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Glass Walkway | Walk 42m above the River Thames

One of the most talked-about parts of the Tower Bridge Exhibition, the Tower Bridge Glass Floor offers a perspective of London that few attractions can match. Suspended 42 metres above the River Thames inside the bridge's high-level walkways, it lets you look straight down at double-decker buses, black cabs, cyclists, river traffic, and pedestrians moving beneath your feet.

Beyond the thrill of walking across transparent panels, the Glass Floor is also one of the best viewpoints inside Tower Bridge.

Where is it located?

The Tower Bridge Glass Floor is located inside the bridge's high-level walkways, which connect the North and South Towers 42 metres (138 feet) above the River Thames. Positioned at the centre of the walkways, the glass panels sit directly above the bridge roadway and river below.

How to access?

Access to the Tower Bridge Glass Floor is included with every Tower Bridge admission ticket. There is no separate Tower Bridge glass floor ticket required.

After entering through the North Tower, visitors travel upwards via lift before reaching the high-level walkways. The Glass Floor appears along the exhibition route between the two towers, making it one of the highlights of the visit.

Why visit Tower Bridge's Glass Floor?

Walk above London traffic

Standing on the transparent floor creates the sensation of floating above the city. Watch buses, cyclists, riverboats, and pedestrians move beneath you from a perspective unavailable anywhere else in London.

Enjoy panoramic skyline views

The surrounding walkways provide uninterrupted views of landmarks including The Shard, the Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, Canary Wharf, and the River Thames.

Witness a bridge lift from above

Few visitors realise that the Glass Floor is one of the most dramatic places to watch Tower Bridge open. During scheduled lifts, the roadway separates directly below the walkway as vessels pass through the bridge.

Included with your Tower Bridge ticket

Your admission also includes access to the historic Victorian Engine Rooms, original exhibition spaces, and the North and South Towers.

A modern addition to a Victorian icon

The Glass Floor was installed in 2014 as part of a major refurbishment project. Each glass panel weighs more than 500 kilograms and was specially engineered to blend with the bridge's historic structure.

Things to know before booking Tower Bridge Glass Walkway access

  • Access is guaranteed: Access to the high-level walkways and the Tower Bridge Glass Floor is included with all the standard Tower Bridge tickets. No additional upgrade or special ticket is needed.
  • Pricing: The difference between ticket types reflects added experiences such as guided tours, Thames River cruises, or entry to other London attractions. Access to the Glass Floor remains included regardless of ticket type.
  • Accessibility: The Glass Floor and high-level walkways are fully accessible via lifts in both towers, making the experience suitable for wheelchair users, mobility scooter users, and visitors with prams.
  • Visitor tip: Tower Bridge opens approximately 800 times each year. Check the official bridge lift schedule before your visit and aim to arrive on the walkway around 15 minutes before a scheduled lift to watch the bascules rise beneath your feet.
  • Photography: Photography is permitted throughout the walkways, making the Glass Floor one of the best photo spots inside Tower Bridge.

Your Glass Walkway ticket types

Standard entryGuided tour + cruiseCombo tours

Is Glass Walkway access included?

Yes

Yes

Yes

Why go for it?

Most affordable option. Explore the Glass Floor and exhibition at your own pace.

Includes expert commentary and a Thames cruise for a more in-depth London experience.

Includes Tower Bridge access plus another major London attraction such as the Tower of London or London Eye.

Starting price

From £18

From £65.5

From £29

Tower Bridge Glass Floor highlights

Glass walkway inside Tower Bridge with view of London street below.
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The Glass Floor experience

The centrepiece of the high-level walkways is the Glass Floor itself. Looking straight down reveals a constantly changing scene of buses, taxis, cyclists, river traffic, and pedestrians crossing beneath you.

Access: Included with all Tower Bridge tickets

Panoramic Thames views

The surrounding walkways provide wide-ranging views across London. On clear days, visitors can spot the Tower of London, The Shard, St Paul's Cathedral, Canary Wharf, HMS Belfast, and the winding River Thames.

Access: Included with all Tower Bridge glass floor ticket purchases

History & interactive displays

Along the route, exhibitions explain how Tower Bridge was designed, built, and operated. Interactive displays bring Victorian engineering and London's river history to life.

Access: Included with all Tower Bridge glass floor entry tickets

Bridge Lift

Watching the bascules rise from the Glass Floor offers one of the most unusual perspectives of Tower Bridge. The road deck splits apart beneath the walkway, allowing tall vessels to pass through the centre of the bridge.

Access: Included during scheduled bridge lifts

What can you see from the Glass Walkway?

Looking east

See Canary Wharf's skyscrapers, HMS Belfast, the Docklands skyline, and stretches of the Thames extending toward East London.

Looking west

Spot St Paul's Cathedral, the City of London skyline, Monument, and riverside landmarks stretching toward central London.

Looking down

Watch double-decker buses, black cabs, cyclists, delivery vehicles, riverboats, and pedestrians moving directly beneath the bridge.

Is the Tower Bridge Glass Floor safe? 

Yes. The Tower Bridge Glass Floor was specifically engineered for public use and undergoes regular inspections and maintenance.

The viewing panels are constructed from multiple layers of toughened laminated glass designed to support significant weight while maintaining complete transparency. Since opening in 2014, millions of visitors have safely crossed the walkway.

While the view below can feel dramatic, the structure itself is stable, secure, and designed for visitors of all ages.

Capture the moment: Your Glass Walkway photo guide

Children observing London skyline from inside Tower Bridge.

Look down!

The ultimate shot is looking straight down onto the double-decker buses and black cabs crossing the bridge. Position yourself near the edge of the glass panel for the best depth of field.

Tower Bridge in London at sunset with a pedestrian walking across.
Tower Bridge in London with person photographing from riverbank.
Visitors inside the illuminated walkway of Tower Bridge, London.
Tower Bridge in London with raised bascules and a boat passing underneath.

Architectural highlights of the Glass Walkway

Modern addition to Victorian design

The Glass Floor opened in 2014, more than a century after Tower Bridge was completed in 1894. While modern in appearance, it was carefully integrated into the original structure to complement the historic walkways.

Engineering the Glass Floor

Each glass panel weighs approximately 530 kilograms and consists of multiple layers of toughened laminated glass. The design allows visitors to enjoy uninterrupted views below while maintaining exceptional structural strength.

Connecting the Towers

The high-level walkways connect the North and South Towers above the roadway. Originally built to allow pedestrians to cross the river when the bridge was raised, they now serve as one of London's most distinctive viewing platforms.

Historical and cultural significance of the Glass Walkway

  • Victorian pedestrian crossing origins: The high-level walkways originally opened in 1894, allowing pedestrians to cross the Thames when the bascules were raised for passing ships.
  • Decline in everyday usage: As road transport improved and river traffic patterns changed, pedestrian use of the elevated walkways gradually reduced and eventually stopped.
  • Closure to public access: For many decades, the walkways remained closed, serving only functional maintenance purposes within Tower Bridge’s operational structure and engineering system.
  • Reimagining as an exhibition space: Later restoration transformed the forgotten walkways into an immersive exhibition, reintroducing public access through carefully designed visitor routes and displays.
  • Glass Floor transformation in 2014: The 2014 renovation introduced glass panels, adding a modern viewing experience that lets visitors directly observe London life beneath their feet.
  • Iconic London attraction evolution: This transformation has helped Tower Bridge remain relevant today, shifting from a functional crossing point into one of London’s most visited landmarks.

Tower Bridge Glass Floor vs other London viewpoints

AttractionWhat makes it unique

Tower Bridge Glass Floor

Views directly beneath your feet alongside skyline panoramas

London Eye

Slow-moving 360-degree city views

The Shard

London's highest public viewing platform

Sky Garden

Indoor gardens combined with skyline views

Plan your visit to the Glass Walkway

Tower Bridge in London with a person taking a photo, view from the riverbank.

The Tower Bridge Glass Floor is open daily from 9:30am to 6pm, with last entry at 5pm.

Best times to visit:

  • Early morning calm experience: Early morning between 9:30am and 11am offers fewer crowds, clearer glass floor views, easier photography, and relaxed movement through walkways.
  • Late afternoon golden light: Late afternoon visits provide softer natural lighting across the Thames, enhancing skyline visibility and creating ideal conditions for atmospheric photography.
  • Bridge lift viewing moments: Timing your visit with scheduled bridge lifts creates a standout experience, as bascules rise beneath the walkway creating dramatic engineering spectacle.

The Glass Walkway is located in the high-level walkways connecting the North and South Towers, approximately 42 meters above the River Thames. Enter through the main entrance located on the west side of the North Tower.

Tourists taking a selfie with Tower Bridge in London, showcasing exclusive access with Tower Bridge Tickets.
  • Lift access throughout the route: You can use lifts at multiple points inside Tower Bridge, ensuring smooth movement between entrance areas and high-level walkways.
  • Wheelchair accessible: The Glass Floor and surrounding walkways are fully wheelchair accessible, allowing all visitors to enjoy views safely and comfortably across the bridge.
  • Pram and pushchair friendly paths: Families with young children can navigate the exhibition easily, as prams and pushchairs are permitted along designated routes throughout the experience.
  • Accessible toilet facilities: Accessible restrooms are located within the attraction, providing convenient facilities for visitors requiring additional comfort and support during their visit.
  • Seating available: Rest areas and seating spots are placed along the exhibition route, offering visitors places to pause while enjoying exhibits and views.
Tourists taking a selfie with Tower Bridge in London, showcasing exclusive access with Tower Bridge Tickets.
  • Time your visit around bridge lifts: Check the official Tower Bridge lift schedule in advance so you can align your walkways visit with a rare bascule opening beneath you.
  • Include the Engine Rooms in your visit flow: The Victorian Engine Rooms sit beneath the bridge and provide essential context, showing the machinery that powers the bascule lift system.
  • Use the walkways as two distinct viewing experiences: East and west sides offer completely different skylines, so revisiting both directions reveals contrasting views of Canary Wharf and central London landmarks.
  • Position yourself for the strongest Glass Floor views: The most striking perspective comes from the central glass panels where the roadway alignment gives the clearest straight-down view of traffic and river movement below.
  • Step back slightly for better depth in photos: A small step away from the glass edge helps capture both the structural frame and the depth beneath for more balanced compositions.

Frequently asked questions about the Tower Bridge Glass Walkway

No. Access to the Tower Bridge glass floor and both high-level walkways is included with your standard Tower Bridge entry ticket.