The iconic Millennium Bridge is a steel-suspension, pedestrian-only, footbridge. It was inaugurated on 10th June 2000, by Her Majesty the Queen. It is the first bridge spanning the River Thames in Central London since Tower Bridge was completed in 1894. Its official title is London Millennium Footbridge.
It connects St. Paul’s Cathedral on its north bank to the Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe in Southwark, on the south bank. The bridge stretches for 325 metres, has two piers and is maintained by Bridge House Estates, City of London Corporation. It is considered one of the most elegant and attractive bridges in the UK. Since its inception, tourists and locals alike have been mesmerised by its beauty and sleek structure. A stroll over the bridge will also give you some spectacular views of several notable London landmarks (see below). Our favourite time to walk across the Millennium Bridge is at dusk on a crisp November evening. That may be a little too specific for some, but any other time of the year will be as good!
Where is the Millennium Bridge?
Many people are confused about the actual location and wonder where the Millennium Bridge is. Located in between Blackfriars Bridge and Southwark Bridge, the southern end lies to the west of the famous Globe Theatre, to the east of the Bankside Gallery and right in front of it stands the Tate Modern. The City of London School, the Royal College of Arms and, of course, the imposing St. Paul’s Cathedral is at the northern end of the bridge.
What is the history of the Millennium Bridge?
The late 1990s saw a boom in bridge-building projects. The Millennium Bridge was one of the several bridge-building projects at the time. Other millennium bridges built during this time include Lancaster, York, Gateshead, Glasgow, Stockton-on-Tees, and Salford.
A competition organised in 1996 by Southwark Council, in collaboration with the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Financial Times, led to the birth of the Millennium Bridge project. The ‘blade of light’ design was engineered by Arup and designed by Foster and Partners. The concept of this bridge as envisioned by Sir Anthony Caro, the eminent sculptor, and Sir Norman Foster, the notable British architect. Together, they won the call to design a new footbridge across the Thames.
Usually, constructing bridges across the Thames requires an Act of Parliament. Instead of a Parliamentary Act, the Port of London Authority obtained construction permission from the London Borough of Southwark and the City of London. A license was then issued permitting the building of the structure.
Construction started in the latter half of 1998 while the principal works began on 28th April 1999 under the supervision of Sir Robert McAlpine and Monberg and Thorsen. The total cost for constructing this bridge was around £18.2 million. The entire cost for construction came from the London Bridge Trust and the Millennium Commission.
The bridge has three separate sections and has a total length of around 370 metres. The aluminium deck is 4 metres wide, and the handrail is made from bead-blasted stainless steel. A lateral suspension design was used to avoid constructing tall, supportive columns, giving the bridge its distinctive sleek and graceful appearance.
The bridge was inaugurated by Her Majesty the Queen on 10th June 2000 which was two months later than initially planned.
Why was it built?
The Millennium Bridge was constructed to commemorate the new millennium and was part of the UK’s millennium celebrations. The unique ‘blade of light’ design is said to “reflect the myriad possibilities and endless capabilities of the human race at the dawn of the 21st century”. Yes, we are not sure what that means either!
How to find it?
Address: Thames Embankment, London, SE1 9JE
Bus: If you are taking a bus, then there are plenty of routes that stop near the Millennium Bridge but, of course, none that stop directly on it. All of the following routes are within a short walk: 4, 8, 11, 15, 17, 25, 26, 76 and 521.
Rail: If you are travelling by rail, then Blackfriars, London Bridge, London Waterloo, London Waterloo East and City Thameslink are the closest mainline stations. Blackfriars and London Bridge are the nearest stations, with both being an easy 10-minute walk away.
Road: You can drive if you want to but, as always, we would not recommend it. London’s streets are congested, parking is sparse and expensive, and you will have to pay the Congestion Charge at certain times. If you do decide to drive, then Bell Wharf Lane is the nearest car park. It will take you about five minutes to walk to the Millennium Bridge from there. Please note, you may need to prebook parking if you plan to visit on a busy day.
Underground: The Millennium Bridge is surrounded by multiple tube stations, all no more than a 12-minute walk away. Blackfriars, Mansion House, London Bridge, St Paul’s, and Southwark are all within walking distance.
Why is it known as the Wobbly Bridge?
On the day of its opening, an unfortunate design flaw came to light. An estimated 80,000 – 100,000 people crossed the bridge on that first day. The expected number of pedestrians was 5,000 per day! Despite its structural design and architectural brilliance, the bridge experienced sideways movement and developed a severe wobble. Elderly walkers held on to the bridge railings while other visitors complained of feeling seasick. The bridge was subject to something called Synchronous Lateral Excitation when its thousands of visitors shuffled across it.
It was quickly closed two days later following these unexpected lateral and vertical movements. The bridge remained closed for two years during which it underwent various modifications and repairs to prevent the swaying motion and keep it stable. The modification and repair work started in May 2001 and continued until January 2002.
To fix the alarming movement, engineers installed two kinds of damper – viscous dampers and tuned mass dampers. Viscous dampers act as shock absorbers and regulate the swaying motions. The tuned mass dampers, tuned to a particular frequency, decrease the vertical movement. Both the dampers are beneath the aluminium deck. It cost an additional £5 million to modify the bridge. After numerous testing, it reopened to the public on 27th February 2002.
Despite this rather inauspicious start, it has attracted many visitors from all over the world. Although the bridge is now completely stable, it is still known as the “Wobbly Bridge.”
What are some about the interesting facts about the Millennium Bridge?
The Millennium Bridge attracts visitors from all over the world. Here are some interesting facts about the bridge:
- Before construction, architectural excavations took place on both sides of the river. Because it is an ancient city, excavations always take place on construction sites in London. The dig unearthed several structures from the Middle Ages.
- The bridge can support up to five thousand people walking across it at the same time.
- The bridge was temporarily closed in 2007 because of Storm Kyrill. The authorities were concerned that pedestrians would get blown from the bridge due to high winds.
- The Millennium Bridge has already featured in several Hollywood blockbusters. Films include 28 Weeks Later, Guardians of the Galaxy, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and What a Girl Wants.
- There are over 400 miniature artworks on the bridge. Created by artist Ben Wilson, aka The Chewing Gum Man, these works use a unique canvas – chewing gum dropped by other people.
- It is not the first London bridge to get the wobbles. Albert Bridge in Chelsea still has a sign on it stating: all troops must break step when marching across this bridge.
Are there any other attractions near the Millennium Bridge?
The Millennium Bridge is surrounded by some of London’s most famous attractions. The iconic St Paul’s Cathedral looms over the northern end of the bridge. This great church is stunning to look at from the outside but is almost unbelievably beautiful inside (fees apply). Right outside St Paul’s is the City of London Information Centre. If you are seeking help or guidance, then this is the place to come.
On the southern bank is one of the world’s premier modern art galleries, the Tate Modern. Entry is free, and visiting is highly recommended. Right next to the Tate Modern is the reconstruction of Shakespeare’s Globe. Opened in 1997, it was built as an academic approximation of the original. Watching a play here feels like you are stepping back four hundred years into an Elizabethan playhouse.
As the bridge is a public walkaway, it is always open, except when under maintenance and during inclement weather conditions. You can take a stroll across the bridge and catch a glimpse of the orangish London skyline during sunrise and sunset. Or wander across at night and see the beautiful lights of London all around you. If you visit during the day then obviously expect it to be a lot busier, but the views will be just as spectacular.
You may think that the Millennium Bridge is just a bridge. The reality is, it is so much more than that. It is an architectural and structural masterpiece and is now considered an iconic piece of London design. Surrounded by world-famous attractions, it has the ancient City of London on its northern bank, although the views from the bridge are worthy of a visit on in their own right!