London Day 4 – Touring around the City
Wednesday, 28-Jan-2026
Tags: Travel
Another work day for Larry. On a nice sunny day, Eileen took off to see a number of sights: Tower Bridge, The Shard, and St. Paul’s Cathedral, all by underground or walking.
First stop was Tower Bridge, a bascule (draw) bridge, using a counterweight method to raise and lower the bridge. A ticket gives you access to the high-level walkways with glass floor areas, and a tour of the old Victorian engine room. Starting from the north side of the Thames near the Tower of London, Eileen walked along one walkway, and then walked back along the other one, then walked across the bridge back to the south side to the engine room tour.
During the self-guided tour, there were video displays showing how the bridges were raised, section by section. Initially, the bridge was powered by steam engines. These engines used steam generated from large boilers to create hydraulic pressure. This pressure was stored in accumulators, which released water to operate the pistons that raised the bascules. The entire process allowed the bascules to lift in about one minute. In 1976, the bridge transitioned to an electro-hydraulic system, all on the floor below the engine room tour. This system uses electric pumps to create hydraulic energy, replacing the steam power. The current mechanism still relies on hydraulic principles, but it is more efficient and environmentally friendly.
Picture of Tower Bridge and Tower of London as I was walking towards the Shard.
The next stop was The Shard, a short walk from Tower Bridge. From Wikipedia: The View from The Shard is an observation deck located between the 68th and 72nd floors of The Shard, the tallest building in London. The View from The Shard consists of a triple level indoor gallery on the 69th floor and a partially outdoor gallery on the 72nd floor. Great views in all directions!
Looking east toward the The Tower of London, HMS Belfast, Tower Bridge Canary Wharf from the Shard.
Looking west along the Thames to St. Paul's and the City of London (and beyond) from the Shard.
The Shard infrastructure from the outside observation area.
The last stop was St. Paul’s Cathedral, with a visit to the crypt and a hundreds of steps walk up to the Whispering Gallery with a view down to the main floor, and another hundred steps up the Stone Gallery, outside with a crenellated wall.
Christopher Wren and Horatio Nelson
Finally a walk and underground ride back to the hotel.
We found a nice pub, The Sportsman, a short walk from the hotel, for classic fish and chips.
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Larry and Eileen Samberg
