When people think of London Bridge, they often picture the iconic Tower Bridge with its Gothic towers and drawbridge mechanism. But the actual London Bridge is something entirely different – a modern, rather unremarkable concrete structure that sits quietly upstream, doing its job without much fanfare.

I'll be honest: the current bridge isn't much to look at. Built in 1973, it's a practical box girder design that carries five lanes of A3 traffic across the Thames between the City of London and Southwark. At 269 meters long, it gets thousands of commuters and visitors from one side to the other every day, but it won't stop you in your tracks for photos.

What makes this spot fascinating is its incredible history. There's been a crossing here since Roman times, around AD 50. The medieval stone bridge that stood here for 600 years was actually a small city unto itself, crowded with houses and shops along its length. Can you imagine living on a bridge? The Victorian replacement from 1832 was more conventional but equally impressive – massive stone arches that eventually couldn't handle modern traffic demands.

The location itself is worth your time, though. London Bridge station sits right at the southern end, making it a natural starting point for exploring Southwark. Walk a few minutes and you'll find Borough Market, Southwark Cathedral, and some excellent pubs tucked into the narrow streets. The north side puts you near the Monument and connects you easily to the financial district.

From the bridge, you get decent views up and down the Thames. Tower Bridge dominates the eastern view, while looking west you can see the city sprawling along both banks. It's not spectacular, but there's something satisfying about standing where people have crossed this river for nearly two thousand years.

Discover all the secrets of London Bridge with our comprehensive London audio guide as you explore this historic crossing point. The stories of the previous bridges, the medieval life that flourished here, and how this simple concrete span connects to nearly every major event in London's history make it more intriguing than its plain appearance suggests.

Sure, tourists flock to Tower Bridge for the Instagram shots. But London Bridge represents something more fundamental about this city – the practical, working infrastructure that has kept London functioning and growing for millennia.