Bridges are an ultimate symbol of connection, whether it’s between people or between North and South London. In this list, we go through some of the most breathtaking bridges that reside in South London, from the Battersea Railway Bridge to more well known names like the Millennium Bridge. So, come along and check out the 11 Breathtaking Bridges of South London!
Putney Bridge
We start off our list with Putney Bridge, coming in at 213m long and connecting Putney to Fulham. The birth of this bridge came about after Sir Robert Walpole crossed the river to see George I at Kingston on Thames. After difficulties Walpole encountered when taking the ferry involving a drunk waterman, he vowed to replace the ferry with a bridge: and so Putney Bridge was born! Putney Bridge has also been the starting point for the infamous Boat Race Cambridge and Oxford University Boat Clubs since 1845.
Credit: It's No Game
Southwark Bridge
Southwark Bridge adds a pop of colour to our list, with bright blue and yellow colours that stretch across the River Thames. It’s history dates as far back as 1811, where a bill was passed for the construction of a new bridge and was designed by architect John Rennie. Rennie applied his unique technique of combining stone and cast iron to produce the wide arches that are characteristic to the design of Southwark Bridge. Notable sites on the South side of this bridge include the Clink Prison Museum and the Globe Theatre.
Credit: Enchufla Con Clave
Hungerford Bridge and Golden Jubilee Bridges
Sitting between Waterloo and Westminster Bridge, the Hungerford Bridge shares its foundation piers with two cable-stayed, pedestrian bridges named the Golden Jubilee Bridges. Hungerford Bridge gets its name from the Hungerford Market that was there in 1845, when the bridge opened to the public. The construction of the Golden Jubilee Bridge faced many hurdles, as not only did the Bakerloo line pass only a few feet underneath the river bed, but there was also risks of unexploded WW2 bombs being set off from being so close to construction. After a few adjustments to the plans, the Golden Jubilee Bridges were built and named in honour of Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee.
Credit: ChrisO
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London Bridge
Many different bridges have held the name London Bridge over the years, but today’s London Bridge sits right behind the stunning Southwark Cathedral. Locals may know this bridge for its occurrences in pop culture, including the popular nursery rhyme ‘London Bridge is Falling Down’, in reference to the many times the bridge was destroyed and rebuilt. The current London Bridge was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in March 1973 and has appeared in many films like About a Boy (2002) and literature like T S Eliot’s The Waste Land.
Blackfriars Bridge
Located near Waterloo Bridge, Blackfriars Bridge sits near the Tate Modern and the Oxo Tower. The original bridge took 9 years to build, with the current structure designed by Joseph Cubitt and opened by Queen Victoria in 1869. This bridge is another one famous in popular culture, having appeared in Neil Gaiman’s 1996 novel Neverwhere and also features in the lyrics of the song "The Resurrectionist" by the Pet Shop Boys. The bridge was also featured in the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), when the Order of the Phoenix pass under it on their broomsticks.
Vauxhall Bridge
Vauxhall Bridge is a Grade II listed structure that connects Vauxhall and Pimlico. There have been some enlightening discoveries surrounding the bridge, including a remnant of the earliest known bridge-like structure in London being discovered alongside Vauxhall Bridge in 1993. This remnant is said to date back to 1550 BC! Vauxhall Bridge was also the first to carry tram traffic, most likely pulled by horses at the time. Attached to the bridge’s piers are several statues of allegorical figures, with all eight designed by F W Pomeroy and Alfred Drury. Each of the statues represents agriculture, architecture, engineering, pottery, education, fine arts, science and local government.
Credit: PAUL FARMER / Vauxhall Bridge London / CC BY-SA 2.0
Millennium Bridge
The Millennium Bridge is a steel suspension bridge, initially opening in June 2000, making it one of the younger bridges on our list. Located near Southwark Bridge, this is another popular bridge to appear in movies and literature due to its unique and modern design. Just a few of its appearances include featuring in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, where the bridge collapses from Death Eaters and can also be seen in an ending shot of the very first episode of the Netflix show Black Mirror.
Credit: Ibex73
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Lambeth Bridge
Another colourful addition, Lambeth Bridge has had two lives, having initially opened in 1862 and then reopening in 1932. The 1928 Thames Flood was the catalyst to rebuild the bridge, as the flood caused extensive damage and prompted the bridge to be redesigned to cope with the increased weight of motorised traffic. At road level, you may notice the pairs of obelisks at either end of the bridge, with stone pine cones placed atop them. There is an urban legend that these pine cones are in fact pineapples, in tribute of Lambeth resident John Tradescant the younger, who supposedly grew the first pineapple in Britain!
Peter Trimming / Lambeth Bridge, London / CC BY-SA 2.0
Battersea Railway Bridge
Battersea Railway Bridge connects Battersea with Fulham and is a Grade II listed structure. The bridge was designed by William Baker, who was the chief engineer of the London and North Western Railway and opened in 1863. The bridge has gone through many improvements and extensions since then, having gained its Grade II listed status in 2008.
Grosvenor Bridge
Grosvenor Bridge, originally known as Victoria Railway Bridge, sits near Vauxhall Bridge and was first constructed in 1860. The original bridge was engineered by Sir John Fowler and was the first railway bridge across the Thames in central London. In the 1960s, the bridge went through a complete renewal and modernization, with updates to help lower traffic disruption. Grosvenor Bridge is said to be the busiest railway bridge in the world, with 1000 trains crossing per day in 1968.
Peter Trimming / Grosvenor Bridge, London / CC BY-SA 2.0
Albert Bridge
Albert Bridge connects Battersea and Chelsea and is a hybrid of three different bridge techniques. It’s structure has a cable-stayed bridge by Rowland Mason Ordish who built its original design, then between 1884 and 1887 Sir Joseph Bazalgette incorporated some elements of a suspension bridge, before the Greater London Council added two concrete piers, transforming the central span into a simple beam bridge in 1973. Be sure to check out this bridge at night when it is illuminated by 4000 LEDs!
Credit: Diliff
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