For hundreds of years, London Bridge was the one technique to get throughout the Thames (besides by boat, or except you needed to journey to Kingston) – so that you could be stunned to be informed that visiting this historic spot is one in all my high issues to not do in London.
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Sure, it’d nonetheless be a significant 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 when you’re questioning why you shouldn’t go to London Bridge, learn on (plus I’ve acquired a couple of causes you may nonetheless need to preserve 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 referred to as London Bridge.
Regardless of being London’s most well-known bridge, it’s very undoubtedly not London Bridge although.
Unsurprisingly Tower Bridge options on quite a lot of customer wishlists – it seems to be nice, there’s an opportunity you may see the bridge carry, and you may even go inside.
Get a reduction on tickets for Tower Bridge Expertise when you e book by way of by way of my hyperlink, utilizing the code MUMMYTRAVELS6
Wander alongside the glass flooring when you’re in there, benefit from the view alongside the river from the excessive degree, go to the engine rooms and be taught extra concerning the bridge’s historical past – do you know, it hasn’t all the time been painted this color…?
There are additionally numerous household actions to get pleasure from, with further enjoyable throughout most college holidays, plus Tower Bridge even has its personal set of books for youths, concerning the Tower Bridge Cat.
The Tower Bridge Cat
London Bridge is admittedly boring
Amongst London’s string of bridges, the town has some enticing and attention-grabbing ones, fairly other than Tower Bridge.
However London Bridge isn’t even very ornamental by London bridge requirements, only a fairly boring outdated, gray, concrete bridge.
Head alongside the river and also you’ve acquired the crimson and white paint of Blackfriars Bridge with its sleek arches, the modern traces of the Millennium Bridge, Westminster Bridge’s pale inexperienced paint to call just some…
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 outdated
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 bought to an American entrepreneur and now stands in Lake Havasu (or, the outside blocks do, not less than) because it was now not sturdy sufficient to help London’s elevated visitors.
The city legend that the client thought he was getting Tower Bridge and ended up with London Bridge is just a fable although – ‘New London Bridge’ because it was recognized, was particularly bought to attempt to appeal to guests to the realm and to encourage them to purchase property.
Why you must go to London Bridge
Purchase this level, you’re most likely satisfied you can completely bypass London Bridge altogether – however maybe that’s not completely honest.
Whereas there are many causes that you simply shouldn’t go to London Bridge, it’s not completely with out its deserves.
The views
London Bridge itself could be boring, however you will get some nice views as you cross it – not least of the much more iconic Tower Bridge.
There’s additionally a very good view of the Shard, and you may see a good method alongside the river on a transparent day.
The dragon
Look out for the dragon statue as you attain the southern financial institution, one in all 14 dragons in London marking the boundary of the Metropolis of London.
The silver boundary markers, usually mistaken for griffins, maintain a defend with the Metropolis of London’s coat of arms. Traditionally, this explicit level on Bankside was the place the ‘Liberty of Southwark’ started, with out the Metropolis’s restrictions – and consequently, much more lawless and vibrant than the town itself.
It hyperlinks some nice historic places
When 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 when 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 points of interest as effectively.
Should you’re on the lookout for a stroll to take you previous extra of London’s landmarks, try this route by way of the town to identify extra London points of interest
To benefit from the historical past
Whereas the bridge itself isn’t significantly outdated, there’s no query that you simply’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 wood 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 retailers later added alongside its size – and repeated fires which meant it was usually ‘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 outdated London Bridge, and you may see a 4 metre mannequin of the outdated bridge.
Constructed round 900 years in the past, presumably longer, the churchyard can be dwelling to a number of historic sections of earlier London Bridges, together with medieval stones, in addition to a timber thought thus far 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 web site.
Disclosure: This submit accommodates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Photographs: View from the bridge/boundary dragon copyright MummyTravels, all different photographs courtesy of Depositphotos
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