Tower Bridge Lifts | History, Facts, Opening Times

Why does Tower Bridge lift?

Historically, the River Thames has been an important trade route for Britain. The Pool of London which cuts through the city, was one of the busiest ports in the world when the Tower Bridge was built. Cargo shops from all over carrying important goods such as cotton, sugar, and tea came here. The goods would then be offloaded into warehouses along the river banks between London Bridge and Limehouse in East London.

As East London became more popular, there was a need for a newer crossing for the Thames. However, the bridge needed to not obstruct the large vessels carrying these goods. Therefore, a design that included bascules, or opening roadways, was selected for the bridge in the late 1800s.

Today, however, most boats on this part of the Thames are tourist boats.

Do you have to pay to open Tower Bridge?

No, it is completely free to open Tower Bridge. This has been the case since 1894. Since river traffic has always had priority on this stretch of the Thames, Tower Bridge was so designed that it did not obstruct traffic.

The lifts are completely funded by the Bridge House Estates, a 700-year-old organization that funds the upkeep of five bridges in Central London: Tower Bridge, London Bridge, Southwark Bridge, Blackfriars Bridge, and Millennium Bridge.

However, if you wish to book a Bridge Lift, you must have a vessel that is more than 9m (30ft) tall and provide a notice of at least 24 hours, in writing. Any changes in arrival or sailing times must also be informed at the earliest.

Historic Tower Bridge lifts

• Daisy, the Harbour Master's schooner, was the first vessel to pass through the Tower Bridge. The Conservator Steamer, the Trinity House Yacht Irene, the gunboat HMS Landrail, The Bismark, and the Clacton Belle were among the honorary vessels that followed it.
  
• The Royal Eagle used to make the trip across the Tower Bridge regularly in 1932, ferrying commuters between London and several coastal destinations including Southend-on-Sea, Ramsgate, and Margate.
  
• Thousands of Britons lined the Thames banks in the spring of 1954 to watch the Royal Yacht Britannia sail beneath Tower Bridge, carrying Her Majesty the Queen and her entourage back after a six-month Commonwealth tour.
  
• The STS Lord Nelson and the SV Tenacious set sail on May 15, 2004, intending to pass under the Tower Bridge. However, the lift booking was not received by the bridge officials, forcing the ships to collide with Tower Bridge's south pier.
  
• The Spanish cargo ship Monte Urquiola tended to collide with the Tower Bridge. The cargo ship struck and damaged the Tower Bridge three times between 1957 and 1967.
  
• During the opening ceremony of the London Olympics in 2012, David Beckham drove a Bladerunner BR RIB 35 nicknamed 'Max Power' with Torchbearer Jade Bailey under the Tower Bridge.
  
• Since 2013, the Tower Bridge has admitted more than 30 cruise ships each year into London's upper pool. From the Tower Bridge walkways, you can get a great view of these ships.

Visitor tips

• If you want to avoid crowds, avoid visiting Tower Bridge on weekends.
  
• To ensure timely admittance, make travel arrangements ahead of time and arrive at your planned admission time.
  
• Keep in mind that only card and contactless payments are accepted at Tower Bridge.
  
• Please note that at Tower Bridge, only small bags are permitted. Store your large bags at a storage facility or back at your hotel.