If you visit London you're sure to be stunned by the incredible age of its historic buildings and monuments, and with so much history there is always something new to learn. One should not forget to learn about the city's many bridges which span the river Thames, as each has a life story of its own, and can say a lot about the development of London through the ages.
The oldest and historically significant bridge in London is, of course, London Bridge. Until 1729 it was the only bridge on the Thames, although the one that stands there now is not the original. A bridge has been here since 50AD, and the most incredible one is surely the Medieval London Bridge, which had high buildings running along each side, took 33 years to complete, and opened in 1209. The crowding of the bridge meant traffic was slow and there was risk of fire on a regular basis. However, it stood for 500 years before being demolished. In 1831 a whole new bridge was built to replace it, but this bridge started to sink into the river, so was sold to an American entrepreneur, who had it reinstalled in Arizona. London Bridge, as we know it now, opened in 1973 and every day commuters and tourists alike cross from London Bridge station into the City of London on the northern side to reach their offices, or central London hotels.
The most recent of London's bridges it the pedestrianised Millennium Bridge, which connects St Paul's Cathedral to the Tate Modern museum. This modern suspension bridge was built to mark the event of the new millennium, and the design provides an unbeatable perspective of St Paul's. The Millennium Bridge opened in June 2000, however it was not without its problems. The bridge wobbled when first used, and so it was closed for well over a year so it could be fixed. Re-opening in 2002, the Millennium Bridge can now support up to 5000 people at one time. It is a hugely popular pedestrian bridge and a well-recognised landmark in London. Should you be staying at any of the London hotels in the area you'll find it's the most convenient way to cross to the other side of the Thames.
Visitors to London will immediately recognise the famous Tower Bridge with its grand towers connected by a pair of 44m-long walkways, and its gold and blue detail. This bridge, which opened in 1894, took 8 years to build, with a well-planned design, and opens 1000 times a year to let tall ships pass through. These days more than 40,000 people cross the bridge each day by various means, and the walkways and towers now house an exhibition on the history and construction of this incredible bridge.
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