Tower Bridge is located at the easternmost part of the Thames River, often referred to as the “Gateway to London.” Construction began in 1886, and after eight years, the bridge officially opened to traffic on June 30, 1894, connecting the Tower Hamlets district on the north bank with the Southwark district on the south.
Tower Bridge is one of London’s most iconic landmarks. Its defining features are the two main towers, each 46 meters tall. These marble-clad towers are topped with five small spires, resembling two crowns when viewed from a distance. The towers, with a span of over 60 meters between them, are linked to the riverbanks by suspension bridges anchored with steel cables.
The bridge has two levels: the upper level is a wide pedestrian walkway with glass windows on both sides, offering stunning views of the river and the city. The lower level is used for vehicle traffic, making it both a functional crossing and a popular attraction.
The best angle to view Tower Bridge is from a 45-degree position along either bank of the Thames River.
Scenery on Both Sides of Tower Bridge
Walking across Tower Bridge is free unless you enter the towers. From the bridge, you can enjoy the beautiful views of the Thames River and its banks. Standing on the bridge, the south bank is on the left, and the north bank is on the right.
On the south bank, an old World War II cruiser named HMS Belfast is moored. Also on the south bank is a modern landmark skyscraper called The Shard. The building, named for its design of 11,000 glass panels, began construction in March 2009 and was completed in April 2012. It has 95 floors and stands 310 meters tall. The Shard was primarily funded by Qatar and is currently the tallest building in both the UK and Europe.
Tower of London
The Tower of London is a medieval castle located on the north bank of the Thames River. It was initially built by William I in 1078 and completed during the reign of William II in 1097, giving it a history of over 900 years. During the 12th and 13th centuries, the Tower was expanded, with the White Tower at its center, surrounded by two layers of walls and several defensive structures. The inner wall contains 13 towers, while the outer wall features 6 towers and 2 bastions. A moat encircles the outermost layer, forming a fortified citadel, making the Tower both a strong military fortress and a grand palace.
From 1140, the Tower became one of the residences of the British monarchs for over 400 years, with James I (1566–1625) being the last king to live there. For this reason, the Tower of London is sometimes referred to as the “Forbidden City” of the UK. Afterward, it served various functions, including a fortress, armory, treasury, and prison. Its last use as a prison was during World War II. Rudolf Hess, Adolf Hitler’s deputy and the third-ranking Nazi official, was imprisoned in the Bloody Tower after being captured in the UK while on a secret mission. Following the war, Hess was tried and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Recognized as a significant historical and architectural complex that has shaped British history, the Tower of London was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. Today, it is a world-famous tourist destination and a must-see for visitors to the UK. Due to its proximity to Tower Bridge, these two landmarks are often visited together.
Today, the outer walls still preserve the Water Gate beneath St. Thomas’s Tower. Originally, this gate served as the castle’s waterway entrance. Since prisoners held inside had to enter through this gate via the Thames River, it became known as the “Traitors’ Gate.”
Visiting the Tower of London requires no prior reservation—tickets can be purchased on-site for direct entry.
This is the entrance to the site, with the gate located in the former outer wall tower. The entrance and exit are not in the same place—the entrance is on the west side of the castle, while the exit is on the south side.
At the entrance, staff dressed in traditional Tudor uniforms greet visitors. These individuals, serving as both security guards and tour guides, create a unique atmosphere and often become subjects for photography. All of them are senior military sergeants who have served in the British Army for over 22 years and have received good conduct medals. Visitors can explore the site under their guidance.
Upon entering the site, the first thing you’ll see is the medieval castle on the south side of the complex. St. Thomas’s Tower, which contains the Water Gate, is part of this structure. The most famous room inside the tower is the bedroom of King Edward I. However, this room may differ from what one might imagine a king’s bedroom to be.
Within the second wall are remnants of ancient Roman architecture. Opposite St. Thomas’s Tower, two palaces stand along the second wall. On the left is the round Wakefield Tower, and on the right is the infamous Bloody Tower. The Bloody Tower earned its name as the place where many of the king’s political enemies were imprisoned and bloodshed occurred. Nazi war criminal Rudolf Hess, Adolf Hitler’s deputy, was also held here during World War II.
The most important and oldest building in the Tower of London is the Norman tower at the center, which forms the main structure of the complex. Known as the “White Tower” because it was built with pale stone, it symbolizes the growing and consolidated power of William the Conqueror. The White Tower stands 32.6 meters tall, with three floors, double-layered walls, small windows, and white stone between the doors and windows. The third floor once served as the royal residence. The top of the White Tower is crenellated, with towers at each corner—three square and one round at the northeast corner. Spiral staircases are located at the corners of each floor, leading to the top.
Today, the White Tower houses the Royal Armouries and the Royal Armory Museum. The first-floor gallery displays royal cavalry armor, where the majesty and grandeur of the royal cavalry can still be glimpsed through these historical pieces.
Although called a “tower,” the Tower of London is actually a highly fortified defensive castle. This is a model of the entire Tower of London complex, with the White Tower located at the center. For security reasons, many windows in the tower are designed as arrow slits. Each floor inside the tower has a single narrow spiral staircase in one corner, barely wide enough for one person to pass. This design likely aimed to make it difficult for rebels to reach the upper floors even if they breached the palace. The basement of the White Tower displays various cannons and early rifles.
In addition to being a heavily guarded fortress, the Tower of London was also a site of terror and bloodshed. From its inception, countless people met their deaths within its walls. Most of those who perished here were executed due to power struggles, rebellions, or coups. Here is a display of a guillotine and an executioner’s axe that were once used for executions.
The “Jewel House” is the most important area to visit in the Tower of London, located in the “Waterloo Block” on the north side of the castle. It houses and displays treasures symbolizing the power of the British monarchy, including crowns, scepters, and swords. Some of these items are still used today in major royal ceremonies.
The jewels adorning these treasures include more than 23,000 gemstones. The most captivating piece is the crown worn by Queen Victoria during her coronation. Made with a gold frame and topped with red velvet, the crown is encrusted with over 3,000 dazzling, priceless gems.
The Jewel House also holds what is said to be the largest diamond in the world—the South African diamond known as the “Star of Africa,” weighing 530 carats, which is set in a scepter and radiates extraordinary brilliance. Other world-renowned treasures include the “Black Prince’s Ruby” and the “Koh-i-Noor Diamond,” a gift from the East India Company to Queen Victoria, all of which leave visitors in awe.
In the southwest corner of the Tower of London lies a place called Tower Green. In front of a row of charming buildings in the English architectural style is a patch of grass that now appears serene. However, this green space was once the site of the execution scaffold, making it one of the bloodiest locations in the Tower’s history. Several members of the British royal family were beheaded here.
In front of Tower Green, the Changing of the Guard ceremony by the British Royal Guard is a sight worth seeing. The guards wear the iconic bright red tunics and tall black bearskin hats. Interestingly, the soldiers don’t remain standing at the post the entire time but occasionally march back and forth in front of their sentry boxes.
On the south side of the central lawn within the innermost part of the castle lies a fragment of the ancient Roman wall (Wall of the Innermost Ward). At the base of the wall is a row of nests housing a group of large ravens. These ravens are different from ordinary ones—they are fearless, freely flying around the Tower (and can also be spotted in other places).
The British treat these ravens with special care due to a local legend: if the ravens ever leave the Tower of London, it will mark the fall of Britain. For this reason, ravens have been kept here since the 17th century. To prevent them from flying away, caretakers, following expert advice, trim the birds’ wings so they remain within the Tower. These ravens are now jokingly referred to as the “last prisoners” of the Tower of London, adding an eerie touch to the ancient fortress.
The exit of the site is located on the south side of the Tower of London, which was once Henry III’s Water Gate. We arrived at the Tower at 2 p.m. and left at 4:40 p.m., spending over two hours exploring inside.
