Travel doesn't need to stop once your family starts! We've been having an absolute blast introducing our baby to our favourite city in the world, London, and while visiting tourist attractions with a baby certainly brings its own challenges and different things to think about, there is no reason why you can't have a fantastic time exploring and enriching your little one's world.
Last week we took our 7 month old baby to Tower Bridge. Here are some tips we'd love to pass on if you're planning on visiting with young children:
1. Book a timed ticket slot in advance to guarantee entry:
We can't stress this one enough: when you arrive at Tower Bridge there are two queues: one for pre-booked tickets with an allocated time slot and one for general walk ups (NB this also includes the London Pass) - if you arrive around 15 minutes before your allocated time then you won't have to wait for long at all, as a staff member will go along the line checking everyone's tickets and sending the next wave of people in. On very busy days, those with city passes or those wanting to buy a ticket on the day could be waiting a long time for there to be space, or worst case not get in at all. To guarantee your entry, prebook a time online in advance!
2. Can I bring a pushchair?
Absolutely! Tower Bridge is completely accessible for prams, buggies and wheelchairs - there is a lift at the main entrance and another in the South Tower which brings you back down to road level - you can then follow the blue Line of Fame along the bridge and take another lift down to the Southbank in order to visit the Engine Rooms, which is included in your ticket. The Engine Rooms are also completely accessible with no stairs, and both locations have accessible toilets
NB: When we visited in July 2024 the South Tower lift was out of action, so we needed to retrace our steps back across the walkway to the North Tower lift, and then crossed the bridge on foot to link up with the Blue Line of Fame and the Engine Rooms.
For visitors who would enjoy a quieter, calmer experience, on the second Saturday of every month, Tower Bridge hosts morning Relaxed Opening sessions for people with autism and other neurodiverse needs, along with their siblings, families, friends and carers. You can book these slots here.
3. Don't overpack:
We know, somehow the littlest members of the family need the most stuff when you leave the house. However, for everyone's safety and security, Tower Bridge operates bag searches, and large rucksacks, suitcases and wheeled bags aren't allowed in. We downsized Jamie's changing bag into a tote bag of essentials: nappies, mat, wipes and nappy bags, formula and thermos, bib and snacks - much quicker for security to look through! There is no buggy storage facility at Tower Bridge.
You might also find these London blogs useful:
4. Can I feed and change a baby at Tower Bridge?
Yes, visitors are welcome to feed their babies anywhere in the Tower Bridge or Engine Rooms, but if you would like some privacy, staff can direct you to two quiet rooms in the South Tower. Both locations have baby changing facilities.
5. Watch out for tiny fingers and big feet.
Jamie absolutely loved lying on Tower Bridge's famous glass floor - he was mesmerised by the traffic moving down below! Just be aware of other children (and adults) who might get very excited and distracted by their own glass floor experience, you don't want anyone to get stepped on...
6. Visit on a Family Activity day and come back again for free!
Throughout the year, Tower Bridge runs fun, free, themed arts and crafts sessions included in your entry ticket. The activities are open to children of all ages, but are particularly appropriate for those aged six to ten, and what's even more exciting is after participating, you can collect a Family Activities Pass, entitling you to free entry to Tower Bridge on any Family Activities Day in the next six months!
Upcoming Family Activities dates:
Tuesday 30th July - Happy Birthday Tower Bridge: Use ipads and stop frame animation app to create a short film about the day Tower Bridge opened in 1894.
Tue 6th, Sat 10th and Tue 13th August - Flat Caps and Bowler Hats: Handle and try on different headwear related to the workers of Tower Bridge, and make your own prop!
Tue 20th and Tue 27th August - Snapshots in Time: Decorate a Victorian portrait frame and take it with you on your journey round the Bridge and Engine Rooms to capture memories of your visit.
Children will also enjoy following The Tower Bridge Cat Trail - an interactive series of installations featuring characters from the book The Tower Bridge Cat. Learn about the Bridge's history through the eyes of people who worked there, like Hannah the Cook, Poppy the Painter, and Stan the Stoker, collect stamps along the way and become a member of Bella's special Tower Bridge team!
Useful info:
Tower Bridge is open daily from 09:30 - 18:00.
Under 5s are free, older children are £6.70 and adults are £13.40
The closest train station is London Bridge (south of the river), which is also on the Jubilee and Northern tube lines. It's about 7 minutes walk from Tower Bridge. You can also walk from Tower Hill underground station (north of the river) which is on the District and Circle lines.
For cheap eats there are two Wetherspoons very close to Tower Bridge: the Pommeler's Rest, about 200 yards away from the south entrance on Tower Bridge Road, and the Liberty Bounds, 10 minutes away up on Tower Hill. There is also a Sainsburys opposite the Pommeler's Rest where you can buy sandwiches, and both sides of the river have plenty of benches where you can sit and look at Tower Bridge while you eat.
We've also written a complete guide to visiting Tower Bridge, including fun facts, history, what the experience is like and how to time your visit with a bridge lift where you can watch Tower Bridge open for boats! You can read it here: A complete guide to visiting Tower Bridge, London
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