Tower Bridge • A Gorgeously Gloomy Encounter

We have been in London for almost a couple of months now and have somehow adjusted to the new weather and surroundings. We have only been to a few places in London but we are in no rush to see more of the gorgeous capital city. There is an entrance fee to most of the locations here and we are visiting the places that are free for now.

Last time we visited The Great Clock of Westminster and this time we had to see the most Iconic bridge which it the Tower Bridge of London.

Your London travel is not complete unless you see this iconic bridge up close and personal. The weather that day was dark, gloomy, and drizzling a bit. Still, when we reached the area near the bridge we were breath taken by its magnificence. A bridge that we only saw in movies and pictures, it was a bit hard to believe that were are now standing in front of it.

I and my wife Mhel had to have our picture taken here. Probably we would still take a lot more photos again once we come back.

Most people are confused about this bridge and if you would ask for the name of this bridge some would say it's the London Bridge. I have corrected a lot of my friends and explained to them that London Bridge and Tower Bridge are different. A lot of them are quite surprised that it is not the same bridge.

The Tower Bridge was constructed in 1896, it is a bascule and suspension bridge. It opens up in the middle to allow boats to cross. Pedestrians and vehicles can pass thru the bridge but it can open up anytime to allow river traffic to pass.

Along the riverside, there are a lot of ferries that offer sightseeing tours and the prices are listed.

Pictures and photos are displayed in different languages near the bridge to give more information to tourists.

Our visit is not complete unless we pass thru the bridge. Getting there is easy as there would be stairs on the side to get to the bridge.

On the bridge, there are lamp posts with the coat of arms of London at the base. I love the coat of arms as it is so medieval with the armor design.

Here we go passing thru this world-famous iconic bridge for the very first time. It felt a bit strange being all excited and with a feeling of being transported back to the Victorian era. I could imagine horse-drawn carriages passing thru here and as the bridge is lifted, ships with sails would pass by.

On the wall of the tower, you will see a plate indicating Tower Bridge which clears up much of the confusion that this is not London Bridge.

I do not have my photo usually taken but I had to have another photo with me on the bridge itself. I didn't feel embarrassed anymore as there are also a lot of people taking photos and selfies.

On the bridge, you would get a great view of the Thames river stretching across the city.

There is a walkway that stretches above the other tower. The walkway used to be used by pedestrians whenever the bridge lifts but is no longer used now. You could still come up inside the tower that houses a museum with a lot of history about the bridge. I am not sure how much the entrance fee is but next time we will check inside.

It doesn't take a long time to cross the bridge and we are almost at the end.

Before we cross over my wife also had to take a photo of her. We both had great a experience crossing as the first time is always special.

On the left side, there is a wharf called Butler's Wharf and another great location to see the bridge from a different angle.

You would see stairs on the left side just after you have crossed. From there, there are a lot of restaurants in the area. A great place to dine out if it is not raining.

You will be transported back again in time as you pass down this alleyway. Business is thriving in this area as it is close to the tourist spot.

There are a lot of souvenir shops in this area if you would like to take a piece of London home with you.

From this side, the bridge looks stunning and even looks magical in the evening when the lights are on. Maybe will evening next time if we have dinner in the area.

The wharf is busy with a lot of ferries docking and departing. Traveling by the river is another great way to experience London.

The wharf is lined up with restaurants and attractions along the way, like this great big anchor. There are many cafes and restaurants here and may be difficult to choose one. Some look very pricey as the view here is amazing.

So much things a places to discover, every corner show a bit of history. If you ever visit London make sure to check out this area after going thru the Tower Bridge.

Thank you for joining us today and I hope you enjoyed the tour regardless of the gloomy weather as we certainly did. Hope to hear from you and share your experience as well.

Hope to see you again soon.
Cheers!

All photos are original and taken with

Lumix GX85 Olympus 45mm f1.8 and 12-32mm kit lens