Tower Bridge is the London bridge that combines suspension spans with two movable bascules over the River Thames.
It opened in 1894 beside the Tower of London, giving the bridge its name and distinctive medieval-inspired towers. Its central bascules could be raised to allow tall ships to reach upriver wharves and docks.
Tower Bridge is often confused with London Bridge, which is a separate crossing farther west. Tower Bridge is both a road bridge and a major visitor attraction, with high-level walkways and exhibitions explaining its construction and machinery.
The bridge’s suspension sections support the approaches around the lifting center, while the bascules are counterbalanced so they can be raised efficiently. The bridge remains an active Thames crossing and is one of London’s best-known landmarks.