The Thames Tunnel, opened in 1843, later became part of the London Underground’s East London line.
Built beneath the River Thames between Rotherhithe and Wapping, it was the first tunnel constructed successfully beneath a navigable river. Marc Isambard Brunel and his son Isambard Kingdom Brunel developed the tunnelling shield used for the difficult project.
The tunnel originally opened as a pedestrian attraction and was later adapted for railway use. In 1865, the East London Railway began using it, and the route eventually became part of the Underground network.
The Thames Tunnel is not the same as the later Rotherhithe Tunnel, which carries road traffic. Its original brick-lined structure remains a landmark in the history of civil engineering and London transport.