London Bridge History: What You Didn't Know About This Iconic Landmark
When people think of London Bridge, they often picture the ornate, towered span near the Tower of London—but that’s actually Tower Bridge, a famous drawbridge built in 1894 to let tall ships pass. London Bridge is the real deal—the one that’s been crossing the Thames for nearly 2,000 years. It’s the oldest crossing point in the city, and its history is stitched into London’s survival, trade, and identity.
London Bridge, the actual bridge connecting the City of London to Southwark, has been rebuilt at least six times. The first was built by the Romans around AD 50 to move troops and goods. That original wooden structure held up for centuries, even surviving Viking attacks. Later versions included a stone bridge with houses, shops, and even a chapel on top—think medieval Manhattan on water. By the 1800s, it was sinking under its own weight and traffic, so they replaced it with a granite arch bridge designed by John Rennie. That one lasted until 1967, when it was sold to an American entrepreneur and shipped to Arizona. Yes, you read that right—London Bridge is now in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The current bridge, opened in 1973, is a simple, functional concrete and steel structure. It doesn’t have the charm of its predecessors, but it moves over 50,000 vehicles a day and carries millions of pedestrians annually.
What makes London Bridge history so compelling isn’t just its age—it’s how it reflects London’s changing needs. It wasn’t built for tourists. It was built for survival. During the Great Fire of 1666, it was the only escape route south. During WWII, it was reinforced to handle military trucks. Even today, it’s the backbone of daily commutes, delivery routes, and emergency services. Unlike Tower Bridge, which is a showpiece, London Bridge works silently in the background. It’s the difference between a museum piece and the engine of a city.
If you’ve ever walked across it, rushed past it, or seen it in a movie, you’ve crossed something far older than most buildings in London. The history here isn’t locked in a glass case—it’s under your feet. That’s why so many posts in this collection tie back to nearby hotels, dining spots, and travel tips: because London Bridge isn’t just a landmark. It’s the reason people come, stay, and explore the city around it. Whether you’re booking a cheap hotel nearby, planning a date night at a riverside restaurant, or just trying to figure out how to get from the Tube to the Shard, you’re navigating a path shaped by this bridge’s 2,000-year legacy.
