About Waterloo Bridge
Designed by John Rennie, the new bridge was 27ft wide and 2,346 ft long. The bridge was supported by nine arches faced and decorated by a pair of Doric columns on each pier. Originally known as the Strand Bridge, in 1816 it was renamed Waterloo Bridge and officially opened by the Prince Regent on 18 June 1817, the second anniversary of the Duke of Wellington's famous victory. The bridge original had a toll but was made free in 1878.
Due to removal of the old London Bridge the tidal scour of the Thames had increased and the foundations of Waterloo Bridge had been undermined. Each pier was subsequently reinforced between 1882 - 84. In 1923 serious settlement was found in the three central piers and attempts were made to pump concrete under the sinking piers but the bridge was closed as unsafe.
Although conservationists wanted the bridge restored, it was decided that it should be replaced. Work began in 1937 but the official foundation stone, cut out of a stone from the old bridge, was not laid until 1939. Its completion delayed by World War II, and with few men available, most of the work was carried out by women. Waterloo Bridge was the first to be made with reinforced concrete beams. During its construction the bridge was damaged by enemy action on several occasions - the only Thames crossing to suffer in this way. In 1942 the 'Ladies Bridge' was opened to pedestrians and two lanes of traffic. The completed bridge was finally opened in 1945. At 80 ft wide and 1,250 ft long and 80 ft wide, Waterloo Bridge is the longest bridge in London.
Waterloo Bridge is noted for its superb views over London.
Location of Waterloo Bridge
Map For a tour of the area Covent Garden Nearby Tube/DLR stations Embankment (distance = 389 m bearing 234°)
, Temple (distance = 352 m bearing 38°)
Nearby major Bus Stop Aldwych (distance = 455 m bearing 301°)
, Temple (distance = 280 m bearing 32°)
, Waterloo (distance = 481 m bearing 128°)
Other links to Waterloo Bridge
Restaurants in the area
(distance = 442 m bearing 39°)
, Christopher's (distance = 413 m bearing 307°)
, Rules (distance = 500 m bearing 321°)
, Savoy Grill, The (distance = 325 m bearing 317°)
, Simpson's in the Strand (distance = 316 m bearing 315°)
Local Pubs
Coal Hole (distance = 330 m bearing 316°)
, Gordons (distance = 441 m bearing 236°)
, Lyceum Tavern (distance = 363 m bearing 310°)
, Nell Gwen (distance = 448 m bearing 322°)
, The Tup (distance = 293 m bearing 310°)
, Wellington (distance = 376 m bearing 312°)
Museums/Galleries in the area
(distance = 325 m bearing 302°)
, Courtauld Collection (distance = 325 m bearing 302°)
, Gilbert Collection (distance = 325 m bearing 302°)
, London Transport Museum (distance = 486 m bearing 311°)
Nearby sights
Embankment Place - Charing Cross (distance = 494 m bearing 236°)
, Somerset House (distance = 261 m bearing 302°)
, Southbank Center (distance = 261 m bearing 122°)
, Temple Place 2 (distance = 464 m bearing 42°)
, York Watergate (distance = 390 m bearing 237°)
, Savoy Chapel (distance = 287 m bearing 314°)
, St Mary le Strand (distance = 411 m bearing 31°)
, King's College (distance = 304 m bearing 31°)
, RSA (distance = 411 m bearing 326°)
, 7-7 Memorial (distance = 321 m bearing 237°)
, Bazalgette, Sir Joseph (distance = 394 m bearing 229°)
, Belgiums Gratitude for British Aid in 1914-1918 (distance = 264 m bearing 327°)
, Besant, Sir Walter (distance = 148 m bearing 310°)
, Brunel, Isambard Kingdom (distance = 288 m bearing 34°)
, Burns, Robert (distance = 373 m bearing 237°)
, Imperial Camel Corps Memorial (distance = 354 m bearing 237°)
, Cheylesmore, Baron Herbert Francis Eaton (distance = 281 m bearing 327°)
, Cleopatras Needle (distance = 222 m bearing 237°)
, Faraday, Michael (distance = 224 m bearing 316°)
, Fawcett, Henry Memorial (distance = 300 m bearing 327°)
, Forster, William Edward (distance = 420 m bearing 42°)
, Gilbert, William Schwenck (distance = 355 m bearing 231°)
, Gordon, General Charles George - of Khartoum (distance = 479 m bearing 230°)
, Kings Reach - George V Memorial (distance = 472 m bearing 49°)
, Stuart Mill. John (distance = 421 m bearing 41°)
, Outram, Gereral Sir James (distance = 492 m bearing 230°)
, Raikes, Robert (distance = 285 m bearing 327°)
, Sullivan, Sir Arthur Seymour (distance = 247 m bearing 325°)
, Savoy Theatre Centenary (distance = 270 m bearing 327°)
, Victoria, Queen - her last visit to the City (distance = 468 m bearing 45°)
, Adam Street and John Adam Street (distance = 370 m bearing 326°)
, Bull Inn Court (distance = 449 m bearing 322°)
, Milford Street (distance = 473 m bearing 38°)
, Victoria Embankment Gardens - Temple (distance = 408 m bearing 41°)
, Victoria Embankmant Gardens North (distance = 319 m bearing 237°)
, On the river (distance = 251 m bearing 52°)
, Hungerford Bridge (distance = 336 m bearing 221°)
, Thames - Kings Reach (distance = 481 m bearing 55°)
, Wellington, HQS (distance = 421 m bearing 41°)
Nearby Neighbours (Plaques)
ADAM, Robert (1728-1792) (distance = 380 m bearing 327°)
, ADELPHI TERRACE (distance = 358 m bearing 237°)
, ARKWRIGHT, Sir Richard (1732-1792), (distance = 332 m bearing 326°)
, BARRIE, Sir James (1860-1937), (distance = 380 m bearing 327°)
, BRIDGEMAN, Sir Orlando (1606-1674), (distance = 447 m bearing 38°)
, CROSBY, Brass (1725-1793), (distance = 447 m bearing 38°)
, DE QUINCEY, Thomas (1785-1859), (distance = 393 m bearing 313°)
, DOYLY CARTE, Richard (1844-1901), (distance = 358 m bearing 237°)
, ESSEX STREET (distance = 447 m bearing 38°)
, FIELDING, Henry (1707-1754), (distance = 447 m bearing 38°)
, GALSWORTHY, John (1867-1933), (distance = 380 m bearing 327°)
, HARDY, Thomas (1840-1928), (distance = 358 m bearing 237°)
, HOOD, Thomas (1799-1845) (distance = 380 m bearing 327°)
, JOHNSON, Dr Samuel (distance = 447 m bearing 38°)
, LINDSEY, Rev. Theophilus (1723-1808), (distance = 447 m bearing 38°)
, NOVELLO, Ivor (1893-1951), (distance = 314 m bearing 32°)
, ROWLANDSON, Thomas (1757-1827), (distance = 346 m bearing 237°)
, Savage Club (distance = 358 m bearing 237°)
, SAVAGE, James (1779-1852), (distance = 447 m bearing 38°)
, SHAW, George Bernard (1856-1950), (distance = 358 m bearing 237°)
, STUART, Prince CHARLES EDWARD (distance = 447 m bearing 38°)
, The London School of Economics (distance = 358 m bearing 237°)
, Topham (1739-1780), (distance = 358 m bearing 237°)
Notorious sights in the area
Aldwych - Bomb (distance = 340 m bearing 306°)
, Cleopatras Needle (distance = 222 m bearing 237°)
, Da Vinci Code - Kings College (distance = 363 m bearing 32°)
, Da Vinci Code - Temple Tube Station (distance = 352 m bearing 39°)
, DOyly Carte (distance = 423 m bearing 327°)
, Markov, Georgi - Spys (distance = 453 m bearing 32°)
, Minor, Dr William Chester (distance = 322 m bearing 123°)
, Novello, Ivor (distance = 449 m bearing 301°)
General Links
Local Map
Map of what is in the area - using Google map
