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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 perhaps stunned to be advised that visiting this historic spot is one in all my prime issues to not do in London.
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Sure, it’d nonetheless be a significant 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 couple of causes you may nonetheless need to maintain it in your London itinerary).
London Bridge just isn’t Tower Bridge
The massive 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 London’s most well-known bridge, it’s very positively not London Bridge although.
Unsurprisingly Tower Bridge options on plenty of customer wishlists – it seems nice, there’s an opportunity you may see the bridge carry, and you may even go inside.
Get a reduction on tickets for Tower Bridge Expertise if you happen to e book via via my hyperlink, utilizing the code MUMMYTRAVELS6
Wander alongside the glass ground when 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 all the time been painted this color…?
There’s additionally plenty of household actions to take pleasure in, with further enjoyable throughout most college 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 actually boring
Amongst London’s string of bridges, the town has some engaging and crowd pleasing ones, fairly other than Tower Bridge.
However London Bridge isn’t even very ornamental by London bridge requirements, only a fairly boring previous, gray, concrete bridge.
Head alongside the river and also you’ve obtained the crimson and white paint of Blackfriars Bridge with its swish arches, the modern traces of the Millennium Bridge, Westminster Bridge’s pale inexperienced paint to call just some…
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 just isn’t very previous
The present London Bridge opened in 1973, which makes the present one London’s 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 very least) because it was now not sturdy sufficient to help London’s elevated site visitors.
The city legend that the client thought he was getting Tower Bridge and ended up with London Bridge is simply a delusion although – ‘New London Bridge’ because it was recognized, was particularly bought to attempt to entice guests to the realm and to encourage them to purchase property.
Why it is best to go to London Bridge
Purchase this level, you’re most likely satisfied that you could completely bypass London Bridge altogether – however maybe that’s not completely honest.
Whereas there are many causes that you just shouldn’t go to London Bridge, it’s not completely with out its deserves.
The views
London Bridge itself is perhaps boring, however you may get some nice views as you cross it – not least of the much more iconic Tower Bridge.
There’s additionally a very good view of the Shard, and you may 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, one in all 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 specific level on Bankside was the place the ‘Liberty of Southwark’ started, with out the Metropolis’s restrictions – and consequently, much 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, it’s a great way to get between a few of London’s landmarks.
Close by on the north financial institution, you may 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 the event you’re in search of a stroll to take you previous extra of London’s landmarks, take a look at this route via the town to identify extra London sights
To benefit from the historical past
Whereas the bridge itself isn’t notably previous, there’s no query that you just’re 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 – and repeated fires which meant it was usually ‘falling down’ and being rebuilt. The heads of traitors have 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 previous London Bridge, and you may see a 4 metre mannequin of the previous bridge.
Constructed round 900 years in the past, probably longer, the churchyard can also be house to a number of historic 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 web site.
Disclosure: This publish accommodates affiliate hyperlinks – 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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