The District ,
SE1
Nearest Tube: London Bridge SE1- Tower Hill EC3
The first ever London Bridge was built by the Romans between AD100 and AD400. It was probably constructed of timber and spanned the Thames between Southwark and The City. Until 1749 and the building of Westminster Bridge, London Bridge remained the only crossing point of the Thames in London.
The first London Bridge was burnt down in 1014 during a dispute between King Ethelred the Unready and the Danes. It is said to be this event that is remembered in the nursery rhyme London Bridge is Falling Down.
Quickly reconstructed, the second London Bridge had a very short life for it was swept away in a storm at the end of the 11th century. The next replacement, still made of wood, then also burned down in 1136.
The first stone bridge appeared in 1176, and by the early 13th century several houses had been built on London Bridge. Disaster struck in 1212 when the bridge again caught fire, and several thousand people lost their lives as a result. Again the replacement was short-lived for in 1282 another storm swept it away.
It was in the early 14th century that the gruesome custom of displaying the heads of traitors on London Bridge began. The head of the Scottish rebel William Wallace was the first to be displayed.
London Bridge was witness to several historical events over the years, for example Way Tyler threatened to burn it down during the peasant's revolt, Henry V rode over it after his victory at the Battle of Agincourt and after the restoration of the monarchy Charles II rode over the bridge to reclaim the throne.
The practice of displaying the heads of traitors fell out of fashion towards the middle of the 17th century. And by 1760 the houses that lined the bridge had been removed.
At the end of the 18th it was decided to renovate the bridge and a competition was held for designs. An ambitious plan for a 600ft single span bridge made out of cast iron was put forward by Thomas Telford, but this was rejected for fears that the bridge would be unstable.
In its place a bridge consisting of five arches made of stone was built by Sir John Rennie in 1823. This was then itself replaced in 1967 by the present bridge, consisting of three concrete arches.
The bridge that Rennie built was sold to an American and was re-constructed at Lake Havasu City in Arizona. Legend has it that he was under the mistaken impression that he was purchasing Tower Bridge!
Tower Bridge
EC3
Nearest Tube: Tower Hill
Tower Bridge spans the River Thames between the Tower of London on the north bank and the Tower Bridge Experience on the south bank. It was built as recently as 1894 and yet it has become one of the most famous of London's landmarks, and lays claim to being the world's most photographed and painted bridge.
The bridge incorporates a bascule (seesaw) system, which allows the central section to be raised so that tall ships can pass underneath. In order to achieve this, the two towers contain a steel frame covered in stone, which was a huge engineering feat at the time. And even today the mechanics of the bridge are impressive - the 1,000 ton arms can be raised in just 1½ minutes.
Spanning between the two towers is a high-level walkway for pedestrian use. This was actually closed to the public between 1910 and 1982 as it had become a popular suicide spot, but now you can walk across as part of the tour that is included in the Tower Bridge Experience.
Since London is no longer as busy a port as it once was, the bridge is not raised very often these days. But when it is it is still an impressive sight so it is worth asking when the next scheduled raising is.
Tower Bridge is open daily but times vary throughout the year so do check times in advance. For a tour of the bridge try the Tower Bridge Experience.
 History
: Past and Present
St. Paul's Cathedral/Tower Of London
In 604, the original St. Paul's Cathedral was just a small wooden church. By
1220, St. Paul's Cathedral had burnt down 3 times, each time being rebuilt.
During the Great Fire, St. Paul's Cathedral was completely destroyed. The
rebuilding of St. Paul's Cathedral was finished in 1708 by Sir Christopher
Wren. Today, St. Paul's Cathedral still stands tall and strong.
 The
Tower of London is by far one of the most famous and well preserved
historical buildings in the world. From its earliest structural beginnings
by its founder William I of England better known as William the Conqueror
1066-87, the Great Tower or White Tower as it later came to be called was
fast becoming the most talked-about building in England. The White Tower was
also the most awe inspiring, and frightening structure to the Anglo-Saxon
people who were trying to get used to the rule of their new Norman king, the
destroyer of their own ruler, Harold II, in 1066. Within three months of his
victory William the Conqueror had begun to build a castle on the north bank
of the river Thames in London.
Beginning life as a simple timber and earth enclosure tucked in the
south-east angle formed by the joining of the original east and south stone
walls of the old Roman town of Londinium Augusta, the original structure was
completed by the addition of a ditch and palisade along the north and west
sides.
This enclosure then received a huge structure of stone which in time came to
be called The Great Tower and eventually as it is known today The White
Tower. This formed the basis of a residential palace and fortress ideally
suited for a king or queen and as history has shown, to its regal occupants
the Tower of London became the perfect all purpose complex. Since the first
foundations were laid more than 900 years ago the castle has been constantly
improved and extended by the addition of other smaller towers, extra
buildings, walls and walkways, gradually evolving into the splendid example
of castle, fortress, prison, palace and finally museum that it proudly
represents today.
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