Blackfriars Railway Bridge

Blackfriars Railway Bridge is a steel railway bridge crossing the River Thames with five distinctive arches painted in blue and red. The structure connects the City of London directly to Southwark and carries multiple train lines serving the area.

The bridge opened in 1886, designed by engineers John Wolfe Barry and Henry Marc Brunel to replace an earlier structure. This new construction marked an important moment in Thames crossing development during the Victorian era.

The bridge forms part of London's transportation heritage, marking the evolution from Victorian engineering to modern railway infrastructure across the River Thames.

The bridge connects directly to Blackfriars Station and serves daily commuter traffic through central London. Pedestrians can cross on the dedicated walkways, offering views of the Thames and the surrounding cityscape.

Solar panels are mounted on the roof structure of the bridge, generating electricity to power Blackfriars Station. This makes it one of the few Victorian-era structures in London that combines historic engineering with modern renewable energy technology.

Location: City of London

Location: London Borough of Southwark

Architects: John Wolfe-Barry, Henry Marc Brunel

Official opening: 1886

Length: 284 m

Made from material: steel

GPS coordinates: 51.50972,-0.10333

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:27