London's Iconic Landmarks: Tower, Tate, St Paul's, and the Globe

Tower Bridge and the Historic Tower of London

Tower Bridge: Victorian Engineering Marvel

Tower Bridge, built in 1894, must be raised to enable tall ships to pass underneath. Until 1976, this operation was performed by steam-driven Victorian hydraulic machines. It is often mistakenly thought to be London Bridge by tourists.

Visitors can travel to the top of Tower Bridge and also see the historic Victorian Engine Room.

The Tower of London: A Millennium of History

The Tower of London (located across the river) is one of the most popular tourist attractions in London and one of the greatest examples of Norman architecture anywhere in the world.

It was begun by William I around 1066 and built deliberately just outside the city boundary to warn potential troublemakers. It was then extended by a number of monarchs until Edward I. Throughout its history, the Tower has served multiple roles, including:

• A royal palace
• A prison
• A menagerie
• A place of execution
• A stronghold for the Crown Jewels

The Tower is protected by forty Yeoman Warders (Beefeaters) and eight flightless ravens, whose departure, legend claims, would indicate the downfall of England. The Beefeaters live on site, and their dogs and cats are buried in a pet cemetery within the moat of the Tower.

Tate Modern and the Millennium Bridge

Tate Modern: Art in a Former Power Station

The Tate Modern opened in May 2000 in the old Bankside Power Station, which was built in 1963 and generated power until 1981. Gas and electricity had been generated on or near the site for over a century—it provided the first public supply of electricity for the City of London.

It's the UK's largest museum of modern art, and its permanent collection includes works by masters such as Picasso, Warhol, and Dali.

Millennium Bridge

The Millennium Bridge, which crosses the River Thames directly in front of Tate Modern, was the first new footbridge to be built across the Thames for over 100 years.

St Paul's Cathedral: Wren's Masterpiece

St Paul's Cathedral was founded in 604. However, the present building, the fifth on the site, dates from 1675. It is the second largest cathedral in the world, after St Peter's in Rome.

Construction did not start until 10 years after the Great Fire, which destroyed the previous structure.

The cathedral is the most famous work by London's greatest architect, Sir Christopher Wren (who is buried there).

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre: A Historical Reconstruction

The New Globe Theatre

The New Globe Theatre was opened to the public in 1997. It has been rebuilt as close as possible to the original theatre's design, from the thatched roof to the wooden bench seating.

History of the Original Globe

The original Globe was built not far from this location in 1598. Shakespeare and his fellow actors brought it over from the other side of the Thames (Shoreditch) in pieces and reassembled it on Bankside because land rent was cheaper.

Many of Shakespeare's plays were performed in the original theatre on Bankside, including famous tragedies like Hamlet and Macbeth.

In 1613, during a performance of Henry VIII, the theatre's thatch caught fire during the firing of a real cannon. It was rebuilt the following year. In 1640, it was finally closed down and demolished by the Puritans.