Visiting Tower Bridge London: Tips, Tickets, and What to Expect (2026)
London busses drive over London Bridge
Tower Bridge is one of the most iconic London attractions and it’s also very easy to visit. You can walk across the bridge for free or for a slight fee you can walk up inside the bridge, take in the breathtaking skyline and walk across the glass bottom walkway.
| 🌉 Tower Bridge Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Address | Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 2UP |
| Nearest Tube | Tower Hill (Circle & District lines) — 7-min walk |
| Opening Hours | Daily 9:30am–6pm (last admission 5pm) |
| Walk Across | Free, 24 hours a day |
| Exhibition Tickets | Adults £16 / Children (5–15) £8 / Under 5s free |
| What's Included | North Tower exhibits, glass walkways 42m above the Thames, Victorian Engine Rooms |
| How Long to Spend | 1 to 1.5 hours for the full exhibition |
⚠️ Pre-booking a timed entry ticket online is strongly recommended, especially in summer. Walk-ups are possible but you risk being turned away at busy times. |
|
History of Tower Bridge
Most of London's landmarks go back centuries. Tower Bridge is actually relatively young by London standards. Construction didn't begin until 1886.
The story starts a few years earlier. The City of London needed a new Thames crossing east of London Bridge, but the challenge was keeping the river open to tall-masted ships. A design competition drew over 50 entries. The winning design came from Sir Horace Jones, the City Architect, working with engineer Sir John Wolfe Barry.
It took eight years to build. More than 430 workers were involved, and the project required 11,000 tons of steel and 70,000 tons of concrete sunk into the riverbed to support the towers.
The bridge opened on June 30, 1894. The Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII, and his wife the Princess of Wales presided over the ceremony.
One thing most visitors don't know: the bridge wasn't always red, white, and blue. For most of its life, it was painted chocolate brown. It was repainted in its now-famous colors in 1977 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee.
The bridge raises around 800 times a year to let tall vessels through. We’ve seen it lift up from a distance many times, and one time we saw it up close when it opened as we were on the bridge.
You can check the schedule at towerbridge.org.uk if you want to time your visit to see a lift. It's worth it.
How to get to Tower Bridge
The easiest option is the Tube. Tower Hill station on the Circle and District lines is about a seven-minute walk from the bridge. It's the stop most visitors use.
London Bridge station (Northern and Jubilee lines) also works. From there it's about a 15-minute walk along the south bank of the Thames. Honestly, that walk is worth it. You get great views of the bridge as you approach.
Most times, Debbie and I came from the Tower Hill side. You pass right alongside the Tower of London on your way, which makes for a great warm-up to the day.
Bus routes 15, 42, 78, 100, and 343 also stop nearby if you prefer staying above ground.
You can read more about the Underground in our post: How to Use London’s Public Transportation: A Guide for Visitors
How much does it cost to visit Tower Bridge?
Walking across Tower Bridge is absolutely free.
We decided to add a visit to the towers and upper walkways. This costs £16 for adults and £8 for kids age 5 -15.
Walking across Tower Bridge.
If you are planning to visit the nearby Tower of London then check out our our post: The complete guide to visiting the Tower of London
Visiting the walkways
We'd recommend booking a timed entry ticket online before you go. Walk-ups are possible, but in summer the bridge fills up fast, and you can be turned away. Tickets are on the Tower Bridge website at towerbridge.org.uk.
Once inside, you start in the North Tower. There are exhibits about the design and construction of the bridge, and it's genuinely interesting and not the kind of thing you skim through to get to the views.
From there, you walk out onto the high-level walkways, about 42 meters above the Thames. The views are fantastic in both directions. To the west, you can see St. Paul's Cathedral. To the east, Canary Wharf.
The glass floor sections are the big draw. We both loved it. Look for the crowd lying flat on the floor, trying to get the best shot straight down to the road and river below. There's a solid floor on either side if you'd rather skip the glass entirely.
Before you leave, make sure you visit the Victorian Engine Rooms. They're in a separate building at the south end of the bridge. At one point, the engines raised the bridge 20 to 30 times a day. These days it lifts around 800 times a year. The machinery is enormous and genuinely impressive.
One small thing worth looking for on your way out: the Blue Line on the ground near the South Tower. It's a commemorative path with plaques honoring the original workers who built the bridge. Easy to miss, worth a moment.
Tower Bridge also offers a free audio guide through the Smartify app. Download it before you go. It adds a lot of context as you move through the towers and walkways.
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What else to see in the area of Tower Bridge
If you visited the Tower Bridge Engine Room, you’ll be very close to the Vault Bar, which is built right into the base of the bridge. They serve beer, wine, and traditional pub food. Best of all, their outside patio has an iconic view of the bridge.
We decided to eat at the nearby Greek Restaurant, The Real Greek. The price of the lunch special was great, but the food was average.
Another great option is to walk along the banks of the River Thames to Borough Market. The historic market, dating to 1756, houses countless food stands featuring many types of food and drink.
Borough Market is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 am to 5 pm, Saturday 9 am to 5 pm, and Sunday 10 am to 4 pm. The market is closed on Mondays, except during December, when it opens seven days a week
If you are looking for great views of the London skyline, check out our post: Best Free Views of the London Skyline
You could always cross the river into central London, with its endless variety of restaurants. If you haven’t visited the Tower of London, it’s located just a few steps from Tower Bridge.
Are Tower Bridge and London Bridge the same?
Tower Bridge and London Bridge are not the same but they are often confused. While the history of London Bridge goes back 600 years, the current version opened in 1973. The updated London Bridge is not particularly interesting compared to the iconic Tower Bridge.
Is It Worth Visiting Tower Bridge?
Debbie and I had walked past Tower Bridge and photographed it from the riverbank on several previous trips to London. We always told ourselves we'd go inside next time.
We finally did, and we wished we hadn't waited so long.
Walking across is free and worth doing on its own. The views from the bridge are great, and it takes maybe 20 minutes. But going up inside is a completely different experience. The history exhibits, the glass walkway, the engine rooms, it all up to something genuinely memorable.
The ticket price is reasonable for London. An hour to 90 minutes inside feels just right. It never drags.
If you're combining it with the Tower of London next door, plan for a full day in the area. Add a stop at Borough Market for lunch and a walk along the Thames, and you've got one of the best days London has to offer.
This post was researched and written by John O'Boyle of The Empty Nest Explorers.
John is a professional photographer and videographer whose work has been published by the New York Times, NBC News, and Getty Images. He has been part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team and nominated for New York Emmy Awards. You can learn more about John and the Empty Nest Explorers here.
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