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With all of London’s fantastic sights and attractions, it’s easy to forget about some of its most famous landmarks: the bridges. While Tower Bridge is a tourist hotspot, London boasts many more famous bridges on the Thames – 35 in total!
Planning a day in the capital? We’ve selected the most iconic bridges to see in London, featured in various movies and TV shows. And the best part? Visiting them won’t cost you a penny!
Read on as we take you through each bridge in more detail, including its history and how to get there.
Millennium Bridge
Thames Embankment, London EC4V 3QH
The Millennium Bridge is one of the more modern Thames bridges, built in 2000. This striking steel suspension footbridge links St Paul’s Cathedral with Tate Modern, providing the perfect photo opportunity.
The bridge features heavily in film production, with appearances in Guardians of the Galaxy, Sense8 and 28 Weeks Later. However, its starring role is in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. In the movie, Death Eaters destroy the iconic structure, sending pedestrians tumbling into the River Thames below.
Potter fans can visit the Millennium Bridge on a Harry Potter walking tour. Here are the best free London walking tours.
How to get there: The Millennium Bridge is a 21-minute walk from London Waterloo. Or you can catch the eastbound Jubilee tube to Southwark station, then walk for 14 minutes to reach the bridge.
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 2UP
Easily the most recognisable bridge in London, Tower Bridge opened in 1894 as a drawbridge and suspension bridge. It’s starred in many movies and TV shows, including the original Bridget Jones’s Diary, Paddington 2, Mary Poppins and Mission: Impossible.
Featuring a grand stone design, the bridge has many royal connections. Queen Victoria’s son laid its foundation stone commemorating the bridge’s construction. Then in 1954, in an unforgettable moment, Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II ended her world tour by sailing beneath Tower Bridge. It’s also just a short walk from the Tower of London, the home of the Crown Jewels.
Explore inside Tower Bridge and check out the Victorian Engine Room, or visit during a bridge lift to see the magnificent structure in action.
How to get there: Tower Bridge is a 37-minute walk from London Waterloo. Alternatively, you can catch the tube via the eastbound Jubilee line to London Bridge station, then walk for 12 minutes to reach Tower Bridge.
London Bridge
London EC4R 9HA
Opened in 1973, London Bridge is Tower Bridge’s less-showy neighbour. While its structure is simple, London Bridge has a fascinating history. The original bridge was built in 50 AD by the Romans as the first-ever bridge to cross the Thames. It’s since been rebuilt many times over the years, the most current being between 1968 and 1972.
You might have first heard of this famous bridge in the nursery rhyme, London Bridge is Falling Down, but it’s also made its mark in the filming industry. Catch shots of London Bridge in Doctor Who, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Luther, and Guardians of the Galaxy.
How to get there: London Bridge is a 26-minute walk from London Waterloo. It also has its own tube station, a short tube ride from Waterloo on the eastbound Jubilee line.
Waterloo Bridge
London WC2R 2PP
Waterloo Bridge is the longest bridge in London, at an impressive 1,230 feet. It was also the first to add lights and is one of the current nine bridges in the Illuminated River installation.
Located at the river’s bend, Waterloo Bridge boasts some of the best views in London, with Westminster Palace and the London Eye to the west and St Paul's Cathedral and Canary Wharf to the east.
Underneath Waterloo Bridge, you’ll find South Bank Book Market. This famous market has been running daily for 40 years, selling classic and contemporary secondhand books.
How to get there: London Bridge is just a five-minute stroll from London Waterloo.
Albert Bridge
London, SW11 4PL
Albert Bridge was built in 1873 and is one of London’s most beautiful bridges, connecting Chelsea with Battersea. A hybrid of three design styles, it’s both a suspension bridge and a cable-stayed bridge, and was later reinforced to become a beam bridge as well.
Visit at night to see the bridge lit up with 4,000 sparkling bulbs. Originally a toll bridge, its vintage tollbooths remain.
The beauty of Albert Bridge has made it a popular filming location, particularly for romantic comedies. Some of the movies it features in include Bridget Jones’s Baby, Love Actually, The Public Eye, and Run, Fat Boy, Run.
Southwark Bridge
Southwark Bridge Rd, London EC4R 3TE
The Grade II listed Southwark Bridge was built in 1921, linking the City of London with the cultural South Bank. Like most River Thames bridges, it has plenty of character and flair, comprising five green and yellow arches beautifully lit at night.
A pedestrian tunnel on the bridge’s south side contains murals from London’s Frost Fairs. Locals used the frozen River Thames between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries for markets, pubs, ice skating and other activities.
You might recognise this bridge from films and TV shows like Luther, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Layer Cake, and National Treasure: Book of Secrets.
How to get there: You can walk to Southwark Bridge in just 21 minutes from London Waterloo. Or catch the RB1 Uber Boat from London Eye Waterloo Pier to North Greenwich Pier and enjoy the sights along the way.
Westminster Bridge
London SW1A 2JH
Opened on Queen Victoria’s birthday in 1862, Westminster Bridge offers fantastic views of London, with Westminster Palace and Big Ben as its backdrop.
Westminster Bridge is Central London’s oldest surviving road bridge and has the most spans of all the city’s bridges. It features beautiful gothic-style lamps inspired by Westminster Palace, and its arches are painted green to match the seats in the House of Commons.
Like all of London’s famous bridges, Westminster Bridge has had plenty of TV and movie coverage. You’ll spot it in a number of James Bond films, as well as several Doctor Who episodes and 28 Days Later.
How to get there: London Waterloo is the closest train station to Westminster Bridge, only a 10-minute walk away.
Vauxhall Bridge
London SW1V 1BS
Vauxhall Bridge was opened in 1906 and is known for its iconic red and yellow arches. It’s decorated with intricate bronze statues between each arch and is another bridge featured in the Illuminated River installation.
While further from the city than other bridges, Vauxhall Bridge provides stunning cityscape views, particularly at night. You can catch this famous bridge in TV shows and movies like Killing Eve, London Spy and James Bond: Skyfall.
After your visit, why not take the riverside path to Battersea Power Station? Only a 20-minute walk away, it has plenty to keep you entertained, from shops to restaurants.
How to get there: Vauxhall station is less than a five-minute walk from Vauxhall Bridge.
Whether you’re a London local or travelling from further afield, South Western Railway can help you reach your destination. Discover cheap train tickets to famous London bridges by going off-peak. Passengers with a Railcard could save even more, while those travelling in a group could benefit from GroupSave or a Family and Friends Railcard.
