London’s River Thames is one of the most iconic city rivers in the world, and acts as the spine to the capital city of England. Indeed, the river itself is the main reason that London has developed into the largest city in Europe providing easy access from the North Sea into the heart of England’s southlands. Over the years, this travel route was used by traders and invaders alike to reach England’s heartlands and led to small settlements that eventually amassed into the London we see today. It also led to some of the most historic and longstanding bridges in the world, specifically London Bridge and Tower Bridge.
Both of these bridges hold historic importance for London, though for very different reasons. Guests of the Piccadilly West End Hotel Spa are well placed to explore both of them, but will find them very different experiences. This blog will explore some of the main differences between these two bridges as well as some of the history surrounding them.
History Of London Bridge
There has been a bridge on the site of london bridge for thousands of years, even dating back to the Roman era. The most historically fascinating was “Old” London Bridge, which stood between 1209 and 1831, which had houses, pubs and even chapels built upon it. Of course, modern health and safety regulations would not abide by such a thing today, and it’s a shame there’s no evidence of Old London Bridge in London today, but the one that stands at present is a relatively uninspiring pedestrian and vehicle crossing. It’s the surrounding area’s history that makes London Bridge such a tourist draw.
History Of Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is the iconic suspension and drawbridge that is located to the south of the river close to the Tower of London. Designed by Victorian architect Horace Jones, Tower Bridge has become a staple London landmark since its opening in 1894. The two blue embellished towers hold an upper walkway that was once only reachable via stairs and the suspension bridge was originally powered by a pressurised hydraulic system. The bridge itself is still used by both pedestrians and motorists and its 65 metre high towers are still a nationwide symbol of London’s unique character.
Tower Bridge Tourism
Tower Bridge is now home to the Tower Bridge Exhibition, a museum and gallery dedicated to the engineering and cultural history of the bridge. Opened in 1982, the exhibition provides tours and artefacts from the conception and construction of the bridge. Of note, is the glass walkway between the two tours, providing a panoramic view of the road and river below. Guests of London West End deals looking to save money on their sightseeing can visit Tower Bridge as part of the London Pass, a daily, three-day or week long ticket that provides access to many of the city’s tourist attractions and ticketed heritage sites.
London Bridge Tourism
Guests of corporate accommodation in London’s West End will no doubt have heard of London Bridge due to it being such a focal point for business and being the home of the iconic Shard skyscraper. Though access to the Shard is limited, there are plenty of tourist attractions in the London Bridge area that may entice business and leisure travellers.
Borough Market
Borough Market is a food market surrounding the arches below London Bridge station and has become a popular alternative to meeting places near Piccadilly Circus. There has been a market held at the riverside site since the 12th century but its current iteration focuses on artisan foodstuffs and ingredients, as well as high-end street food and even pop up restaurants.
The Clink Prison Museum
Located in one of the most notorious former prisons in London, the Clink was once under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Winchester between the 12th and late 18th century, who imprisoned those who opposed him at his will. Often used to imprison religious dissidents, the inhumane treatment of prisoners on the site led to the Clink Prison Museum attempting to recreate the conditions and atmosphere of this terrifying relic of history. Just a short walk from London Bridge Station, this museum is a must for those interested in London’s more grisly history.
Shakespeare’s Globe
The reconstruction of Shakespeare’s Globe was designed to be as faithful as possible to the original, which was closed in 1644. Shakespeare’s Globe opened in 1997 and its theatre company stages daily performances of both Shakespeare and his contemporaries’ work in traditional styles. Situated close to London Bridge, audience members can enjoy seating or standing (as was common in the Elizabethan era) tickets for high energy, professional performances, often from up and coming stars of tomorrow and already famous actors such as Mark Rylance.
The Golden Hind
Another paean to Elizabethan culture near London Bridge, the Golden Hind, docked beside Borough Market is a reconstruction of the globe trotting privateer Sir Francis Drake’s galleon ship. The original was part of the defeat of the Spanish Armada that tried to invade England in 1588. Tour guides and storytellers lead visitors around the reconstructed ship, providing information and vivid stories about living conditions and legends from its history. This tourist attraction is a must for those interested in British naval history.
Visit Tower Bridge If…
As you can see, both London Bridge and Tower Bridge provide very different kinds of attraction for guests of hotels in the West End. Tower Bridge tours will only take visitors between 60 and 90 minutes, meaning that it is designed for a stop off, rather than a whole day’s visit. Engineering aficionados will also find the tours interesting, whilst other visitors may want to pair it with a visit to the nearby Tower of London.
Visit London Bridge If…
London Bridge is a draw not because of its river crossing, but for its surrounding attractions. With museums, shopping, entertainment and food all available within the vicinity, visitors could definitely spend a day perusing the markets, exhibitions and drinking in the general atmosphere of this hybrid of commuter and social hub.
