London's Bridges

London has many beautiful and magnificent bridges each of which has its own distinctive history related to it. So, now here we will discuss about some of the bridges of London in detail.

1.Battersea Bridge
Although during the 18th century Battersea and Chelsea were connected only by a regular ferry service, the construction of a wooden bridge between 1771-1772 eventually allowed the pedestrians and wagons to cross the Thames. This bridge was replaced in 1886-1890 with the Battersea Bridge that still stands today.

2.London Bridge
The history of this bridge goes back in time to the era of the roman invasion, from the first decades after Christ, when the capital city of England was named "Londinium". Up until Westminster Bridge was opened in 1750, London Bridge was the city's only crossing over the Thames. This bridge has a rich and wonderfully varied history dating back to Roman times.

3.Waterloo bridge
Opened by the Prince Regent on the second anniversary of the famous battle of Waterloo on 18 June 1817, the original bridge was a highly decorative affair made up of nine arches and featuring Greek style columns. The Waterloo Bridge, a extravagant construction believed to offer one of the most beautiful views of London, was designed by Lord Giles Gilbert Scott.

4.Vauxhall Bridge
Comprising of five steel arches on masonry piers, Vauxhall Bridge features a number of ornamental sculptures by F W Pomeroy and Alfred Drury. Representing industry and agriculture on one side, with Government, the arts and education on the other, the bridge's reliefs are best viewed from Mill bank.

5.Westminster Bridge
First opened in 1750, Westminster Bridge established one of the most important links across the Thames, joining the ever expanding area around Westminster to what is now Waterloo. It remains one of London's busiest foot and road bridges, whilst also serving as a convenient link between the London Eye and Houses of Parliament.

6.Lambeth Bridge
Boasting one of the best upstream views of any London bridge, the new steel-arch bridge links Lambeth Palace to Mill bank and Westminster. Built to replace an earlier design by P W Barlow, Lambeth Bridge features five spans, some pleasing decorative iron-work and obelisks at either end topped by pineapples.

7.Millennium Bridge
Spanning the Thames between the Tate Modern and St Paul's Cathedral, the Millennium Bridge is the first to be built in the city for over 30 years. Undoubtedly a spectacular addition to London's cityscape, Lord Foster envisaged the bridge as being a "blade of light" when lit at night.

8.Blackfriars Bridge
This bridge offers a gorgeous view of the Saint Paul Cathedral and of the old centre of London; on the left of the river as well as on the right, you rediscover the Shakespearian Globe Theatre. This right side displays dozens of monuments, connected with the world of theatre, of the movie, of big shows, and unnumbered large manifestations.

9.Tower Bridge
House Made possible by the tolls and taxes levied by The Bridge Estates Committee on London Bridge, Tower Bridge was completed at a cost of more than £1 million in 1894. Based on a design by Sir Horace Jones, responsibility for its construction actually fell to George Daniel Stevenson following Jones' untimely death in 1887. Made of Scottish steel, Tower Bridge was actually built in sections floated downstream on barges from Woolwich.

10.Albert Bridge
As one of the few suspension bridges in London, the Albert Bridge is also among the most attractive, especially when lit at night. Spanning the river between Chelsea and Battersea, the cantilevered structure was originally designed by Rowland Ordish and built between 1871 and 1873.

11.Southwark Bridge
Originally built following the formation of The Southwark Bridge Company in 1814, John Rennie's much vaunted cast iron crossing featured a huge central span of over 220ft. With granite piers and a simple, yet elegant design it stood until 1912 when Mott & Hay replaced it with a five span steel bridge.

12.Chelsea Bridge
With the original Chelsea Bridge surviving until the early 1930s, Thomas Page's mid-19th century design was replaced by an altogether more modern structure. With a small span of only 350ft, the suspension bridge links Chelsea with Battersea between Ranelagh Gardens and Battersea Park.

These are the famous bridges of London.