Tower Bridge rises to the occasion

London's Tower Bridge was officially opened on 30 June, 1894. The Bridge is a London icon.

In 1884, Sir Horace Jones, an architect, and John Wolfe Barry, an engineer, beat over 50 other entrants in a public competition to design a new bridge downstream from London Bridge. Jones and Barry's design did not restrict access to the then bustling 'Pool of London', the stretch of water between Tower Bridge and London Bridge. The 244 metre long structure was built to provide extra capacity for the ever increasing volume of human traffic and goods, in late nineteenth century London, which crossed the river Thames.

Tower Bridge is easy on the eye, in part, thanks to the attractive granite and Portland stone cladding around the steel framework of the towers. Visitors to Tower Bridge can enjoy great views of London from the Bridge's walkways in the Tower Bridge Exhibition.

Independent travellers in London can hear about some of the interesting incidents that have taken place on or above Tower Bridge with one of two audio downloadable walking tours. The Ride & Stride iPod travel guide begins near Trafalgar Square and takes listeners on journey along the South Bank via St Paul's Cathedral, the Millennium Bridge, the Tate Modern, Globe Theatre, London Bridge, HMS Belfast, City Hall, before returning to the North Bank of the Thames via Tower Bridge. The Ride & Stride, London city guide concludes outside the Tower of London. To hear an audio sample from the Ride & Stride mp3 guided tour please click here.

Legend has it that Robert McCulloch, the man who bought the old London Bridge in 1968, dismantled it and then transported it to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, believed he was actually purchasing Tower Bridge. Both McCulloch and the man selling London Bridge, Ivan Luckin, denied this claim.

The Ride & Stride podcast guided tour can be completed in two hours, but visitors are free to spend as little or as long as they wish to explore the sights. The City & South Bank Circular, London visitor guide also takes in Tower Bridge. This podcast travel guide will take a minimum of three hours to complete.

All five of the London Walk Talk Tours are available in English, French, German and Spanish. Each tour is divided into commentary points. Listeners receive instructions telling them how to reach their next commentary point. Listeners are then asked to press pause and then press play once they have reached their next commentary point. Each Walk Talk Tour downloadable travel guide comes complete with a map of the route - for you to print off - so you won't miss a thing!

With a Walk Talk Tour you're in charge. No need to struggle to follow - let alone hear - the man with the umbrella, or feel conspicuous with a guidebook in your hands. Each Walk Talk Tour of London costs just £5.95. Walk Talk Tours represent excellent value for people travelling in groups and parties.