Tower Bridge, London

The Tower Bridge. Now while there’s no cost to cross the bridge I would highly recommend purchasing tickets to go across up top. It’s well worth the steps. If you need to take a lift one is available but seeing the staircases, and all the factual, historical information they give you on the way up makes it all the more worth it. We bought tickets for 13.30 and arrived a bit early, and the staff didn’t mind us getting in the queue. It was a bit long but moved very quickly, again you could take the lift or the stairs we chose the stairs (we were told there’s somewhere around 260 of them). As you walk up the stairs there are posts and placards that tell you all sorts of facts regarding the material that went into the bridge and other fascinating details. The wood creaking stairs only adds to the experience. Once at the top there’s a spot to rest even before going to the upper bridges. You may think the entire upper bridge is “glass bottom” it isn’t, but each side does have a small section where if not to crowded you can even lie down and take a photo. You’ll walk all the way across one, down the other and turn around where then you can decide you next move. Once down the stairs they send you off to the Engine Room which is also included and the gift shop. This alone has been such a worth while part of our visit, I would highly recommend it.

Never crowded, and worth taking the time to fully absorb the pleasure of going up the steps (a modern lift is also available) and peering out through the windows at the ever smaller people, buses, and boats passing beneath. Then one reaches the top... You can see so much of town from there, and even get a sticker if you successfully traverse the glass floor! For the children, and some adults, there's a booklet one can stamp as one explores the structure. Once you return back to the deck, you can then follow the line to the south bank, and have a look at the old workings, and of course, the compulsory shop. Definitely a part of a great day out.