When you see Tower Bridge, a bascule and suspension bridge over the River Thames that has been lifting for ships since 1894. Also known as London’s most famous working bridge, it’s not just a postcard—it’s a machine that still does its job every single day. Unlike other historic landmarks that sit still, Tower Bridge moves. And it’s not some showy stunt for tourists. Every week, it opens for tall ships, cargo boats, and even the odd yacht that needs to pass through. The bridge lifts about 800 times a year, and the whole process takes less than five minutes.
The Tower Bridge mechanism, a steam-powered hydraulic system originally designed to raise the bridge’s two massive sections. Also known as the lifting mechanism, it’s one of the last of its kind still in active use. Back in the 1890s, they used steam engines and water pressure to lift those 1,000-ton bascules. Today, it’s electric, but the bones are the same. You can still visit the engine rooms under the bridge and see the original pistons, gears, and levers—still intact, still working. It’s not a museum piece. It’s a working part of London’s river life.
And then there’s the Tower Bridge lift, the actual raising of the bridge’s two road sections to let tall vessels pass. Also known as the bridge opening, it’s scheduled, not random. If you’re near the bridge, you’ll see signs warning drivers to stop. Boats have to request the lift 24 hours ahead. The bridge doesn’t open for fun—it opens because the river still matters. Even today, the Thames is a working port. Container ships, river taxis, and even historic vessels like the SS Great Britain still need to get through.
What makes Tower Bridge different from the Shard or Big Ben? It’s not just standing there. It’s doing something. It’s alive. You can watch it lift. You can hear the gears turn. You can stand on the high-level walkways and look down at the gap as a ship slips through. It’s engineering you can feel.
And if you’ve ever wondered why it looks so different from London Bridge? That’s because it was never meant to be just a crossing. It was built to let ships through while keeping the road open. That’s why it’s so tall, why it has those towers, why it lifts at all. It was a solution to a real problem—and it still is.
Below, you’ll find posts that dig into the hidden stories behind Tower Bridge, the engineering secrets inside its towers, and how it fits into the bigger picture of London’s landmarks—from the Houses of Parliament to the London Eye. You’ll learn where to stand for the best view, when the next lift is scheduled, and why even locals still stop to watch it happen.
Tower Bridge is London’s most iconic landmark-not just for its look, but because it still works. A living piece of history that lifts for ships, lights up for celebrations, and lets Londoners cross every day.