24/08/2021
The Tower Bridge:
As my take, this is definitely London's most iconic landmark.
Mind-boggling facts:
1. It was built to look much older than it is so that it could blend in with the Tower of London (to narrow a nearly 700-year gap).
2. It elevates about 800 times a year to allow ships to pass through and takes up to 5 minutes to lift. Seeing this massive structure rise so quickly is a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Visitors can actually plan their visit in accordance to bridge lift timings, which can be accessed following the link below.
Lift Timings: https://www.towerbridge.org.uk/lift-times
3. It has two high-level walkways built so that pedestrians could still use the bridge when lifted. However, it had to be closed because they became London’s informal red-light district as they were not be used much. Don’t get disappointed you can still visit them as part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition.!
Booking Link: https://www.towerbridge.org.uk/tickets
4. A creepy fact about The Tower Bridge, there is a mortuary beneath the bridge known as Dead Man's Hole. The Mortuary was used to preserve bodies that had been fished out (most probable of su***de jumpers) until they could be identified. Although Dead Man's Hole is now closed, it is still clearly visible.!
5. This isn't as astounding as some of the other facts, but it was for me because I witnessed it. Recently, on 10th August 2021, it got stuck open due to some "technical issues" for more than 12 hours resulting in chaos.!
6. Last but not least, thanks to social media, this fact is becoming more widely known. London Bridge and Tower Bridge are not the same. Tower bridge is with tower structure, and London Bridge is yet another bridge slightly upstream.
Location of picture is taken: 1. The Queen’s Walk, on the south bank of river Thames, 2. On Tower Bridge when it is elevated.
Transport Links:
Underground stations: Tower Hill, London Bridge.
Boats: Tower Pier to the north side of the bridge, and at London Bridge City Pier on the southern side of the Thames.
Best spots to sit and enjoy the scenery while sipping drinks without burning a hole in your pockets near the Tower Bridge.
1. My all time favourite, The Coppa Club. https://coppaclub.co.uk/towerbridge/
2. Vicinity Bar. https://www.guoman.com/the-tower/restaurants-and-bars/vicinity
