The granite blocks from the previous 1831 bridge were sold and relocated to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, in 1968.
The first stone bridge on this site was built by Peter of Colechurch in 1209 and featured a chapel dedicated to Thomas Becket.
For over 600 years, the medieval version of the bridge featured houses and shops, making it one of the most densely populated parts of London.
The severed heads of executed traitors, including William Wallace and Guy Fawkes, were historically displayed on spikes above the bridge gatehouse.
The current bridge cost approximately 4 million pounds to construct in the early 1970s.
It is the only Thames crossing in central London that is managed and maintained by a charitable trust rather than the local government.
The bridge was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on March 17, 1973.
Construction required a complex phased approach to keep traffic moving while the old bridge was dismantled and the new one was built on the same alignment.
London Bridge is a pre-stressed concrete and steel box girder bridge completed in 1973 to replace the 19th-century John Rennie structure. It serves as a major road crossing connecting the City of London in the north to Southwark in the south. The current bridge is the latest in a succession of crossings that have occupied this site since Roman times. It features a dual-carriageway design capable of supporting heavy traffic volumes. The structure is owned and maintained by the Bridge House Estates, a charitable trust overseen by the City of London Corporation. The bridge deck is constructed from granite-faced concrete and provides a wide pedestrian walkway on both sides. Unlike its iconic neighbor, Tower Bridge, this structure is a utilitarian, functional design rather than an ornamental bridge.
The south bank near the Golden Hinde ship for a view including the bridge and the London skyline.
Walk the bridge at night to see the illuminated skyline of the City of London.
Combine your walk with a visit to the adjacent Borough Market for local food.
Stay on the pedestrian pathways to ensure safety from the heavy bus and car traffic.
Do not confuse London Bridge with the nearby Tower Bridge; tourists often mistake the latter's gothic towers for the former.
