Tower Bridge secrets: 15 facts behind London’s iconic bridge

More than 50 designs were submitted to the City of London Corporation when the idea was first proposed. It took 8 years for the Special Bridge or Subway Committee to approve a design. City Architect Sir Horace Jones initially submitted his bascule and suspension design under the pseudonym "An Amateur" to ensure it was judged purely on its merits.

Building the bridge was an epic Victorian challenge. Construction spanned eight years (1886–1894), requiring the dedication of 432 construction workers and five major companies. The final framework used an astounding 11,000 tons of steel, all clad in decorative Cornish granite and Portland stone.

The bridge was officially inaugurated on June 30, 1894, by the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) and his wife. This event marked a crucial moment for London, as it finally provided a reliable crossing, replacing the old, often congested Tower Subway.

Until 1974, the massive bridge bascules were operated by huge hydraulic pumps powered by coal-burning steam engines. Today, some of these original machines are preserved and on display inside the Victorian Engine Rooms—a must-see on your visit!

The very first official bridge lift in 1894 had a dramatic start: a two-minute delay! Once resolved, the Harbour Master’s vessel, Daisy, had the honour of being the first ship to sail beneath the newly raised bascules.

The Glass Walkway, located 42 meters (138 feet) above the Thames, is surprisingly new. It was only unveiled in 2014, significantly transforming the visitor experience and views from the historic high-level walkways.

Today, the bascules lift approximately 800 times a year (roughly twice a day) for river traffic. While that sounds like a lot, it pales in comparison to its debut year in 1894, when the bridge lifted an astounding 6,194 times!

Tower Bridge is London's most famous bridge, but it is constantly mistaken for London Bridge, which is located further upriver and is much simpler and plainer in comparison.

Tower Bridge wasn't always its iconic red, white, and blue. Its original colour was a shade of chocolate brown. The current patriotic colours were applied in 1977 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee.

Despite being over 130 years old, Tower Bridge remains a vital artery, used by over 40,000 people and nearly 21,000 vehicles every day. To protect the structure, strict limits on speed (32 km/h) and weight (18 tons) are enforced.

The massive transition from coal-burning steam hydraulics to a more efficient electro-hydraulic system occurred in 1974. Today, the modern electric system takes just five minutes to raise the entire bascule structure.