Tower Bridge Property Guide
Tower Bridge is one of London’s most recognisable landmarks and connects the East End Borough of Tower Hamlets with the south-east Borough of Southwark.
It was opened in 1894 and is Victorian architecture at its finest, acquiring Grade I listed status from English Heritage in recognition of its architectural quality and international fame.
Its nearest tube stations are Tower Hill (on the Circle and District lines) and London Bridge (on the Jubilee and Northern lines) with London Bridge rail services and Tower Gateway, on the DLR, also close by.
The surrounding area is one of the oldest and most interesting in London. This is the London of Dickens, and it is rich in history. With London Bridge a short walk away, getting in and out of the city is easy, and property in the area is at a premium.
Besides Tower Bridge, there are many other attractions nearby including the Tower of London, Borough Market, The Shard and the London Dungeon. And with excellent transport links, the rest of the London is easily accessible.
Tower Bridge
The majority of the properties in Tower Bridge are flats and apartments, many situated in the popular Shad Thames with its trendy warehouses, cobbled streets and plentiful character and history. These apartments are fitted to an extremely high standard with original features such as brickwork and beams. The tall industrial buildings are truly eye-catching with their high walkways criss-crossing from one building to the next. These are ideally situated for professionals who enjoy the close proximity to the City and Canary Wharf yet yearn for a spacious outlook which the balcony view overlooking the Thames certainly provides.
Additionally, the complexes come with welcome perks such as an intercom system with secure video entry, mail boxes located in the front lobby of the building, a weekly maid service, welcome desk, fax machines, extra phone lines, an office desk and wireless broadband.
Much of the local area has been very successfully regenerated over recent years with Elephant and Castle currently in the midst of a multi-million-pound makeover. At present, Elephant and Castle is one of the most affordable areas within Zone 1 of the London Underground, while homes on the Old Kent Road are very reasonably priced and consist of one or two bed flats and some terraced and semi-detached properties.
The nearby Bermondsey offers more homes with period features, such as the Dickensian warehouses of The Jam Factory and Butler’s Wharf. Another major development is Bermondsey Spa, between Spa Road and Jamaica Road, which will ultimately see the construction of more than 2,000 new homes. This is a joint venture between Southwark Council and the Hyde Group and will create two new health centres, an NHS dental practice, pharmacy, youth and play facilities, re-landscaped open space, shops and new council offices.
To find out more about what this area has to offer, plus the wide range of property available in Tower Bridge, please contact our Shad Thames estate agent office on 020 7407 1066.
Property for sale in Tower Bridge
Property for rent in Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is a magnet for professionals who want to live in desirable properties close to Central London. Many of the warehouse conversions feature original brickwork and wooden beams and offer spacious apartments to buy or rent. For example, Gainsford Street, Lafone Street, and Queen Elizabeth Street have a stunning mix of old and new residential buildings. Former industrial buildings converted into luxury flats sit alongside new-build apartment blocks with personal balconies.
Further away from the extensive redevelopment of the industrial buildings along the Thames are small estates dominated by four and five-storey blocks of maisonettes. The area between the railway lines and Jamaica road mid-century flats in quiet cul-de-sacs. Many streets have some green spaces and private parking — something relatively rare in this London neighbourhood.
The Tower Bridge neighbourhood has few homes and townhouses suited to families. Most properties are flats, apartments, and blocks of maisonettes. Further from the Thames between Tower Bridge Road and Bermondsey are small pockets of Edwardian Terraces on Grange Walk and near Abbey Street.
In 2021, the average property in Tower Bridge was approximately £860,000 — significantly more than the London average of £620,000. However, house prices depend on the area, with luxury apartments closer to the Thames fetching a premium. Prices tend to drop the further they are located from the river or public transport.
New-Build Properties in Tower Bridge
In Tower Bridge new apartment blocks have been built beside former warehouses, giving the neighbourhood a unique appeal.
One of the most notable new builds is Butler’s Wharf on the Thames. Here residents have fantastic views of Tower Bridge and are a short walk from the City of London.
On the other side of Tower Bridge is one of the most luxurious apartment blocks in the area — One Tower Bridge. The residential development sits on the banks of the Thames with fantastic views over the City of London and Tower Bridge. Apartments at One Tower Bridge feature private gardens, a gym, a swimming pool, and a 24-hour concierge service. Here you will find a range of apartments from studios to sprawling three-bedroom suites.
Properties to Rent in Tower Bridge
Due to its proximity to the Capital’s financial districts of the City of London and Canary Wharf, Tower Bridge is popular for renters. Most rental accommodation is in flats, which suit professionals and City workers. The average rent for a one or two-bedroom apartment in Tower Bridge is around £620 per week.
The cheapest rented flats are in social housing estates closer to Bermondsey and Southwark, where it is possible to find flats for under £400 per week. However, on the other end of the scale, a riverside warehouse conversion could cost between £800 and £1,000 per week.
The attraction of renting an apartment in Tower Bridge is saving money and time on the commute. Many City workers can walk to work or take a short Tube ride to Canary Wharf.
Tower Bridge Schools
Primary schools in the Tower Bridge area include Snowsfields Primary School, Tower Bridge Primary School, Hermitage Primary School, Beormund Primary School, St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School and Grange Primary School.
Secondary schools include ARK Globe Academy, St Michael's Catholic College, Bacon's College, Harris Academy Bermondsey, Spa School, Walworth Academy and Wapping High School.
Tower Bridge Regeneration Information
The main regeneration project in the Tower Bridge area is the London Bridge Station project. This has been going on for a number of years, and it will be finished in 2018. The Thameslink Programme is providing more trains and better direct journeys as well as improving the track layout.
The News Building is another recent development. It involved creating 600,000 square feet of office space, and it opened in 2014.
Tower Bridge Piazza is another planned development that will see the historic piazza to be turned into a restaurant hub.
The New Southwark Plan is a smaller development plan that includes plans for Tower Bridge Road as well as the development of Bermondsey Street, with plans to reduce congestion.
Overall, the area is constantly undergoing largescale renovation to continue transforming one of the oldest areas of the city into a modern and thriving area.
History of Tower Bridge
The first crossing for the Thames was actually London Bridge, however as the city grew more bridges were needed but only to the west initially. As the east of London became more populated, in 1876 it was deemed that a further bridge was required.
The City of London Corporation, responsible for that part of the Thames, formed a "Special Bridge or Subway Committee" in order to come up with the right design and in 1884, Horace Jones, the City Architect, came up with it. Eight years and five contractors later, Tower Bridge was finished and represented the largest and most sophisticated bascule bridge ever completed.
In 1910, due to a lack of use the high level walkways, designed to allow pedestrians to still cross the bridge when the crossing was raised, were closed. It wasn’t until 1982 that the walkways re-opened as part of the new Tower Bridge Exhibition.
Transport Information
Tower Bridge is very well connected, with Underground and Overground stations as well as numerous bus routes.
Underground:
Tower Bridge has two main train stations:
- Tower Hill
- Tower Gateway
- London Bridge
Overground:
There are four stations in the Surrey Quays area:
- London Bridge
- Fenchurch Street
Bus:
There are many bus routes operating in the Tower Bridge area:
The following bus routes operate from London Bridge Station: 17, 21, 35, 40, 43, 47, 48, 133, 141, 149, 344, N21, N133, N199, RV1
Six bus routes operate from Fenchurch Street Station: 35, 40, 47, 48, 149, 344
Things To Do in Tower Bridge
The Tower Bridge area, between the popular London Bridge and Aldgate areas, offers easy access to the City, Canary Wharf and other parts of the capital.
The main attraction here is Tower Bridge itself, a Victorian bridge that was built in the late 19th century and has become an iconic structure of London. You can head right up to the top of the bridge to walk across it, and as well as enjoying the fascinating exhibition you will be able to see stunning views from the top.
The lively Bermondsey Street is close by with its many bars and restaurants, as is the South Bank with a range of restaurants and attractions including the Tate Modern, Shakespeare's Globe theatre, the London Eye, and the British Film Institute IMAX.
Just across the river you can also visit the Tower of London, which is one of the best attractions in the city. Go on a tour with a beefeater, see the famous ravens, marvel at the Crown Jewels, and find out all about the fascinating history of the tower.
Nearer to London Bridge are the Fabric and Textiles Museum, the Design Museum, British War Museum, Borough Market and the London Dungeon.
Properties in Tower Bridge
