Tower Bridge
The road bridge spans the Thames and connects the City of London in the north with the district of Southwark in the south. Tower Bridge is a neo-Gothic bascule bridge that was built between 1886 and 1894. The symbol of London is 244 m long, the two towers are 65 m high. On the north bank the bridge meets the Tower of London, on the south side is the City Hall.
The Thames Bridges
There are 15 bridges in Greater London that cross the Thames. The most beautiful come from the Victorian era. Many of the bridges are also quite new.
London Bridge
In the place of today’s London Bridge there has been a bridge for over 2000 years, which today connects Soutwark Cathedral with the monument to the Great Fire of London. Until Westminster Bridge was built in 1750, London Bridge was London’s only bridge over the Thames. It is 283 m long and consists of three concrete beams. The new, modern London Bridge from 1972 looks more functional than architecturally particularly attractive, such as Tower Bridge. The main six-lane road A3 runs over London Bridge.
Southwark Bridge
The cast iron bridge was first completed in 1819. The new building dates from 1921.
Blackfriars Bridge
When the operating company of this bridge, built between 1760 and 1769, charged a user fee, there were violent riots. Eventually the government bought the bridge and made it free to use. Queen Victoria opened today’s bridge in 1869.
Waterloo Bridge
The original “Strand Bridge” was one of the most beautiful bridges in Europe when it opened in 1817. After the necessary renovation could not be financed in 1924, the bridge was demolished in 1936 and the new building was opened in 1944.
Westminster Bridge
The current bridge was built between 1854 and 1862. It consists of seven arches, with a span of 28 meters between the pillars, which was an enormous architectural achievement for the time of its construction.
Albert Bridge
This Victorian building from 1873 is particularly beautiful because it has been preserved practically unchanged.
Hammersmith Bridge
The first suspension bridge in London was opened in 1887, but is still based on the old foundations. Victorian architecture is excellently illustrated in this graceful building.
High Bridge in Lincoln
In Lincoln, the 12th century High Bridge spans the River Witham. It is the only bridge in the country that still has medieval houses on it.
Suspension bridges in Kingston-upon-Hull
Kingston-upon-Hull is home to one of the longest suspension bridges in the world. It is 1410 meters long. It was built between 1972 and 1979 and the cost to build was £ 91 million. The construction of the bridge was controversial because it does not save much of the route and it would have been cheaper to set up a ferry connection. It spans the Humber River and has become a special tourist attraction.
Stockport Viaduct
The Stockport Viaduct, near Manchester, is Europe’s largest brick structure and dates from the heyday of Victorian architecture. The enormous viaduct was built in 1842 by over 600 workers and is 33.85 m high. It was renovated in 1989 and is now part of the railway network.
Bridge of Sighs
The Bridge of Sighs leads over the River Cam in the garden of St. John’s College and is modeled after the Bridge of Sighs in Venice.
Clifton Suspension Bridge
The Clifton Suspension Bridge is considered to be the most beautiful suspension bridge in England. It was built in Clifton near Bristol by Isambard Brunel between 1831 and 1864 and spans 210 meters over the Avon Gorge.
Leeds Castle
Six kilometers from Maidstone on the A20 is this castle, one of the most beautiful in England and visited by half a million tourists every year. It is surrounded by a beautiful landscape and was built on two islands in a small lake. The castle has been the residence of kings for more than 800 years. There are also numerous open-air events throughout the year.
Arundel Castle
The castle at Arundel originally dates from the 11th century. Valuable collections of paintings and furniture by the dukes are located here. The oak vaulted ceiling, the ancestral gallery and the armory are also worth seeing.
St. Michael’s Mount
The old castle on a rocky island in Mount’s Bay is the English counterpart to Mont St. Michel in Brittany. Edward the Confessor had given the chapel on the rocky island to monks from the French order. They built a second monastery based on the French model.
Trerice Manor
Trerice Manor is an imposing castle-like country house southeast of Newquay. For example, the English nobility used to go fox hunting here. Around the house there are many smaller buildings overgrown with ivy in a huge meadow landscape. Inside there are dark furniture and large fireplaces.
Prideaux Place
Prideaux Place is the Elizabethan seat of the wealthy Prideaux family and is surrounded by a large park.
Royal Citadel in Plymouth
The Royal Citadel in Plymouth is still used by the military today, but can still be visited on a guided tour.
Cabot Tower
The Cabot Tower was built in Britol in 1897 in honor of the Italian navigator John Cabot. It is over 30 meters high and offers a wonderful panoramic view of Bristol.
Berkeley Castle
This castle between Bristol and Gloucester dates back to the 12th century, is surrounded by extensive parkland and is one of the most beautiful castles in the region.