Tower Bridge
Opened in 1894, Tower Bridge still lifts for river traffic on a published schedule. The exhibition route takes you up the towers to enclosed walkways with glass panels looking straight down to the road and the Thames.
Opened in 1894, Tower Bridge still lifts for river traffic on a published schedule. The exhibition route takes you up the towers to enclosed walkways with glass panels looking straight down to the road and the Thames.
Views to the Tower, Shard and Canary Wharf, plus the glass floor sections over the roadway.
Hydraulic lifting machinery displayed on the south side of the visit.
Free to watch from the banks when scheduled; check the lift times on the official site.
Buy exhibition tickets on the official Tower Bridge site. The roadway and outer walkways for crossing remain free. Confirm lift times and exhibition hours before you go.
Photographers and first-time visitors often pay for the walkways; a free riverside walk still shows the icon.
Next door but a separate ticket and security queue—plan half a day for both.
Watching the bascules open is free theatre if your schedule matches.
Do I need a ticket to cross Tower Bridge?
No. Walking or cycling across is free. Tickets are for the exhibition (towers, walkways, engines).
Is the glass floor scary?
It is solid engineered glass with optional opaque paths; staff manage visitor flow.
How long is the exhibition?
About an hour for most visitors.
When does the bridge open?
For scheduled river traffic; times are posted online and can change with shipping.
Tower Bridge was built to let ships reach the Pool of London while carrying road traffic. It is a combined bascule and suspension design, often confused with London Bridge upstream.
The bridge is owned by Bridge House Estates and operated for the City of London. The exhibition is a visitor attraction inside the historic structure.
This page is an independent guide for visitors, covering Tower Bridge Exhibition.
