Two Bridges, Constant Confusion

Tower Bridge is the ornate, twin-towered structure that appears on postcards, souvenirs and establishing shots of London in almost every film set in the city. London Bridge is the unremarkable concrete road bridge a short walk upstream. They are separate structures with separate histories, but the mix-up between them is so widespread that it has become a running joke among Londoners.

The confusion is not helped by the fact that Tower Bridge sits right next to the Tower of London. Visitors see the dramatic bridge, notice the Tower nearby, and assume the two share a name. Meanwhile, the actual London Bridge is a flat, modern structure that most people cross without giving it a second glance.

Tower Bridge in Detail

Tower Bridge was designed by Sir Horace Jones and Sir John Wolfe Barry and opened in 1894 after eight years of construction. It was built to ease traffic congestion in the East End while still allowing tall ships to reach the busy wharves upstream of the bridge. The solution was a bascule (drawbridge) design, with two leaves that could be raised to let ships pass through.

The bridge's towers are connected by two high-level walkways 42 metres above the river, originally intended for pedestrians to cross even when the bridge was raised. The walkways fell out of public use in 1910 because people preferred to wait for the bascules to lower, but they were reopened as a visitor attraction in 1982 and now feature glass floor panels.

London Bridge in Detail

The current London Bridge is a concrete and steel box girder bridge opened in 1973. It replaced a Victorian granite bridge from 1831, which in turn replaced a medieval stone bridge that had stood for over 600 years. The medieval London Bridge was the one from the nursery rhyme, famously lined with houses and shops, and featuring a gatehouse where the heads of executed traitors were displayed on spikes.

The 1831 bridge was sold to an American developer in 1968 and shipped to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where it still stands. An often-repeated story claims the buyer thought he was purchasing Tower Bridge, but this has been denied by those involved in the sale.

How to Tell Them Apart

The simplest rule is this. If the bridge has towers, it is Tower Bridge. If it does not, it is not. London Bridge is as plain as a motorway overpass. Tower Bridge looks like something from a Victorian fantasy. You cannot mix them up once you have seen both in person.

Geographically, Tower Bridge is downstream (closer to the sea) and London Bridge is upstream (closer to the City). If you stand on London Bridge facing east, you will see Tower Bridge in the distance with the Tower of London on the north bank beside it.

Why It Matters

Getting the name wrong is harmless, but it does lead to practical confusion. Visitors searching for directions to "London Bridge" when they mean Tower Bridge will end up at the wrong spot. The two bridges are connected by a riverside path and about a 10-minute walk apart, so the mistake is not catastrophic, but knowing the difference saves time.