London is ancient, but it’s still a working port. Cargo ships, riverboats, and even royal barges need to get up the River Thames.
The law says any vessel that can’t fit under the bridge must be allowed through. And if the vessel is taller than 30 feet? Game on.
Funny fact: Even the Queen’s boats get priority. When Her Majesty used to sail by, the bridge opened faster than a butler serving tea.
The weirdest things that make it open
It’s not just ships. Sometimes, Tower Bridge opens for absolutely silly reasons.
Watching Tower Bridge open with children: everything you need to know
Like the time a massive cruise liner got stuck halfway through. It took four tugs to push it out. The bridge stayed up for nearly 45 minutes.
Another time, a duck swam by. Okay, that’s a lie. But a floating Christmas tree once demanded a lift. Yes, really.
