5 of Londons Prettiest Bridges
If you're a fan of architecture, you've probably found yourself staring at a bridge or two.
London is full of architectural gems, and its bridges are no exception. Whether you're out on a street photography tour or just walking around the place, here are five spots which showcase a range of London's diverse architecture.
No trip to London is complete without a visit to some of these iconic sites in the city!
#5 Richmond Bridge
The view of Richmond Bridge along the River Thames
Built in the 18th century, Richmond Bridge is one of London's oldest bridges.
The stone arches are reminiscent of its Georgian architecture. The surrounding area is picturesque with riverside pubs, boat hire, and with Richmond Hill offering a fantastic panoramic view of West London.
This one's a little far out of the city. But if you can afford the trip, it's worth it to not just see some of the architecture, but to also see Richmond, a very charming riverside town on the outskirts of London.
#4 Westminster Bridge
Westminster Bridge, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
The design of Westminster Bridge itself is beautiful, but it does itself serve as more of a lead up to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament which are so iconic of London.
The bridge's signature green paint matches the leather benches in the House of Commons, and the view from the bridge is the postcard-perfect way to capture the essence of London.
You can get a canvas print of Westminster and London's Big Ben in our shop!
#3 The Millennium Bridge
The view along the Millennium Bridge from the Southbank towards St. Paul's Cathedral
This pedestrian-only bridge is much more modern than its counterparts in this list.
The Millennium bridge opened in 2000, but when it did, it became famous for a bizarre story about "synchronisation" (let's just say the architect made a mistake in neglecting its sideways support).
But that's all good, the problem's been fixed. Nowadays, it's not just a footbridge across the River Thames, but it also provides a perfect visual line between St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tate Modern - amazing views to behold, especially at sunset.
#2 The Albert Bridge
The Albert Bridge at night
This Victorian-era work might be London's most romantic crossing.
The Albert Bridge truly comes to life at night when its hundreds of lights come on. It has over 4,000 bulbs which create the bridge's warm glow, reflecting across the river and creating what is a really captivating scene.
In spite of its charm, not much traffic goes over the bridge, partly owing to its historic weight restrictions. If you're on an evening walk, this is a fantastic place to come and photograph without big crowds.
Honourable Mention: London Bridge
Fun fact: "London Bridge" is not the one you might think it is...
...the original "London Bridge" isn't even the one which stands right next to "London Bridge" station.
The view of London Bridge (bottom right) and the Shard from across the Thames.
Despite its name and reputation, the bridge that stands (mostly) in place of where the "original" London Bridge was, is actually a pretty plain bridge lacking in suspension mechanisms and towers.
It lacks the grandeur of its much more iconic counterpart (see next section), but it does have some pretty interesting history - including being sold and moved to Arizona in the 1960s.
And despite it being more focused on "function" over form, the views of London from the bridge itself are still pretty tremendous. But when you hear "London Bridge", the one that it should be referring to is the one shown in the image above.
If you're thinking of a marvellous drawbridge with turrets which simply screams out "LONDON!!" each time you see it, the one you're actually thinking of is...
#1 Tower Bridge
Yes; that beautiful structure so iconic to London is, in fact, Tower Bridge (and not London Bridge)!
Tower Bridge is a marvel of Victorian engineering.
The two Gothic-style towers make this a standout on the Thames, not to mention the most iconic bridge in the U.K. - possibly even the world. Historically, this drawbridge (to be technical: "bascule bridge") was built between 1886 and 1894 and was designed to allow tall ships to pass across the Thames. The mechanisms for this still work to this day.
Most trips to London will include a trip here, but it's worth setting aside time to check out the walkway above the bridge, where there are some incredible panoramic views of the Thames and the cityscape of the area. There's also the glass-floored hallways which have some thrilling - and oddly terrifying - views straight down to the river.
Even if you aren't spending long in London, this one's a must-see.
But just remember - it's Tower Bridge, and not London Bridge. 🇬🇧
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