Pedestrian access to the Tower Bridge is available at just about any time, but the Tower Bridge Experience is a different story.
Access to the sky bridge and exhibitions is limited to those who pay for admission, and there are very specific hours for this service.
Below, we explain hours, tickets, the best time to visit, and the highlights of what you will see.
- Tickets
- Deals
- Opening Hours
- What to Expect
- Tower Bridge Tours
- When Does Tower Bridge Lift?
- Walking Across the Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge Experience Tickets
Tickets for this attraction are offered daily from 9:30 am - 18:00 (6 pm).
Visitors will have the opportunity to actually enter the bridge itself and see how it works, learn about how it was built, and even see the bridge below through the glass floor above!
- Normal Price: £12.30/Adults | £6.20/Children (5-15)
- Free for children under 5
- There are family and combo tickets available
- More information or to purchase tickets.
TIP: There are a number of different ways to save money on tickets, and we'll cover all the best deals in our deals section below.
When is the Tower Bridge Experience Open?
Summer Opening Hours
- 9:30 am – 18:00 (6 pm)
- Hours valid from April – September
Winter Opening Hours
- 9:30 am – 17:00 (5 pm)
- Hours valid from October – March
9 Offers
This section provides a helpful list of offers that will help you save money on tickets to the Tower Bridge Experience.
We will also include details about common deals that might be offered in the near future.
1. Use a Tourist Pass
Admission is included for free with the purchase of the London Pass as well as the Explorer Pass.
If you're planning to visit multiple attractions in the city, these services could be a good way to save money on all the activities you wish to enjoy.
Here are a few more locations in the area that are included with the cost of either pass:
- Tower of London
- St. Paul's Cathedral
- London Bridge Experience
- View from the Shard
- Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
- Monument to the Great Fire
- And more!
Check our post on London tourist passes to learn more.
2. Combo Packages
There are several different combination deals available that provide admission to two or more activities for one low price.
Here are the best options currently available:
- Tower Bridge + Tower of London
- Tower Bridge + Hop on Hop off Bus & River Cruise
- Tower Bridge + Westminster Walking Tour
3. 2 For 1 Deal
National Express coach service, National Rail, and the London travel cards all offer 2-for-1 entry when you purchase certain bus or rail passes.
Read our blog post on the 2-for-1 offers for more information.
4. Community Ticket
Residents of Southwark, Tower Hamlets, and the City of London are eligible for a special concessionary community ticket.
This option is only £1.00, so if you live in the area, we highly recommend taking advantage of the savings.
Keep in mind that you will have to provide identification that proves that you live in one of these communities.
5. Family Ticket
If you're visiting Tower Bridge with young children, you should be able to save some money on tickets.
There are currently 5 different family ticket options:
- 1 Adult, 2 Children: £22.20
- 2 Adults, 1 Child: £27.70
- 2 Adults, 2 Children: £33.30
- 2 Adults, 3 Children: £38.90
6. Concession Tickets
Like most big attractions in London, Tower Bridge offers concession prices for certain visitors.
Seniors, Students (with valid ID), and people with disabilities are granted concessionary access to the historic site.
Disabled companions receive free admission.
Here are the current concession prices:
- Adults: £9.20
- Children: £4.60
7. Children's Offer
In addition to children's tickets being half the price of an adult ticket, all kids under the age of 5 are granted free admission to Tower Bridge.
8. Offer Sites
Websites like Groupon and Discount London frequently offer deals on tickets to attractions like Tower Bridge.
In addition to the main concession they offer, they will often provide additional promo codes to help you save even more money!
This is an excellent option if none of the other offers on our list are of interest.
9. AAA Offer/Credit Cards
Although there does not currently appear to be an active AAA offer on Tower Bridge, they often provide deals for this kind of attraction.
In recent years, many credit card and debit card companies (Mastercard, Visa) have also begun offering similar deals that you can find by logging into your account.
We recommend checking both of these options before purchasing tickets, just to make sure you don't miss out on any concessions that could save you some money.
What to Expect
Visitors indicate that you can expect to spend anywhere from 30 - 60 minutes looking around and seeing everything that you can see on your own at the Tower Bridge Experience.
The Tower Bridge does not restrict visitors from bringing most personal belongings with them into the exhibit areas.
Some guests find that they are a little too frightened of looking down while on the glass walkway.
Visitors who get vertigo easily may want to be very cautious while passing the bridge.
This walkway is perfectly safe, but that won't really matter if you have a fear of heights or a medical condition that might make it difficult to cross the bridge.
The Tower Bridge Experience is fully accessible to all visitors. Guests in wheelchairs can use the lift to easily reach the top of each tower.
If you need to use the restroom, you'll find handicap-accessible bathrooms in both towers and the engine room.
Walking Across the Tower Bridge Experience
Upon entering the North Tower, you can either walk up 206 steps or take a lift to reach the top.
From here, you can walk across the bridge using the east and west walkways.
Walking up these stairs might be difficult for some visitors, and they can take the lift instead.
Once at the top, you'll have the opportunity to see the bridge from above by crossing the glass walkway.
Watch the people below and see the bridge open to allow boats to pass through.
In addition to watching travelers and getting excellent views, you can also enjoy a wonderful exhibition featuring information about the bridge and its construction.
Despite the fact that both walkways offer incredible views, it is highly recommended to visit the east walkway to get a wonderful look at the city of London.
You can also access the Lives Of A Landmark exhibit from the east walkway.
Once you've reached the South Tower, you'll have the option to either walk down another 206 steps or take a lift.
If you need to use the restroom, you'll find bathrooms on the lower level of the South Tower.
This level is approximately 129 steps from the top and 77 steps from the bottom.
After you're done with the walkways and both towers of this famous bridge, you can take a stroll along the Walk of Fame.
Located on the south side of the bridge, this walkway features plaques in honor of several people who were instrumental in either building, maintaining, or operating the Tower Bridge.
This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the people who made this landmark one of the most notable sites in London.
At the end of the Walk of Fame, you will find the Engine Rooms.
This was once the location where Victorian-era machinery would be used to lift the bridge for boats whenever necessary.
It wasn't until 1976 that they would switch from coal power to electricity in order to operate the bridge.
Since then, this has become a permanent exhibit at the Tower Bridge.
If you’re also interested in seeing the bridge from below, make sure to read our post on walking across the Tower Bridge.
Tours of Tower Bridge
If you want to learn as much as possible while visiting this historic site, you might want to consider taking one of their tours.
The Tower Bridge offers a total of 5 different tours: a personal guided tour, a family tour, a behind-the-scenes tour, a private evening tour, and a sign language tour.
Although the night tour is available just about every day, some of the other options are only available either to groups or during specific times of the year.
All tours must be pre-booked before arrival.
Guided Tours
These tours are offered every weekend on Saturday and Sunday, and they are led by expert guides who are extremely knowledgeable about Tower Bridge.
While traveling around the attraction, your guide will tell tales of those that constructed and designed the structure, and they will also show you the engine room where the original Victorian Engines can be seen.
Each standard guided tour lasts for approximately 90 minutes.
Tour Prices
- Adult (16+): £27.00
- Child (5-15): £23.00
- Concessions: £25.00
Concession prices are offered to seniors over the age of 60, students with an ID, and visitors who are disabled.
Guided Tours w/ BSL
This is essentially the same guided tour, but it is led by a professional tour guide and an accredited interpreter who will use British Sign Language (BSL) for guests with hearing difficulties.
You can take this tour on the last Saturday of every month, and it is also 90 minutes in length. Best of all, this tour is included with the price of entry!
If you’re not able to come on the one day this tour is offered each month, you can also take a private guided tour with a BSL interpreter for an extra £120 per tour.
Behind-the-Scenes Tour
If you’re looking for a closer look at some of the ins and outs of Tower Bridge, this is one of the best ways to see areas of the landmark that are typically off-limits to most visitors.
Guests can expect to see and hear about operational locations such as the Control Cabin, the Bascule Chambers, and the Machinery Room.
As of April 2024, these tours will return in winter 2024-25.
The Tower Bridge Cat Trail
Although this isn’t technically a guided tour, it is a fun little activity that younger visitors might enjoy.
Based on the award-winning book ‘The Tower Bridge Cat’, this interactive trail follows the main character of the book and functions much like a mystery game.
All you have to do is download the trail onto your digital device or pick up a copy at the Tower Bridge ticket office.
This service is included with the cost of a ticket, and it’s available from February - December.
Other Activities of Note
There are a number of activities held at Tower Bridge throughout the year, including special events related to the royal family.
Here are a few of the more notable and frequent events held at this landmark.
Relaxed Opening
Every third Saturday of the month, Tower Bridge offers early bird hours which limit the number of visitors, turn off loud videos/soundscapes, and offer other amenities for guests who struggle with issues related to neurodiversity and autism.
This service is offered from 9:30 am - 11:30 am and there is no additional cost.
Ask an Expert
Offered on Thursdays during school hours, this weekly event allows visitors to ask questions about the Engine Room from a team of experts who know all about the attraction and how it functions.
There is no additional cost for this service, and it is provided from 13:15 (1:15 pm) - 14:00 (2 pm).
Family Activities
These activity opportunities are usually related to specific holidays or seasons.
For instance, during the month of April, you can usually expect at least one family event related to Easter.
Young visitors can expect plenty of fun and creative things to do during these events, and guests are free to drop in as they wish with no additional charge.
Check this list of family activities at Tower Bridge for more details.
Coronation Celebrations
This is an example of a special event related to the royal family, and it will only be taking place from May 6th - May 8th, 2024.
That said, if you can make it to one of these activities, chances are you’ll have a blast!
The Coronation Celebrations include the opportunity for younger visitors to make their own crown and a royal sash, all included in the price of a standard ticket.
Guests are free to pop in anytime from 10:00 am - 16:00 (4 pm) on all three days.
When Does Tower Bridge Lift?
Although there is no specific schedule for precisely when the Tower Bridge will lift, the official website offers information about upcoming events during which the bridge will open.
This event typically happens more often during the summer and warmer months than during the winter, and it’s usually pretty common during sunset hours, so you can usually look forward to an incredible view of the Tower Bridge at these times.
For more details about where to get the best view, make sure to read our post covering Tower Bridge lift opening times.
