8 Absolutely Stunning Bridges in London To Visit

I love the bridges in London. They’re huge, imposing, and well, I have to say that I’ve always been attracted to bridges wherever I am in the world. Having lived in Paris, London, and Rome, I’ve been able to see the difference in architecture and beauty between all the bridges in London and the rest of Europe. Bridges don’t just connect two places; they connect people too. Since the early day’s bridges have been used two explore new terrains, trade-in with new people, and travel further than we ever thought possible.

The 8 Coolest Bridges in London Worth a Visit

At the core of every great city, there’s a mighty river flowing. London is built all around the River Thames, and tons of people use the London bridges every day to get across, on foot, by bike, or by cars, while others are there for the picturesque scenery. The River Thames flows through London City, making this city one of the most scenic and most remarkable cities globally. It’s no wonder I’ve fallen in love with London. Yes, you can find some of the best vegan restaurants in the world, and more amazing charity shops than you’ll ever see in other cities. And they’re amazing, too.

London has more than 30 bridges crossing the River Thames, and each bridge has its own story and design that makes the visit worth your while. I’ve chosen the coolest bridges of London, and around them, you’ll often find some amazing places to stop and rest. I’ve written about some of the best restaurants and cafes in London Bridge, and places around Borough Market where you can get a cool bite and a sight. Okay, enough rambling – let’s get to the core of the best bridges in London!

Most Beautiful Bridges in London: Tower Bridge

Along the River Thames, close to London Bridge and Borough Market, lies Tower Bridge. As the name implies, Tower Bridge is situated near the Tower of London to the East of London. This bridge is possibly one of the most famous bridges in the entire world, and it holds a special meaning in my heart.

You probably know I used to work at The Shard a few months back, and I used to walk around Tower Bridge all the time when I was just off my shift. That’s the main reason I decided to start with this famous London bridge, in addition to its beauty and fame. It was opened in 1894 and instantly gained fame with the locals and tourists as well. 

Its magnificent structure and impressive architecture are indeed unique. You can access the top gallery and walk on a glass floor while soaking up the view. Whether it’s daytime or night, the view is equally rewarding; no view can beat what the famous Tower Bridge offers. 

A while back, the upper-level walkways of the Tower Bridge of London that connected the two towers were accessible to everyone, but there was an increase in crime-related activities, and so it was closed from 1910-1982. 

Nearby, you have Jubilee Gardens, one of the most beautiful parks in London, and also the Milan-inspired Hay’s Galleria where you can do some cool shopping around London Bridge and grab a bite.

Famous Bridges in London: Millennium Bridge

If you’ve never visited London before, you might come across this bridge when traveling on foot. It is situated between the Southwark and Blackfriars bridges. The Millennium Bridge was officially opened in June 2000; this fantastic pedestrian bridge has become a famous attraction in no time at all, somewhat because of its location. It connects St Paul’s Cathedral in the north to the Tate Modern and the Globe Theatre in the south. And to me, it’s one of the most beautiful bridges in London.

The Millennium Bridge is also partly famous for opening and closing in 48 hours. Due to the swaying and wobbling of the bridge, it had to close. Repairing the bridge came with costs and time, as it took two years for the bridge to be re-opened.

In addition, the Millenium Bridge is featured in Harry Potter- The Half-Blood Prince; the bridge collapses in the scene where the Death Eaters attack the bridge at the beginning of the movie. Every time I’m in London, that’s one of the bridges I love to walk on. The view of London from the Millenium Bridge is amazing, plus, there’s the Tate Modern nearby as well as the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, one of the most famous London landmarks. Not too far, you have one of the best Japanese shops in London, Wagumi – if you love homeware and home decor, you might want to pay this amazing store a visit soon.

Beautiful Bridges in London: Albert Bridge

Albert Bridge is one of the most beautiful bridges in London, even more in the dark when it lights up. It’s not as magnificent as Tower Bridge, but it still has its qualities – and let’s not forget its San Francisco/Brooklyn Bridge shape. The Albert Bridge shares at least one common thing with the Tower Bridge; both have never been replaced.

Albert Bridge was initially built as a toll bridge and accommodates a pair of octagonal toll booths, which are the remaining ones in London. Despite its history as an unsuccessful toll bridge, it is the only other road bridge in London to have never been replaced. The Albert Bridge still stands firm because the bridge lights up to become one of West London’s most attractive sights when it gets dark.

Famous Bridges in London: Waterloo Bridge

The Waterloo Bridge is considered one of the many memorials in the battle of Waterloo in 1815. The first bridge was designed as a toll bridge back in 1817, while the current bridge was officially opened in 1945.  It is the only bridge in London to have been bombed in WWII. It had a limited opening in 1942, but it was fully opened after the war.  

Waterloo Bridge is well-known to have some of the best views in London. Fans of the movie ‘Black-and-white’ might be familiar with this bridge from the 1940 film when the two love birds, Robert Taylor and Vivien Leigh, meet at the bridge. You probably won’t meet your soulmate at Waterloo Bridge, but the view at the top is to die for.

Beautiful Bridges in London: Westminster Bridge

Westminster Bridge takes us further back to 1862 and is perhaps the most iconic part of London. When standing on the bridge, you can see the Houses of Parliament on one side, and on the opposite side, there is the London Eye and County Hall. Of all the bridges in London, I’d say it’s one of the most famous.

There are always lots of tourists there taking a selfie in front of Big Ben, as well as countless musicians. Westminster Bridge is an impressive bridge and an essential piece of real estate to the London culture. The Westminster Bridge London is also featured in many popular films, British and foreign alike.

Many of the photos of Westminster Palace and Elizabeth Tower were taken from this bridge. The Westminster Bridge also matches the color as the House of Commons in the Westminster Palace, taking a backseat row in promoting politics for nearly 300 years. The bridge is designed for foot and vehicle use, so visitors or residents can enjoy the view as they stroll by.

Beautiful Bridges in London: Hammersmith Bridge

Hammersmith was announced open to the public around Tower Bridge’s opening, but it hasn’t gained the same fame as Tower Bridge in recent years. Maybe it’s because it is situated outside the center of London City.

But this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit Hammersmith Bridge. It offers better views of the River Thames than other bridges in London. It was officially closed for road traffic recently this year, so it’s remarkably quieter than it used to be. To be fair, Hammersmith Bridge reminds me greatly of some kind of American bridge, with its old-school khaki color.

Coolest Bridges in London: Vauxhall Bridge

Vauxhall Bridge is a red and yellow bridge in South London that can be seen from afar. Formally known as Regent Bridge, it was opened in 1916 and is among the top colorful Bridges in London. The bridge connects Pimlico on the northern part with Vauxhall on the south side of the river.

At the time of Vauxhall Bridge’s construction, the County Council in London opted to pay for the construction of statutes and be placed along the upstream side of the bridge supports, which will represent Agriculture, Architecture, Engineering, and Pottery, while statues placed on the downstream side will represent science, Fine Art, Local Government, and Education. I don’t come South very often, but I have to admit that Vauxhall Bridge is a very peaceful place to be around in London.

Best Bridges in London: London Bridge

London Bridge is Perhaps the first-ever bridge over River Thames; the first version of the London Bridge was a wooden bridge built in 50 AD. For centuries, there have been plenty of bridges named ‘London Bridge’ at different locations within London, built from anything; wood, stone e.t.c.

The most popular version of the London bridge was stated in the nursery rhyme book ‘London Bridge is Falling Down.’ King Henry II built the bridge as repentance for the murder of Thomas Becket by his Knights.

In the 19th century, another bridge was built. When the time came for replacing the bridge, Robert McCulloch bought it in 1968 then shipped it to Arizona, where he had it reconstructed. The current ‘London Bridge’ was opened in 1973 and comprises three prestressed concrete box girders.

London Bridge Brunch 

Additionally, there are restaurants at London Bridge and around that will personalize your meals. Some of these restaurants in London Bridge offer normal British food and others serve foreign delicacies. One of the best London bridge restaurants that you should definitely visit is the Breakfast Club for the coolest breakfast and brunch in London – no joke. 

This restaurant has everything you can eat, craving for bacon in the morning, or midday? The Breakfast Club London Bridge has you covered. This restaurant is a great place for having brunch at London Bridge, they serve breakfast meals the entire day so it doesn’t matter what time you get there, you’ll always be served a hot breakfast meal at the London Bridge Breakfast Club. 

8 Best Bridges in London Worth A Visit

All the above listed London Bridges are open and can be visited on foot. But if you want to have the best views London can give, the best location is from the River Thames itself. There are two choices:

• The first option is to take the river cruise. The cruise offers the best photo sessions as the boats are designed for it.

• The second option, which is a lot cheaper, is to take the Thames Clipper. This is the fastest option and most constant fleet on the river. The residents usually use it as a way to travel around the city.

Stretch your legs a little bit and take a visit across one of these bridges as you soak up the view of the Thames and many more sceneries. I personally love walking around the city and coming across my own version of the best things to see in London alone, or cool art events and exhibitions going on in London on my own.

If you like discovering new sightseeing landmarks in London, I suggest you keep reading the following guides on The London Local:

• The most beautiful parks in London
• Stunning Japanese gardens in London
• Super pretty places in Hampstead village

Until next time!

PS. Did you know there are amazing cat cafes in London?