A  selection of images showing Tower Bridge shortly after the three year restoration project. Tower Bridge has stood over the River Thames in London since 1894 and is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the world. It is the bridge of London you tend to see in movies and on advertising literature for London. Tower Bridge is the only bridge on the Thames which can be raised. The Flash... 

A selection of images showing Tower Bridge before the start of the three restoration project. Beginning in March 2008, the scope of the essential works was to strip away the old layers of paint and repaint all the steelwork. The Tower Bridge Exhibition remained open throughout the process but the impressive spectacle of the raising of the immense bascules had to be suspended from November 2010... 

During the night-time road closures, the bascules were raised to expose the defective parts that cannot be reached when the bascules are in the down position. Each bascule weighs over 1,000 tons and can be raised to an angle of 86 degrees. The repainting of Tower Bridge was completed in March 2011. Tower Bridge during the night time road closures in September 2010  Read More →

The polyethylene wraps and scaffolding have now been removed from the bascules as the repainting of Tower Bridge nears completion. The new paintwork, which has a life expectancy of 25 years, is essential to protect the steelwork and preserve the iconic structure for future generations. More than 22,000 litres of paint will eventually be used as the bridge is being repainted in its white and blue colour... 

A short video showing the specialist painting contractors applying a second coat of light blue paint on the west side of the bascule and black paint being applied to the tracery on the bridge balustrade.  Read More →

Specialist painting contractors have nearly finished repainting the bascules and the west balustrade. Later next week, Contractors will start to remove the special polyethylene wraps and dismantle the scaffolding surrounding the bascules. Applying a second coat of light blue paint to the west bascule   Applying black paint to the tracery on the bridge balustrade   The bascules surrounded by polyethylene... 

With the bascules fixed in the lowered position, specialist painting contractors have now removed the old paintwork and applied the white finish coat to the bascules and balustrade. This short video shows the contractors sealing the joints (caulking) and applying dark blue paint to the balustrade.  Read More →

The final stage of repainting Tower Bridge is now well underway. With the bascules fixed in the lowered position, specialist painting contractors have now removed the old paintwork and applied the white finish coat to the bascules and balustrade. Repainting the balustrade (dark blue) Repainting the balustrade on Tower Bridge Caulking (sealing the joints) Specialist painting contractors caulking  Read More →

Specialist painting contractors have now repainted the east balustrade on Tower Bridge as work continues on the bascules and the west balustrade. The new paintwork, which has a life expectancy of 25 years, is essential to protect the steelwork and preserve the iconic structure for future generations.  More than 22,000 litres of paint will eventually be used as the bridge is being repainted in its... 

Specialist painting contractors are now grit blasting the Tower Bridge bascules, the ‘see-saw’ elements of the road which are raised for river vessels to pass through. Polythene wraps have been applied to the scaffolding, which prevents particles of paint or dust escaping into the natural environment. During the grit blasting process the particles are captured with special dust extraction...