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Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge Engine Rooms Tickets

Included with Tower Bridge tickets

Timings

RECOMMENDED DURATION

2 hours

Victorian steam engines in the Tower Bridge Engine Rooms, London, with informational displays.

From happy customers

Loved by 48 million+
Trustpilot rating: 4.5 out of 5
BOSCONO Virginie

Boscono

Feb 2026
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+2 more

Excellent, what more can I say except that it's magnificent 😍 Rich in history and unforgettable. I highly recommend it, whether you go alone or with your family. Westminster Abbey is very close to Big Ben.
Ferruccio Agazzi

Ferruccio

Jan 2026
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History really amazed me that an Abbey is like a cemetery is the first time I have come across such a historical property. However very beautiful an outstanding Gothic
Raffaello Porro

Raffaello

Feb 2026
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It was very good and easy to book. We also were positiey surprised by the possibility to change our scheduled time when we came three hours earlier than planned.
Joshua Hardingham
GB

Joshua

United Kingdom
Feb 2026
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Really well organised and care from the staff even with a misunderstanding at the security check. And despite the weather was still able to see a good bit of the London skyline and landmarks.
Anne Moni Rudolph

Anne

Feb 2026
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Visiting Tower Bridge was great and interesting. Great view 👌✌️ The Tower was also beautiful. But it wasn't my first visit.
Marcela González Smith
MX

Marcela

Mexico
Jan 2026
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+1 more

A fabulous place that transports you back in time, a site steeped in history with impressive galleries. Inside and outside the castle there are beautiful places to take photos, and the crown jewels are also fabulous to admire. My husband gave me a ring for our 25th anniversary. Afterwards, walk across London Bridge, enjoying the views and the great structure of the bridge. Leave your fear behind and walk on the glass of the bridge... enjoy it to the fullest!
Marine Soler

Marine

Jan 2026
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+1 more

Easy to book, and a good price! The experience itself was really enjoyable. Our hotel was next to Tower Bridge, so a visit was a must! Great views and especially fun to walk across the glass walkway (maybe scary if you're afraid of heights). A visit to the engine room was also very interesting, so definitely recommended for your visit to London!
Natalie Cardenas
US

Natalie

United States
Jan 2026
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My family and I really enjoyed the experience overall and were amazing by the Bridge's craftsmanship. We wwre sorry to hear that 10 people lost their lives in the making of the bridge but thought that was an impressive number since there weren't any harnesses or supports during the time of construction over the 8 years it took to complete. We all agreed we wouldn't be able to do the job these men do especially the scuba divers. I would highly recommend this tour to others and would do this tour again with my family.

Victorian Engine Rooms | Tower Bridge's industrial heart

These meticulously preserved Victorian Engine Rooms are the original steam-powered core of the bridge. They showcase the ingenious Victorian engineering and hydraulics that once raised the bridge bascules, allowing ships to pass. Visiting the Tower Bridge Engine Rooms provides a unique insight into the industrial history of the landmark.

Where is it located?

The Tower Bridge Engine Room is situated on the south side of the River Thames, at the base of the South Tower. It acts as the final exhibition space and the exit point for the entire Tower Bridge experience.

How to access?

Access to the Tower Bridge Engine Room is included with all standard Tower Bridge entry tickets. You visit it after descending the South Tower, following a marked blue line on the pavement. No separate ticket is needed.

Things to know before booking Tower Bridge Engine Rooms tickets

  • Access is guaranteed: Access to the Tower Bridge Engine Rooms is guaranteed with all general admission and combo tickets. You do not need to purchase an upgrade. The Engine Rooms serve as the final part of your self-guided tour after you descend the South Tower.
  • Accessibility: The Tower Bridge Engine Rooms are fully wheelchair accessible. While the main exhibition starts in the North Tower (which has lifts), the entrance to the Engine Rooms (located on the south side) is also fully accessible via a dedicated external lift. This ensures all visitors can marvel at the original steam engines.
  • Location and flow: You must begin your visit at the main North Tower entrance. The Tower Bridge Engine Rooms are the final stop and act as the exit point for the exhibition. You cannot start your visit here.
  • Photography: Non-flash photography is allowed inside the Tower Bridge Engine Rooms. The lighting is intentionally dim to enhance the atmosphere of the machinery, so be prepared to adjust your camera settings.

Tower Bridge Engine Rooms in a nutshell

Tower Bridge engine room with green machinery and visitors exploring.
  • Must-see highlights: Massive, original Victorian steam engines and hydraulic machinery that powered the bridge lift for 80 years. See the preserved boilers and drivetrains that are an engineering marvel.
  • Current use: Now obsolete after being replaced by an electric system, the Tower Bridge Engine Rooms serves as a museum, educating visitors on the ingenious Victorian mechanics.
  • Unique facts: The original Tower Bridge Engine Room machinery could raise the 1,000-ton bascules (the lifting arms) in just one minute. It required 80 workers to keep the system running.

Your Tower Bridge Engine Rooms ticket types

Ticket typeStandard entry ticketsGuided tourCombo tours

Is Tower Bridge Engine Rooms access included?

Yes

Yes

Yes

Why go for it?

• Most affordable option • Explore the Tower Bridge Engine Room at your own pace.

• Expert guide provides deep context on the Victorian machinery inside the Tower Bridge Engine Room.

• Visit the Tower Bridge Engine Room, plus entry to another major London sight (like Westminster Abbey).

Starting price

From £12.80

From £69

From £24.98

Exploring inside the Tower Bridge Engine Rooms

Modern exhibit featuring Tower Bridge at Tower Bridge, London.
Tower Bridge in London with its bascules raised for a bridge lift.
Victorian Engine Rooms at Tower Bridge with steam boilers and educational display.
Engine room machinery at Tower Bridge, London, with visitors observing.
Gift Shop sign at Wonderworks Orlando.
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Original steam engines

Marvel at the immaculately preserved original steam engines and experience the unique atmosphere created by the sheer scale of the historic machinery. These original, coal-fired steam engines provided the power to raise and lower the bridge's bascules from 1894 until 1976.

Hydraulic accumulators

See the massive iron hydraulic accumulators that stored the immense pressure needed to power the system. These vital components ensured the bridge could lift quickly and reliably, showcasing ingenious Victorian engineering inside the Tower Bridge Engine Rooms.

Coal-fired boilers

Discover the original boilers, which produced the steam to run the engines. Exhibits explain the relentless work involved in maintaining the bridge's operation, highlighting the human effort needed to power the Tower Bridge Engine Rooms.

Interactive exhibits

The Tower Bridge Engine Rooms feature engaging displays and video footage demonstrating how the entire hydraulic system worked. Learn about the shift to modern electric power in 1976 and the bridge's operational evolution.

Gift shop

The Tower Bridge Engine Rooms house the official gift shop, offering a final opportunity to purchase souvenirs and mementoes related to the bridge's engineering and history before exiting the attraction.

Architectural highlights of the Victorian Engine Rooms

Victorian pumping station

Built in 1894, the Tower Bridge Engine Rooms house the original, immense steam engines that powered the bascules (lifting arms) for the first 80 years. This industrial heritage is a perfect example of Victorian-era engineering ingenuity.

Hydraulic power system

The exhibition details how the Tower Bridge Engine Rooms used a centralised hydraulic system. Coal-fired boilers generated steam, which drove massive pumping engines, transmitting power through pressurised water to operate the bridge.

Preservation and design

The Tower Bridge Engine Rooms are immaculately preserved, showcasing the original machinery, including steam accumulators and drive trains. The cast-iron structure reflects the functional, robust aesthetic common to 19th-century industrial architecture.

Historical and cultural significance of the Engine Rooms

The Tower Bridge Engine Rooms showcase the ingenious Victorian engineering that powered the bridge's bascule system. Opened in 1894, the Tower Bridge Engine Room originally housed massive steam engines, boilers, and accumulators, critical components that allowed the bridge to lift for river traffic. This exhibit preserves a unique period of industrial history and highlights the mechanical innovation required to create the world's most famous movable bridge.

Notable figures of the Tower Bridge Engine Rooms

Sir William Armstrong

He invented the hydraulic accumulator showcased in the Tower Bridge Engine Rooms, powering the bascules until 1976.

Sir John Wolfe Barry

Chief Engineer who designed the bascule system and worked with Armstrong to integrate the impressive hydraulic machinery into the Tower Bridge Engine Rooms.

Edward Cruttwell

The vital Resident Engineer who oversaw the construction and installation of the complex mechanisms now housed in the Tower Bridge Engine Rooms.

Edward 'Ted' Forrest

Longest-serving worker (nearly 40 years) whose memory and image are featured in the Tower Bridge Engine Rooms, representing the maintenance staff.

Know before you go

Tourists taking a selfie with Tower Bridge in London, showcasing exclusive access with Tower Bridge Tickets.

The Tower Bridge Engine Rooms exhibition is open daily from 9:30am to 6pm, with the last entry at 5pm.

Since the Engine Rooms are the final part of the exhibition, you should plan to spend the last 20–30 mins of your visit here. The entire Tower Bridge exhibition usually takes around 90 mins.

The Tower Bridge Engine Rooms exhibition is located in the historic structure beneath the South Tower on the south bank of the Thames. Access is after you have completed the Glass Walkway and exited the South Tower. Follow the Blue Line on the pavement from the South Tower to reach the Tower Bridge Engine Room entrance.

Wheelchair access ramp sign with cityscape background.

The Tower Bridge Engine Rooms are fully accessible via a separate external lift, ensuring step-free entry. Once inside, the area is level and easy to navigate.

Complimentary wheelchairs are available to borrow here, making the Tower Bridge Engine Rooms suitable for all visitors.

Engine room machinery at Tower Bridge, London, featuring large green and red wheels.
  • Don't miss the chance to hear the specially designed soundscape, which immerses you in the thunderous noise of the 19th-century steam engines in operation.
  • Due to the dim, atmospheric lighting, use the unique industrial shadows to capture dramatic, moody photos of the vast iron machinery in the Tower Bridge Engine Rooms.
  • Look for the massive coal-fired boilers and the preserved machinery, which illustrate the genius of Victorian engineering.
  • Be sure to examine the massive hydraulic accumulators. These are the engineering geniuses behind the bridge's power—look for the detailed models showing how they stored energy.
  • Don't just focus on the large engines. Look for the small control room exhibits and the interactive displays detailing the history of the 80 workers who maintained the power system.

Frequently asked questions about the Tower Bridge Engine Rooms tickets

Yes, full access to the historic Tower Bridge Engine Rooms exhibition is included with all general admission and combo tickets.