Tower Bridge schedules a lift for 24 October at 11.30pm

Tower Bridge has scheduled a bridge lift for 24 October 2026 in London, when the motor vessel Dutch Master is due to pass upriver at 23.30. The bridge, which opened in 1894, remains a working Thames crossing as well as a visitor attraction.

Tower Bridge bridge lift is scheduled for 24 October

The official lift timetable lists Dutch Master as a motor vessel travelling upriver through Tower Bridge on Saturday 24 October 2026 at 23.30. The operator also lists another lift involving the same vessel on 31 October, while further scheduled movements are recorded for November.

The timetable says Tower Bridge lifts around 500 times a year and notes that additional lifts can be scheduled at short notice because of planned maintenance. The 24 October movement is therefore a specific opportunity to see the bridge perform its central operational function, rather than a separate exhibition or festival. The official bridge-lift timetable gives the date, time, vessel and direction together.

How the 1894 bridge connects engineering and access

Tower Bridge opened in 1894 and was designed to let tall vessels pass along the Thames. Its lifting sections are supported by machinery and counterweights housed in the bascule chambers, which the operator describes as an operational area beneath the bridge.

That relationship is especially clear on 24 October: Dutch Master is listed as travelling upriver, while the bascule chambers provide the working space for the counterweights that enable the roadway to rise. The visitor experience also includes the high-level walkways, glass floors and Victorian Engine Rooms, linking the public attraction with the bridge’s engineering history.

The published lift schedule for London records the same 24 October movement and places it within a wider list of announced bridge openings. As with any operational lift, the timing can be affected by safety or operational requirements.

Visiting Tower Bridge: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The scheduled bridge lift takes place on 24 October 2026 at 23.30, with the motor vessel Dutch Master travelling upriver through Tower Bridge.
• The listed lift is a river movement, not a closure of the visitor attraction. The bridge’s high-level walkways and Victorian Engine Rooms are separate parts of the visitor experience.
• Tower Bridge stands over the River Thames between the City of London and Southwark. Tower Hill Underground station is served by the District and Circle lines, while London Bridge station is served by the Northern and Jubilee lines.
• The entrance is on the northwest side of the bridge, with the ticket office on the west side of the North Tower. Visitors walking through the towers should expect stairs, although lifts are available.
• Riverboats stop at Tower Pier to the north and London Bridge City Pier on the southern side of the Thames.

Searching for Tower Bridge on social platforms

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Frequently asked questions about Tower Bridge

When does the bridge lift take place at Tower Bridge?

The official timetable lists a bridge lift on 24 October 2026 at 23.30, when Dutch Master is due to travel upriver.

What is Tower Bridge?

Tower Bridge is a working Thames crossing and visitor attraction that opened in 1894. Its high-level walkways, glass floors and Victorian Engine Rooms explain its structure and operation.

Where is Tower Bridge and how do you get there?

The bridge crosses the River Thames between the City of London and Southwark. Tower Hill Underground station and London Bridge station provide rail and Underground connections.