Tower Bridge Entry Tickets
Tower Bridge has spanned the Thames since 1894, welcoming visitors to London's defining landmark. The Tower Bridge Exhibition climbs the North Tower to the high-level walkways and their famous glass floors, 42 metres above the river, then descends to the Victorian Engine Rooms that once powered the lifting bridge. Booking Tower Bridge Entry Tickets online in advance secures a timed slot and a smoother arrival.
Book your ticket to the Tower Bridge
Should I buy Tower Bridge entry tickets in advance?
Yes, booking online ahead is the safer choice. Tickets are released up to eight weeks in advance and tie you to a timed slot, so a popular date and time can sell out in summer and at weekends.
The Ticket Office on the northwest side of the bridge does sell same-day tickets when slots remain, but the queue forms outdoors in the open air, so the weather is worth checking. A pre-booked e-ticket is scanned on arrival and still passes through a bag search.
What can you see inside Tower Bridge?
A single ticket follows a one-way route through the whole landmark, from the towers and walkways high above the Thames down to the engine rooms at river level. These are the highlights along the way:
The high-level walkways
Two enclosed walkways link the North and South Towers, 42 metres above the Thames and 33.5 metres above the road. Wide windows on both sides open up panoramic views along the river, taking in the Tower of London, the Shard, HMS Belfast and the City skyline. Displays trace how the crossing was designed and built, and you can pick out some of the 13 million rivets that hold the structure together.
Plan your visit in advance
A quick guide to opening times, closures, getting there and finding the entrance:
Opening hours
Tower Bridge opens every day from 09:30 to 18:00. The last admission is at 17:00 for the Towers and a little later, 17:30, for the Engine Rooms, so the towers and walkways are the part to reach first if you arrive late in the day.
On the second Saturday of each month a low-capacity Relaxed Opening session runs for neurodivergent visitors and anyone who prefers a calmer, quieter environment. Hours can shift for events, so it is worth confirming the date you plan to visit.
Is the Tower Bridge exhibition worth it?
For most visitors it is, and the glass floor is the reason why. Standing on a transparent panel 42 metres above the Thames, watching buses and boats slide past beneath their shoes, offers a view of London that visitors cannot get anywhere else. Around it come genuinely panoramic vistas from the walkways and the atmospheric Victorian Engine Rooms, which together turn a famous silhouette into a story people can walk through.
It helps to know what the visit is and is not. This is a focused exhibition rather than a sprawling museum: most people spend between one and one and a half hours inside, and the walkways can feel brief if visitors rush them. Taking time on the glass floor, reading the displays on how the bridge was built, and leaving a few minutes for the engine rooms rather than hurrying to the exit ensures a better experience. Families, photographers and anyone curious about how the bascules still lift tend to come away counting it among London’s top attractions.
General information for visitors
A few practical pointers make the visit run more smoothly.
- Allowing sufficient time: Visitors usually require about 1 to 1.5 hours to explore the towers, both walkways, and the engine rooms at a relaxed pace.
- Wearing comfortable footwear: The tour involves climbing stairs up the towers, although lifts remain available throughout the attraction for those who need them.
- Dressing for the weather: Since the entry queue and the Blue Line walk to the engine rooms are located outdoors, preparing for British weather is advised.
- Travelling light: Security personnel search all bags at the entrance. Bringing smaller bags speeds up the security check, and arriving with time to spare ensures a smooth entry.
- Capturing photos on the glass floor: The high-level walkways offer the prime vantage points in the building.
- Following the one-way system: The attraction operates on a fixed route. Visitors enter at the North Tower on the north bank and exit through the engine rooms and gift shop on the south bank.
- Visiting with family: The glass floors are a major highlight for children.
- Combining nearby sights: The Tower of London, St Katharine Docks, and HMS Belfast all sit within a short walking distance, making it easy to build a full itinerary.
