Tower Bridge in a vintage shot from 1900
It’s 120 years since one of London’s most iconic sights first opened for traffic. Yep, it’s happy birthday Tower Bridge! That makes it the perfect time to enjoy a free exhibition celebrating London’s most recognizable bridge at the London Guildhall Art Gallery, open from now until April 26th.
The exhibition shows Tower Bridge as muse to painters, draughtsman, printmakers and photographers as well as capturing the everyday activities of this well-known location. See, for example, the Bridge during wartime London through Charles Pear’s depiction or Frank Brangwyn’s more modernist take on this working river. A fascinating and left-field way of seeing London!
The Tower Bridge we know and love today
Afterwards, why not take a 20 minute walk to the Bridge itself to enjoy the views and appreciate its history up close? Visit the Tower Bridge Exhibition to see the original Victorian steam engines used to raise the bridge, enjoy the interactive exhibits and take a stroll across the walkways high above for outstanding panoramic views of London.
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Megan Donnelly is a writer and former Londoner, currently residing at London-by-Sea, or Brighton as it’s otherwise known. You can read more about her travels at:
www.postcardstomysister.wordpress.com.
(Image Credits: Tower Bridge 1900 by United States Library of Congress, Tower Bridge 2008 by Kalaha)
