London Bridge, bridge across the Thames in London (1209-1831)
London Bridge is a crossing in London, England, that spans the Thames and links the City of London with Southwark. The current concrete and steel structure opened in 1973, has five arches and is roughly 32 meters (105 feet) wide.
The Romans built the first timber crossing around AD 50, which was damaged by fires and storms and rebuilt several times. In 1209 the first stone version appeared and lasted around 600 years before being replaced by a wider structure in 1831.
The name comes from Roman times when a timber crossing linked Londinium with the south bank. Previous versions supported houses, shops and a chapel where traders worked and people lived, turning the crossing into a crowded street above the water.
The crossing sits between Tower Bridge to the east and Southwark Bridge to the west, reachable on foot or by car. Nearby you can explore Borough Market and the Tower of London, both worth visiting.
The stone version from 1831 was sold to an American businessman in the 1960s and shipped stone by stone to Arizona. Today it stands as a tourist attraction in Lake Havasu City, surprising many visitors.
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