For hundreds of years, London Bridge was the one strategy to get throughout the Thames (besides by boat, or until you needed to journey to Kingston) – so that you is likely to be stunned to be advised that visiting this historic spot is one in every of my prime issues to not do in London.
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Sure, it’d nonetheless be a serious bridge to cross the Thames, it’s even impressed a nursery rhyme (‘London Bridge is falling down’) however on an inventory of what to not do in London as a vacationer, visiting London Bridge comes up excessive.
So if you happen to’re questioning why you shouldn’t go to London Bridge, learn on (plus I’ve obtained a number of causes you would possibly nonetheless need to maintain it in your London itinerary).
London Bridge isn’t Tower Bridge
The large mistake that lots of people make is assuming that the long-lasting Tower Bridge, with its eye-catching blue and white paint, is definitely referred to as London Bridge.
Regardless of being London’s most well-known bridge, it’s very undoubtedly not London Bridge although.
Unsurprisingly Tower Bridge options on quite a lot of customer wishlists – it appears to be like nice, there’s an opportunity you would possibly see the bridge elevate, and you’ll even go inside.
Get a reduction on tickets for Tower Bridge Expertise if you happen to guide by by my hyperlink, utilizing the code MUMMYTRAVELS6
Wander alongside the glass flooring whilst you’re in there, benefit from the view alongside the river from the excessive stage, go to the engine rooms and be taught extra in regards to the bridge’s historical past – do you know, it hasn’t at all times been painted this color…?
There’s additionally plenty of household actions to get pleasure from, with additional enjoyable throughout most faculty holidays, plus Tower Bridge even has its personal set of books for teenagers, in regards to the Tower Bridge Cat.
Sale
The Tower Bridge Cat
- Tee Dobinson (Creator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 38 Pages – 05/18/2018 (Publication Date) – Baizdon (Writer)
London Bridge is absolutely boring
Amongst London’s string of bridges, town has some engaging and attention-grabbing ones, fairly other than Tower Bridge.
However London Bridge isn’t even very ornamental by London bridge requirements, only a fairly boring outdated, gray, concrete bridge.
Head alongside the river and also you’ve obtained the pink and white paint of Blackfriars Bridge with its swish arches, the smooth traces of the Millennium Bridge, Westminster Bridge’s pale inexperienced paint to call only a few…
Albert Bridge even lights up at evening, with 4 thousand lightbulbs illuminating at nightfall every day, and a few historic tollbooths on the finish.
London Bridge isn’t very outdated
The present London Bridge opened in 1973, which makes the present one London’s latest bridge (excluding the pedestrianised Millennium Bridge and Golden Jubilee Bridge).
The earlier model, which dated again to the 1830s, was bought to an American entrepreneur and now stands in Lake Havasu (or, the outside blocks do, at the very least) because it was not sturdy sufficient to assist London’s elevated visitors.
The city legend that the customer thought he was getting Tower Bridge and ended up with London Bridge is just a fable although – ‘New London Bridge’ because it was identified, was particularly bought to attempt to entice guests to the world and to encourage them to purchase property.
Why you must go to London Bridge
Purchase this level, you’re in all probability satisfied you could fully bypass London Bridge altogether – however maybe that’s not fully truthful.
Whereas there are many causes that you just shouldn’t go to London Bridge, it’s not fully with out its deserves.
The views
London Bridge itself is likely to be boring, however you may get some nice views as you cross it – not least of the way more iconic Tower Bridge.
There’s additionally an excellent view of the Shard, and you’ll see a good approach alongside the river on a transparent day.
The dragon
Look out for the dragon statue as you attain the southern financial institution, one in every of 14 dragons in London marking the boundary of the Metropolis of London.
The silver boundary markers, typically mistaken for griffins, maintain a protect with the Metropolis of London’s coat of arms. Traditionally, this explicit level on Bankside was the place the ‘Liberty of Southwark’ started, with out the Metropolis’s restrictions – and in consequence, way more lawless and vibrant than town itself.
It hyperlinks some nice historic places
When you may not get too excited by the bridge itself, it’s a great way to get between a few of London’s landmarks.
Close by on the north financial institution, you’ll be able to see the Monument to the Nice Fireplace of London, whereas if you happen to stroll throughout to the southern facet, it results in Southwark Cathedral, Borough Market, HMS Belfast and the Golden Hinde, and Bankside itself, which regularly has public artwork trails.
It’s solely minutes till you attain the South Financial institution with all its vacationer sights as effectively.
In case you’re on the lookout for a stroll to take you previous extra of London’s landmarks, try this route by town to identify extra London sights
To benefit from the historical past
Whereas the bridge itself isn’t notably outdated, there’s no query that you just’re standing someplace marked by centuries of historical past.
In spite of everything, there was a bridge on this level since round 50CE, when the Romans created their first wood crossing level over the Thames, linking their metropolis of Londinium to the roads main south and west.
The primary stone bridge was created within the late twelfth century, with homes and outlets later added alongside its size – and repeated fires which meant it was often ‘falling down’ and being rebuilt. The heads of traitors had been additionally displayed right here as a warning to others.
Head to the close by church of St Magnus the Martyr, which stands on the head of the outdated London Bridge, and you’ll see a 4 metre mannequin of the outdated bridge.
Constructed round 900 years in the past, presumably longer, the churchyard can be house to a number of historical sections of earlier London Bridges, together with medieval stones, in addition to a timber thought up to now again to 75AD, tucked away inside an 18th century archway.
By the nineteenth century, when New London Bridge was constructed, it was constructed round 100ft west of the older bridge – and the present model stands on the identical website.
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Photos: View from the bridge/boundary dragon copyright MummyTravels, all different pictures courtesy of Depositphotos
