For hundreds of years, London Bridge was the one technique to get throughout the Thames (besides by boat, or except you needed to journey to Kingston) โ so that you may be shocked to be advised that visiting this historic spot is certainly one of my prime issues to not do in London.
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Sure, it would nonetheless be a serious bridge to cross the Thames, itโs even impressed a nursery rhyme (โLondon Bridge is falling downโ) however on an inventory of what to not do in London as a vacationer, visiting London Bridge comes up excessive.
So when youโre questioning why you shouldnโt go to London Bridge, learn on (plus Iโve bought a number of causes you may nonetheless need to hold it in your London itinerary).
London Bridge shouldn’t be Tower Bridge
The large mistake that lots of people make is assuming that the enduring Tower Bridge, with its eye-catching blue and white paint, is definitely referred to as London Bridge.
Regardless of being Londonโs most well-known bridge, itโs very undoubtedly not London Bridge although.
Unsurprisingly Tower Bridge options on plenty of customer wishlists โ it appears nice, thereโs an opportunity you may see the bridge raise, and you’ll even go inside.
Get a reduction on tickets for Tower Bridge Expertise when you ebook by means of by means of my hyperlink, utilizing the code MUMMYTRAVELS6
Wander alongside the glass flooring whilst youโre in there, benefit from the view alongside the river from the excessive degree, go to the engine rooms and be taught extra concerning the bridgeโs historical past โ do you know, it hasnโt all the time been painted this colorโฆ?
Thereโs additionally a lot of household actions to take pleasure in, with further enjoyable throughout most faculty holidays, plus Tower Bridge even has its personal set of books for teenagers, concerning the Tower Bridge Cat.
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The Tower Bridge Cat
London Bridge is admittedly uninteresting
Amongst Londonโs string of bridges, the town has some engaging and crowd pleasing ones, fairly aside from Tower Bridge.
However London Bridge isnโt even very ornamental by London bridge requirements, only a fairly boring outdated, gray, concrete bridge.
Head alongside the river and also youโve bought the pink and white paint of Blackfriars Bridge with its sleek arches, the glossy strains of the Millennium Bridge, Westminster Bridgeโs pale inexperienced paint to call just someโฆ
Albert Bridge even lights up at night time, with 4 thousand lightbulbs illuminating at nightfall every day, and a few historic tollbooths on the finish.
London Bridge shouldn’t be very outdated
The present London Bridge opened in 1973, which makes the present one Londonโs latest bridge (aside from the pedestrianised Millennium Bridge and Golden Jubilee Bridge).
The earlier model, which dated again to the 1830s, was offered to an American entrepreneur and now stands in Lake Havasu (or, the outside blocks do, at the least) because it was now not sturdy sufficient to help Londonโs elevated site visitors.
The city legend that the customer thought he was getting Tower Bridge and ended up with London Bridge is barely a fable although โ โNew London Bridgeโ because it was identified, was particularly bought to attempt to entice guests to the world and to encourage them to purchase property.
Why you need to go to London Bridge
Purchase this level, youโre most likely satisfied that you could fully bypass London Bridge altogether โ however maybe thatโs not fully honest.
Whereas there are many causes that you simply shouldnโt go to London Bridge, itโs not fully with out its deserves.
The views
London Bridge itself may be uninteresting, however you may get some nice views as you cross it โ not least of the way more iconic Tower Bridge.
Thereโs additionally view of the Shard, and you’ll see a good means alongside the river on a transparent day.
The dragon
Look out for the dragon statue as you attain the southern financial institution, certainly one of 14 dragons in London marking the boundary of the Metropolis of London.
The silver boundary markers, usually mistaken for griffins, maintain a protect with the Metropolis of Londonโs coat of arms. Traditionally, this explicit level on Bankside was the place the โLiberty of Southwarkโ started, with out the Metropolisโs restrictions โ and in consequence, way more lawless and vibrant than the town itself.
It hyperlinks some nice historic places
When you won’t get too excited by the bridge itself, itโs a great way to get between a few of Londonโs landmarks.
Close by on the north financial institution, you may see the Monument to the Nice Hearth of London, whereas when you stroll throughout to the southern facet, it results in Southwark Cathedral, Borough Market, HMS Belfast and the Golden Hinde, and Bankside itself, which frequently has public artwork trails.
Itโs solely minutes till you attain the South Financial institution with all its vacationer sights as properly.
For those whoโre in search of a stroll to take you previous extra of Londonโs landmarks, try this route by means of the town to identify extra London sights
To benefit from the historical past
Whereas the bridge itself isnโt notably outdated, thereโs no query that you simplyโre standing someplace marked by centuries of historical past.
In any case, there was a bridge on this level since round 50CE, when the Romans created their first picket 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 retailers later added alongside its size โ and repeated fires which meant it was frequently โfalling downโ and being rebuilt. The heads of traitors have been additionally displayed right here as a warning to others.
Head to the close by church ofย St Magnus the Martyr, whichย 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 dwelling to a number of historical sections of earlier London Bridges, together with medieval stones, in addition to a timber thought to this point 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 โ and the present model stands on the identical web site.
Disclosure: This publish comprises affiliate hyperlinks โ any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee
Pictures: View from the bridge/boundary dragon copyright MummyTravels, all different photos courtesy of Depositphotos
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