Tower Bridge can be visited every day from 9:30 am to 6 pm (last entry 5 pm): an adult ticket costs £18 and gives access to the towers, the high-level walkways with their glass floors and the Victorian engine rooms. The bridge still opens to let large ships through, about 500 times a year according to its operator. We took the official lift calendar published at the date of our check and calculated which lifts fall during visiting hours and in daylight.
The bridge is a stone’s throw from the Tower of London: the two combine into half a day. For the rest of your stay, see our guide to visiting London.
Our travel deals for Tower Bridge
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FlightsKiwi.comCompare flights and airline combinations to Tower Bridge.Compare flights- Tickets and toursTiqetsEntry tickets and guided tours to book online; compare with the official price.See tickets
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Key facts: Tower Bridge
- Opening hours: every day 9:30 am–6 pm, last entry 5 pm; closed 24, 25 and 26 December; opens at 10 am on 1 January — checked on 16 October 2026 on towerbridge.org.uk
- Full price (adult, 18 and over): £18 recorded on 16 October 2026, subject to change; concession £13.50; child 5–15 £9; under-5s free — checked on 16 October 2026 on towerbridge.org.uk
- Booking: not compulsory but recommended to choose your time; the online ticket does not give fast-track access
- Bridge lifts: calendar published on the Bridge Lifts page — checked on 16 October 2026 on towerbridge.org.uk
- Suggested time: about 1.5 hours (Destination de Voyage estimate; the official guided tour lasts 90 minutes)
Tickets: official vs resellers
| Entry ticket | Price recorded on 16 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Adult (18 and over) | £18.00 |
| Concession (60 and over with proof, students 18 and over with a card, ages 16–17, disabled adults) | £13.50 |
| Child (5–15) | £9.00 |
| Disabled child (5–15) | £6.80 |
| Companion of a disabled visitor | Free |
| Under 5 | Free |
| Local ticket (residents of Southwark, Tower Hamlets and the City) | £1.00 |
The official ticket office is on towerbridge.org.uk. The entry page says booking is possible up to 8 weeks ahead (the home page mentioned 6 weeks; the entry page still shows 8 weeks, checked on 18 October 2026 on towerbridge.org.uk). Student cards from anywhere in the world are accepted for the concession price, to be shown on arrival. A 2-for-1 offer exists on the full-price adult ticket with a valid National Rail train ticket for each visitor. Holders of the London Pass or the London Explorer Pass must book their slot on the Go City portal, subject to availability.
A 90-minute guided tour (in English only) and behind-the-scenes tours let you see the Bascule Chambers, the counterweight rooms. Resellers sometimes sell combined tickets with the Tower of London: compare with the two official tickets bought separately, and check that the Tower Bridge slot is actually booked.
Opening hours and closures
The bridge is open every day from 9:30 am to 6 pm, last entry at 5 pm. It closes every year on 24, 25 and 26 December and opens at 10 am on 1 January. On the second Saturday of each month, a reduced-capacity « Relaxed Opening », designed for neurodivergent visitors, takes place from 9:30 am to 11:30 am (last entry 11:10 am). The queue is outside, on the bridge: check the weather before you set out.
Bridge lifts: official calendar and calculation
On 16 October 2026, the official lifts page listed 20 lifts over 10 days, from 17 October to 6 December 2026. The operator says additional lifts may be scheduled at short notice for maintenance.
| Date | Time | Direction | Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 October 2026 | 10:30 am | upstream | Will |
| 17 October 2026 | 11:15 am | downstream | Will |
| 17 October 2026 | 3:30 pm | upstream | Will |
| 17 October 2026 | 4:15 pm | downstream | Will |
| 18 October 2026 | 6:30 pm | upstream | Dutch Master |
| 24 October 2026 | 11:30 pm | upstream | Dutch Master |
| 31 October 2026 | 4:15 pm | upstream | Dutch Master |
| 6 November 2026 | 6:45 pm | upstream | Dixie Queen |
| 6 November 2026 | 7:30 pm | downstream | Dixie Queen |
| 6 November 2026 | 10:30 pm | upstream | Dixie Queen |
| 6 November 2026 | 11:15 pm | downstream | Dixie Queen |
| 11 November 2026 | 10:15 am | upstream | Edwardian |
| 27 November 2026 | 7:15 pm | upstream | Dixie Queen |
| 27 November 2026 | 8:00 pm | downstream | Dixie Queen |
| 27 November 2026 | 11:15 pm | upstream | Dixie Queen |
| 28 November 2026 | 12:00 am | downstream | Dixie Queen |
| 5 December 2026 | 6:45 pm | upstream | Dixie Queen |
| 5 December 2026 | 7:30 pm | downstream | Dixie Queen |
| 5 December 2026 | 11:15 pm | upstream | Dixie Queen |
| 6 December 2026 | 12:00 am | downstream | Dixie Queen |
Destination de Voyage calculation: of these 20 lifts, only 6 take place during the attraction’s opening hours (9:30 am–6 pm): on 17 October at 10:30 am, 11:15 am, 3:30 pm and 4:15 pm, on 31 October at 4:15 pm and on 11 November at 10:15 am. 6 take place between sunrise and sunset (NOAA algorithm). The others are in the evening or at night. To see a lift from the glass floors of the walkways, you therefore need to aim for these specific slots; for photos from the riverbank, evening lifts take place after dark at this time of year.
The website also warns that if you are delayed by a lift, the team will do their best to let you in, subject to capacity.
Best time to visit
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length | Average high | Rainfall | Sunset vs last entry (5 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:59 am | 4:20 pm | 8 h 21 min | 8.4 °C (47 °F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | before last entry |
| February | 7:14 am | 5:14 pm | 10 h 00 min | 9.0 °C (48 °F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | after last entry |
| March | 6:15 am | 6:04 pm | 11 h 49 min | 11.7 °C (53 °F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | after last entry |
| April | 6:05 am | 7:56 pm | 13 h 51 min | 15.0 °C (59 °F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | after last entry |
| May | 5:08 am | 8:45 pm | 15 h 36 min | 18.4 °C (65 °F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | after last entry |
| June | 4:42 am | 9:19 pm | 16 h 37 min | 21.6 °C (71 °F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | after last entry |
| July | 5:00 am | 9:11 pm | 16 h 11 min | 23.9 °C (75 °F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | after last entry |
| August | 5:45 am | 8:23 pm | 14 h 38 min | 23.4 °C (74 °F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | after last entry |
| September | 6:34 am | 7:15 pm | 12 h 41 min | 20.2 °C (68 °F) | 50 mm (2.0 in) | after last entry |
| October | 7:23 am | 6:07 pm | 10 h 44 min | 15.8 °C (60 °F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | after last entry |
| November | 7:17 am | 4:11 pm | 8 h 54 min | 11.5 °C (53 °F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | before last entry |
| December | 7:59 am | 3:51 pm | 7 h 52 min | 8.8 °C (48 °F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | before last entry |
From October to February, the sun sets before the 5 pm last entry (on the 15th, from November to January): a late-afternoon visit lets you see the city light up from the walkways. From March to September, it is still daylight at closing time. Since the queue is outside, the driest months (February and March according to the normals) are pleasant despite the cold. The operator publishes no crowd figures. Detailed climate is on our page on the best time to visit London.
What to see and route
- The North Tower: entrance and the story of the architects, engineers and technicians who built the bridge.
- The high-level walkways: views from the Tower of London to St Paul’s in the west and from Canary Wharf to Shooter’s Hill in the east, and glass floors above the roadway.
- The South Tower, then the Blue Line, the outdoor path to the engine rooms.
- The Engine Rooms: the Victorian steam engines that once powered the lifts.
Included in the ticket: an audio guide (bring your own earphones), the « Cat Trail » treasure hunt for children, monthly family activities and, during UK school holidays, « Ask an Expert » sessions. The website recommends walking up the towers for the best experience; lifts (elevators) are available.
Getting there
The ticket office and entrance are on the north-west side of the bridge, west of the North Tower. Underground: Tower Hill (District and Circle lines) is a seven-minute walk, 500 m (1,640 ft) from the ticket office, step-free access; London Bridge (Northern and Jubilee) is 1 km (1 mi) from the Engine Rooms entrance. Trains: London Bridge, Fenchurch Street, and Tower Gateway DLR station. Buses 15, 42, 78, 100 and 343; the Tower Bridge City Hall stop (42, 78, 343) is 280 m (919 ft) from the ticket office, step-free. Boats: Tower Pier on the north side and London Bridge City Pier on the south. The Tower of London is about 280 m (919 ft) away as the crow flies (Destination de Voyage calculation, Wikidata coordinates).
Accessibility
Two lifts (elevators) serve the high-level walkways (north and south towers), and an outdoor lift leads to the Engine Rooms entrance. Lifts can break down at short notice: the operator advises contacting it before you come. Wheelchairs and walking frames can use both entrances, hearing loops and braille books are available, and a « visual story » helps you prepare for the visit. Staff can arrange priority entry if your disability prevents you from queuing. There is no Changing Places toilet on site (the nearest is at the Tower of London, 700 m (2,297 ft) away).
Common mistakes
- Coming with a suitcase or wheeled bag: prohibited; bags and backpacks are limited to 45 x 35 x 20 cm (18 x 14 x 8 in).
- Thinking the online ticket is fast-track: it guarantees a time, not priority entry; there is a security check for everyone, and a second search at the Engine Rooms entrance.
- Hoping to see a lift without checking the calendar: most take place outside opening hours.
- Forgetting your earphones for the audio guide.
- Turning up on 24, 25 or 26 December: closed.
What to see nearby
Right next door, the Tower of London and its Crown Jewels. Heading up the Thames: the London Eye, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey; further north, the British Museum, which is free. All our ideas are in our guide to visiting London.
A short history of Tower Bridge
The bridge was built from 1886 to 1894. Its bascule deck lets the tallest ships through on the Thames, while the high-level walkways were for pedestrians.
The engineer John Wolfe-Barry and the architect Horace Jones designed the structure; after Jones’s death in 1887, George D. Stevenson continued the work on the facades. The bridge was opened on 30 June 1894 by the Prince of Wales, the future Edward VII. The original hydraulic engine rooms are part of the tour.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to visit Tower Bridge?
£18 for an adult, £13.50 concession, £9 for a child aged 5 to 15, free for under-5s (prices recorded on 16 October 2026 on towerbridge.org.uk).
What are Tower Bridge’s opening hours?
Every day from 9:30 am to 6 pm, last entry at 5 pm. Closed 24, 25 and 26 December; opens at 10 am on 1 January.
When does Tower Bridge open (lift)?
About 500 times a year, at times published on the official website’s Bridge Lifts page. On 16 October 2026, 6 of the 20 lifts announced up to 6 December fell during visiting hours (Destination de Voyage calculation).
Do you need to book Tower Bridge?
No, but it is recommended to get the time you want. The online ticket does not let you skip the queue.
Are Tower Bridge and the Tower of London the same thing?
No: Tower Bridge is the bascule bridge, the Tower of London is the neighbouring fortress, on the north bank. The tickets are separate.
Who built Tower Bridge?
The engineer John Wolfe-Barry and the architect Horace Jones. Work lasted from 1886 to 1894, and the bridge was opened on 30 June 1894 by the Prince of Wales.
Our sources
- Tower Bridge (towerbridge.org.uk): pages Plan your visit, Entry to Tower Bridge, Concessions and offers, Bridge Lifts, Access, Safety and security, consulted on 16 October 2026
- Met Office: 1991–2020 normals for London-Heathrow, taken from our page on the best time to visit London
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm, IANA Europe/London time zone, Wikidata coordinates (Q83125)
- Wikipedia (French edition), article « Tower Bridge » (construction 1886–1894, Wolfe-Barry, Jones, opening on 30 June 1894), consulted on 16 October 2026
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.