For hundreds of years, London Bridge was the one option to get throughout the Thames (besides by boat, or until you needed to journey to Kingston) – so that you is likely to be stunned to be informed that visiting this historic spot is one among my high issues to not do in London.
comprises affiliate hyperlinks*
Sure, it’d nonetheless be a serious bridge to cross the Thames, it’s even impressed a nursery rhyme (‘London Bridge is falling down’) however on a listing of what to not do in London as a vacationer, visiting London Bridge comes up excessive.
So should you’re questioning why you shouldn’t go to London Bridge, learn on (plus I’ve obtained a couple of causes you may nonetheless wish to hold it in your London itinerary).
London Bridge is just not Tower Bridge
The large mistake that lots of people make is assuming that the long-lasting Tower Bridge, with its eye-catching blue and white paint, is definitely known as London Bridge.
Regardless of being London’s most well-known bridge, it’s very positively not London Bridge although.
Unsurprisingly Tower Bridge options on loads of customer wishlists – it appears nice, there’s an opportunity you may see the bridge carry, and you’ll even go inside.
Get a reduction on tickets for Tower Bridge Expertise should you e book by by my hyperlink, utilizing the code MUMMYTRAVELS6
Wander alongside the glass ground when you’re in there, benefit from the view alongside the river from the excessive stage, go to the engine rooms and be taught extra in regards to the bridge’s historical past – do you know, it hasn’t at all times been painted this color…?
There’s additionally plenty of household actions to get pleasure from, with further enjoyable throughout most college holidays, plus Tower Bridge even has its personal set of books for teenagers, in regards to the Tower Bridge Cat.
Sale
The Tower Bridge Cat
- Tee Dobinson (Creator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 38 Pages – 05/18/2018 (Publication Date) – Baizdon (Writer)
London Bridge is actually uninteresting
Amongst London’s string of bridges, the town has some engaging and crowd pleasing ones, fairly other than Tower Bridge.
However London Bridge isn’t even very ornamental by London bridge requirements, only a fairly boring previous, gray, concrete bridge.
Head alongside the river and also you’ve obtained the pink and white paint of Blackfriars Bridge with its sleek arches, the modern strains of the Millennium Bridge, Westminster Bridge’s pale inexperienced paint to call only a few…
Albert Bridge even lights up at evening, with 4 thousand lightbulbs illuminating at nightfall every day, and a few historic tollbooths on the finish.
London Bridge is just not very previous
The present London Bridge opened in 1973, which makes the present one London’s latest bridge (excluding the pedestrianised Millennium Bridge and Golden Jubilee Bridge).
The earlier model, which dated again to the 1830s, was offered to an American entrepreneur and now stands in Lake Havasu (or, the outside blocks do, not less than) because it was not sturdy sufficient to help London’s elevated visitors.
The city legend that the customer thought he was getting Tower Bridge and ended up with London Bridge is just a delusion although – ‘New London Bridge’ because it was recognized, was particularly bought to attempt to appeal to guests to the world and to encourage them to purchase property.
Why you need to go to London Bridge
Purchase this level, you’re in all probability satisfied that you could solely bypass London Bridge altogether – however maybe that’s not solely truthful.
Whereas there are many causes that you just shouldn’t go to London Bridge, it’s not solely with out its deserves.
The views
London Bridge itself is likely to be uninteresting, however you will get some nice views as you cross it – not least of the much more iconic Tower Bridge.
There’s additionally view of the Shard, and you’ll see a good approach alongside the river on a transparent day.
The dragon
Look out for the dragon statue as you attain the southern financial institution, one among 14 dragons in London marking the boundary of the Metropolis of London.
The silver boundary markers, typically mistaken for griffins, maintain a defend with the Metropolis of London’s coat of arms. Traditionally, this specific level on Bankside was the place the ‘Liberty of Southwark’ started, with out the Metropolis’s restrictions – and because of this, much more lawless and vibrant than the town itself.
It hyperlinks some nice historic places
Whilst you won’t get too excited by the bridge itself, it’s a great way to get between a few of London’s landmarks.
Close by on the north financial institution, you’ll be able to see the Monument to the Nice Fireplace of London, whereas should you stroll throughout to the southern facet, it results in Southwark Cathedral, Borough Market, HMS Belfast and the Golden Hinde, and Bankside itself, which frequently has public artwork trails.
It’s solely minutes till you attain the South Financial institution with all its vacationer sights as nicely.
In case you’re searching for a stroll to take you previous extra of London’s landmarks, take a look at this route by the town to identify extra London sights
To benefit from the historical past
Whereas the bridge itself isn’t significantly previous, there’s no query that you just’re standing someplace marked by centuries of historical past.
In spite of everything, there was a bridge on this level since round 50CE, when the Romans created their first picket crossing level over the Thames, linking their metropolis of Londinium to the roads main south and west.
The primary stone bridge was created within the late twelfth century, with homes and outlets later added alongside its size – and repeated fires which meant it was recurrently ‘falling down’ and being rebuilt. The heads of traitors had been additionally displayed right here as a warning to others.
Head to the close by church of St Magnus the Martyr, which stands on the head of the previous London Bridge, and you’ll see a 4 metre mannequin of the previous bridge.
Constructed round 900 years in the past, probably longer, the churchyard can be house to a number of historic sections of earlier London Bridges, together with medieval stones, in addition to a timber thought to this point again to 75AD, tucked away inside an 18th century archway.
By the nineteenth century, when New London Bridge was constructed, it was constructed round 100ft west of the older bridge – and the present model stands on the identical website.
Disclosure: This put up comprises affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee
Photographs: View from the bridge/boundary dragon copyright MummyTravels, all different photos courtesy of Depositphotos
