitors describe an uneasy atmosphere or fleeting movements on the high walkways and within the old engine rooms, impressions easily coloured by the height, the enclosed spaces and the age of the machinery. Such reports are anecdotal and unverified.

The bridge's genuine fascination lies in its engineering and its place in London's story. Approached with curiosity, its Victorian ingenuity and river history offer far more of substance than any ghostly rumour.

Crossing Tower Bridge on foot or by road is free and possible at any time, as it remains a working part of London's transport network. The Tower Bridge Exhibition — which includes the high-level glass-floored walkways and the Victorian engine rooms — is a paid attraction managed on behalf of the City of London Corporation's Bridge House Estates, with seasonal opening hours and timed tickets.

Visitors to the exhibition should book ahead at busy times and follow staff guidance, particularly on the walkways. The bridge lifts for river traffic on published schedules, which are worth checking if you hope to see it in action.