Tower Bridge vs London Bridge

Most people confuse London Bridge with Tower Bridge. “Did an American tycoon buy London Bridge thinking it was the grand Tower Bridge? Spoiler: he didn’t, but the truth is just as wild.”

We've all done it, especially as children. I must have been 4 or 5 when my parents said we were going out over Tower Bridge. I requested we go over the London Bridge instead because it is my favourite. Thankfully, my parents were patient in correcting my misconception.

Both bridges are essential to the thriving City economy and hopefully will continue to do so for generations to come. There's been a rumour swirling around that an American bought the wrong bridge.

Let me tell you a bit about both Bridges

Tower Bridge

Iconic Design: Completed in 1894, Tower Bridge is a Victorian suspension and bascule bridge with two neo-Gothic towers, instantly recognisable as a London landmark.

Bascule Mechanism: Its central span lifts for tall ships, still functioning today with around 800 lifts yearly, controlled by modern hydraulics.

Location: Spans the Thames between the Tower of London and Southwark, linking central London to the South Bank.

Construction: Built from 1886 to 1894, designed by Sir Horace Jones and engineered by Sir John Wolfe Barry, using over 11,000 tonnes of steel.

Tourist Attraction: Hosts the Tower Bridge Exhibition, where visitors can explore the Victorian engine rooms and walk across high-level glass walkways.

Cultural Symbol: Often featured in films and media (e.g., Sherlock Holmes, 2009), though frequently mistaken for London Bridge by tourists.

Colour Scheme: Painted red, white, and blue since 1977 for Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee, enhancing its striking appearance.

Traffic: Handles over 40,000 vehicles and pedestrians daily, with a 20 mph speed limit to preserve its structure.

Engineering Marvel: Combines a drawbridge with suspension elements, a unique design for its era, balancing practicality and beauty.

Historical Moments: Notable for events like the 1952 incident when a double-decker bus “jumped” the gap as the bridge began to lift.

I've been behind the scenes and it was mind blowing experience. To read more about it, click on the following Link https://tabbylondon.com/blog/f/two-bridge-lifts-and-one-forever-memory

London Bridge

Historical Legacy: London Bridge dates back to Roman times (c. 50 AD), with multiple iterations; the current bridge opened in 1973.

Modern Design: A functional concrete box-girder bridge, designed by Mott, Hay, and Anderson, prioritising utility over ornamentation.

Location: Connects the City of London to Southwark, just upstream from Tower Bridge, near London Bridge Station.

Multiple Versions: The name “London Bridge” refers to successive bridges on the site, including a 19th-century version sold to Arizona in 1968.

Myth Clarification: Often confused with the ornate Tower Bridge, but it’s far plainer, leading to frequent tourist mix-ups.

Transport Hub: Adjacent to London Bridge Station, a major rail and Underground hub, making it a vital commuter link.

Reconstruction History: The 1973 bridge replaced a stone-arched version (1831–1967), which was dismantled and rebuilt in Lake Havasu City, USA.

Traffic Flow: Carries heavy road traffic and pedestrians, designed for efficiency with no lifting mechanism.

Cultural References: Immortalised in the nursery rhyme “London Bridge Is Falling Down,” tied to its long, storied history.

Resilience: Survived historical events like the Great Fire of London (1666) and modern challenges, including a 2017 terrorist attack.

London Bridge Was Sold in 1968

In 1968, American entrepreneur Robert P. McCulloch purchased the 19th-century London Bridge for $2.46 million (£1.02 million at the time) from the City of London. McCulloch, an oil tycoon and chainsaw manufacturer, was developing Lake Havasu City, Arizona, a planned community in the desert. He bought the bridge to attract tourists and boost property sales, as the remote location struggled to draw residents.

The bridge, designed by John Rennie and opened in 1831, was sinking into the Thames due to heavy modern traffic, prompting its sale and replacement with the current concrete structure, opened in 1973 by Queen Elizabeth II.

McCulloch had the bridge’s 10,276 exterior granite blocks numbered, dismantled, and shipped through the Panama Canal to California, then trucked to Arizona. Reconstructed over a man-made channel in Lake Havasu City, the bridge was completed in 1971, with a grand opening featuring fireworks, skydivers, and a visit from London’s Lord Mayor. It became Arizona’s second-biggest tourist attraction after the Grand Canyon, drawing nearly two million visitors by 1975.

Parting Comments

It might be 160 years old, but twenty one thousand vehicles go over Tower Bridge each day and Forty thousand people cross the Bridge. That in itself is a huge achievement.

Both Bridges have been part of millions of Londoner's lives. We grew up with them in the backgound. It is also a familiar icon to billions around the world.

Have you been across either Bridge? If yes, what's your experience?

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Thank you for your attention.

Best wishes

Tabby