London›Guides›Tower Bridge›Skip-the-line guide

How to Skip the Line at Tower Bridge

By the BeatTheCrowd team · Updated 20 October 2026 · 3 min read

Quick answer

Book a timed ticket for the Tower Bridge Exhibition online at towerbridge.org.uk, because on-the-spot queues are often long. Go at the 9:30 am opening or in the late afternoon, and check the official bridge lift times before you go: watching a lift from the glass floor is the highlight, and lifts only happen when ships book them.

At a glance

Exhibition ticket: £18 adults, £9 children 5-15, £13.50 concessions, under-5s free
Book on: towerbridge.org.uk, for a timed slot
Hours: Daily 9:30 am to 6 pm, last entry 5 pm
Best time: Opening time, or the last couple of hours

How long is the line at Tower Bridge?

Tower Bridge itself is free to walk across. The paid part is the Tower Bridge Exhibition: the high-level walkways with their glass floors 42 m above the Thames, and the Victorian engine rooms. Visitors who just turn up often find long queues, especially in summer, so a timed online ticket is the simple fix.

🔑 The free skip-the-line hack

Before you book a slot, check how busy Tower Bridge is likely to be. BeatTheCrowd shows the live crowd level and an hourly forecast for any date, adjusted for school holidays, bank holidays and weather.

Check today’s crowds at Tower Bridge →

Who	Price
Adults	£18 (summer offers sometimes bring it lower)
Children 5-15	£9
Seniors and students	£13.50
Under 5	Free

Who

Price

Adults

£18 (summer offers sometimes bring it lower)

Children 5-15

£9

Seniors and students

£13.50

Under 5

Free

Catch a bridge lift

Tower Bridge still opens for ships about 800 times a year. Each lift takes around 5-8 minutes, and watching from the glass floor as the road splits below you is something else. Ships must book at least 24 hours ahead, so the official lift times page on towerbridge.org.uk is the only reliable schedule. Check it the day before and book your slot to arrive just before a lift.

Best (and worst) times to go

At the 9:30 am opening: the walkways are calm and the light down the river is lovely.

Late afternoon: crowds ease, but last entry is 5 pm, so don't leave it too late.

Worst: late morning to mid-afternoon on weekends and in school holidays.

Season: spring and autumn are a good balance of weather and crowds.

🔑 The free skip-the-line hack

Our hourly forecast for Tower Bridge shows how busy each hour is expected to be, including UK school and bank holidays.

Check today’s crowds at Tower Bridge →

Insider tips that actually save time

Pair your slot with a lift time if you can. It's the most memorable part of the visit.

Photograph the bridge from outside afterwards. You can't get a shot of the bridge from inside it. Potters Fields Park and Butler's Wharf are the best spots.

Do the engine rooms last. They're at the end of the route, south side, and usually quieter.

Look down on the glass floor while it's quiet. At busy times there can be a short wait to stand on the glass.

Practical info

Getting there	Tube to Tower Hill (District and Circle lines), about a 7-minute walk. Or London Bridge station, about 1 km on the south bank.
Hours	Daily 9:30 am to 6 pm, last entry 5 pm. Closed 24-26 December.
How long to allow	About 60-90 minutes.
Accessibility	Lifts in both towers, and the engine rooms are step-free.

FAQs

Is it free to walk across Tower Bridge?

Yes. Only the Tower Bridge Exhibition (the glass-floor walkways and engine rooms) needs a ticket.

How much is the Tower Bridge Exhibition?

£18 for adults, £9 for children aged 5-15 and £13.50 for concessions. Under-5s are free.

How do I see Tower Bridge open?

Check the official lift times on towerbridge.org.uk. Lifts are booked by ships at least 24 hours ahead.

What is the best time to visit Tower Bridge?

At the 9:30 am opening or late afternoon. Check our live crowd tracker for your date.

Sources

How we research: every guide is written by the BeatTheCrowd team from official sources and recent traveller reports, cross-checked against each other, and dated so you know how fresh it is. Last checked 20 October 2026. Prices and rules change, so always confirm on the official site before you book.