The site’s location has actually been home to other bridges over London’s history. The first bridge (1817-1930), was originally called the ‘Strand Bridge’. Homage was paid to the bridge by poet Thomas Hood in 1844, where he titled the bridge ‘The Bridge of Sighs’, referencing the suicide of a prostitute here. Famous artists, from Claude Monet to John Constable, painted the bridge.
DIRECTORY
Waterloo Bridge
Waterloo Bridge can be found in London, crossing the River Thames, between Blackfriars Bridge and Hungerford Bridge. Its name is taken from the Battle of Waterloo, where British, Dutch, and Prussian troops defeated Napoleon’s army. The bridge has both a road, and a foot traffic section, allowing for pedestrians to have some of the best views of London from ground level. Westminster, the South Bank, Canary Wharf, and the London Eye are all visible from here, but be sure to arrive early–the location attracts a lot of tourists. Not to say there isn’t a lot of space; the bridge’s length runs for 370 metres (1200 feet).
The second bridge (1942-current) holds the record for being the only Thames bridge successfully damaged by German bombers. Maybe having the grand opening during wartime wasn’t the best idea.
Having been a staple of London for so long, it's no surprise that the bridge has had its fair share of incidents. One such incident occurred on 7th September 1978, where Bulgarian dissident, Georgi Markov, was assassinated by Bulgarian secret police, possibly assisted by the Soviet’s KGB. The methods of the act were as though pulled straight from a James Bond film. A pellet containing ricin (a deadly poison extracted from beans) was fired into Georgi via an umbrella. You heard that right, an umbrella. Maybe Q should take some notes.
Address: Waterloo Bridge, London WC2R 2PP
Travel (North side):
Tube to Temple (5 min walk), Embankment (7 min walk), Charing Cross (8 min walk).
Bus nearby at Lancaster Place, Lancaster Place Somerset House, Savoy Street.
Train to Charing Cross (14 min walk).
River Boat: Embankement Pier (7 min walk).
Travel (South side):
Tube to Waterloo (6 min walk), Southwark (10 min walk).
Bus nearby at Waterloo Bridge / South Bank, Southampton Street / Covent Garden.
Train to Waterloo (7 min walk), Waterloo East (8 min walk).
River Boat: London Eye Waterloo Pier, (8 min walk).
Nearby
Hayward Gallery (2 min walk - south side) Contemporary art gallery showcasing groundbreaking exhibitions by international artists, housed in a striking South Bank brutalist building.
National Theatre (2 min walk - south side) A world-renowned performing arts venue, presenting groundbreaking plays, musicals, and opera productions in its iconic South Bank building.
The Courtauld Gallery (4 min walk - north side) A world-class art museum housing an impressive collection of European masterpieces from the 13th to the 19th centuries.
