 Millennium Bridge, London
Millennium Bridge, London
Author: Schlaier (public domain)
The Millennium Bridge, or in full the London Millennium Footbridge, is a pedestrian-only steel suspension bridge crossing the River Thames in London. It links Bankside with the City of London. The Millennium Bridge is located between Southwark Bridge (downstream) and Blackfriars Bridge (upstream). As one crosses the bridge, one can see St Paul's Cathedral up ahead in the City of London while Tate Modern is at Bankside.
The Millennium Bridge was started in 1998 and was the first new bridge across the Thames in London since Tower Bridge was completed in 1894. It was designed by famous British architect Lord Norman Foster and engineer Ove Arup. As soon as it was completed, it earned the dubious nickname of Wobbly bridge, because pedestrians experience the unexpected swaying motion when they tried the bridge on the first two days that it opened. As a result, the bridge was closed and modified. Now the engineers have eliminated the "wobble" entirely.
On the south bank of the Millennium Bridge are a few tourist attractions such as Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the Bankside Gallery and Tate Modern, while a short distance from the north end is St Paul's Cathedral. The bridge is designed to align with the south façade of St Paul's (see picture above).
Getting there
Nearest Tube stations: Blackfriars Tube Station, St Paul's Tube Station and Southwark Tube Station
Buses: Nos 11, 15, 17, 344 and RV1
Boats: Blackfriars Millennium Pier and Bankside Pier
What to see
The Millennium Bridge offers a panoramic view of London. On the north side is the City of London with St Paul's Cathedral while on the south side is Bankside with Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Bankside Gallery and Tate Modern. The Thames itself offers an ever-changing waterscape of ferry boats.
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