Waterloo Bridge

Waterloo Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge crossing the River Thames in London, England between Blackfriars Bridge and Hungerford Bridge.

Waterloo Bridge on an 1836 map.
Credit: User unknown/public domain

Thanks to its location at a strategic bend in the river, the views of London (Westminster, the South Bank and London Eye to the west, the City of London and Canary Wharf to the east) from the bridge are widely held to be the finest from any spot at ground level.

The name of the bridge is in memory of the Anglo-Dutch and Prussian victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

The first bridge on the site was designed in 1809-10 by John Rennie for the Strand Bridge Company and opened in 1817 as a toll bridge. The granite bridge had nine arches, each of 120 feet span, separated by double Grecian-Doric stone columns and was 2,456 feet long, including approaches. Before its opening it was known as 'Strand Bridge'. During the 1840s the bridge gained a reputation as a popular place for suicide attempts. Paintings of the bridge were created by the French Impressionist Claude Monet and the English Romantic, John Constable. The bridge was nationalised in 1878 and given to the Metropolitan Board of Works, who removed the toll from it.

From 1884, serious problems were found in Rennie's bridge piers, after scour from the increased river flow after Old London Bridge was demolished damaged their foundations. By the 1920s the problems had increased, with settlement at pier five necessitating closure of the whole bridge while some heavy superstructure was removed and temporary reinforcements put in place.

London County Council decided to demolish the bridge and replace it with a new structure designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. The engineers were Ernest Buckton and John Cueral of Rendel Palmer & Tritton. However Scott, by his own admission, was no engineer and his design, with reinforced concrete beams under the footways, leaving the road to be supported by transverse slabs, was difficult to implement. The pairs of spans on each side of the river were supported by beams continuous over their piers, and these were cantilevered out at their ends to support the centre span and the short approach slabs at the banks. The beams were shaped to look as much like arches as...beams can.

They are clad in Portland stone from the South West of England; the stone cleans itself whenever it rains. To guard against the possibility of further subsidence from scour, each pier was given a number of jacks which can be used to level the structure.

The new crossing was partially opened on Tuesday 11 March 1942 and completed in 1945. The new bridge was the only Thames bridge to have been damaged by German bombers during World War II.

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NEARBY LOCATIONS OF NOTE

101 Strand, WC2R This shop was one of the first in London to have gas lighting fitted.

101 Strand, WC2R

101 The Strand 101 The Strand was an art school from 1750 until 1806.

101 The Strand

Ackermann’s Rudolph Ackermann (20 April 1764 in Stollberg, Saxony – 30 March 1834 in Finchley) was an Anglo-German bookseller, inventor, lithographer, publisher and businessman.

Ackermann’s

Embankment to Charing Cross walk Arguably the shortest walk between two stations of the London Underground

Embankment to Charing Cross walk

Hole In the Wall The Hole In The Wall is a local Waterloo institution.

Hole In the Wall

Hungerford Bridge Hungerford Bridge is a rail bridge crossing the Thames into Charing Cross station.

Hungerford Bridge

NEARBY STREETS

Adelphi Terrace, WC2N Adelphi Terrace is named after John and Robert Adam, who built the Adelphi development in the 1760s (Embankment)

Adelphi Terrace, WC2N

Aldwych House, WC2B Aldwych House is located on Aldwych (Aldwych)

Aldwych House, WC2B

Aldwych, WC2B The name Aldwych derives from the Old English eald and wic meaning ’old trading town’ or ’old marketplace’; the name was later applied to the street and district (Aldwych)

Aldwych, WC2B

Arundel House, WC2R Arundel House is a block on Temple Place (Temple)

Arundel House, WC2R

Arundel Street, WC2R Arundel Street runs from the Strand to Temple Place (Temple)

Arundel Street, WC2R

Australia House, WC2B Australia House can be found on Strand (Aldwych)

Australia House, WC2B

Beaufort’s Buildings, WC2R Beaufort’s Buildings was replaced by Savoy Court (Charing Cross)

Beaufort’s Buildings, WC2R

Beaumont Buildings, WC2B Beaumont Buildings is located on Martlett Court (Covent Garden)

Beaumont Buildings, WC2B

Belvedere Crescent, SE1 Belvedere Crescent used to run off Belvedere Road (South Bank)

Belvedere Crescent, SE1

Blackmoor Street, WC2B Blackmoor Street was in the Drury Lane slum (Aldwych)

Blackmoor Street, WC2B

Bow Street, WC2E Bow Street was first developed by Francis Russell, 4th Earl of Bedford in 1633 (Covent Garden)

Bow Street, WC2E

Boyce Street, SE1 Anne Street was renamed Boyce Street in 1911 (Waterloo)

Boyce Street, SE1

Brettenham House, WC2R Brettenham House is a block on Savoy Street (Charing Cross)

Brettenham House, WC2R

Bruce House, WC2B Bruce House is sited on Kemble Street (Covent Garden)

Bruce House, WC2B

Burleigh Street, WC2E Lord Burghley laid out the original Burleigh Street in 1673, which extended northwards from the Strand, but only reached as far as Exeter Street. (Charing Cross)

Burleigh Street, WC2E

Carting Lane, WC2R Carting Lane is thought to be named after the carts that brought goods to and from the wharf formerly located here. (Charing Cross)

Carting Lane, WC2R

Casson Square, SE1 Casson Square is a square of South Bank buildings (South Bank)

Casson Square, SE1

Catherine Street, WC2B Catherine Street runs from Russell Street in the north to Aldwych in the south (Aldwych)

Catherine Street, WC2B

Cecil Street, WC2N Cecil Street was built on the site of Cecil House (Charing Cross)

Cecil Street, WC2N

Clement House, WC2B Clement House is located on Aldwych (Aldwych)

Clement House, WC2B

Clement House, WC2R Clement House is a block on Strand (Temple)

Clement House, WC2R

Clement’s Inn, WC2R Clement’s Inn was named after the neighbouring St Clement Danes church, stood alongside New Inn and Lyon’s Inn on the Strand’s northern side, near the Law Courts’ western edge. (Aldwych)

Clement’s Inn, WC2R

Columbia House, WC2B Columbia House is a block on Aldwych (Aldwych)

Columbia House, WC2B

Concert Hall Approach, SE1 Concert Hall Approach ’does what it says on the tin’ (South Bank)

Concert Hall Approach, SE1

Connaught House, WC2A Connaught House can be found on Aldwych (Aldwych)

Connaught House, WC2A

Connaught House, WC2B Connaught House is located on Aldwych (Aldwych)

Connaught House, WC2B

Cross Court, WC2B Cross Court appears on maps between the 1750s and 1900 (Covent Garden)

Cross Court, WC2B

Crown Court, WC2E Crown Court is one of the streets of London in the WC2B postal area (Covent Garden)

Crown Court, WC2E

Crystal Wharf, WC2B A street within the WC2B postcode (Aldwych)

Crystal Wharf, WC2B

Devereux Court, EC4Y Devereux Court lies on the south side of the Strand, opposite the Law Courts (Westminster)

Devereux Court, EC4Y

Devereux Court, WC2R Devereux Court is a location in London (Temple)

Devereux Court, WC2R

Doon Street, SE1 Doon Street is a road in the SE1 postcode area (South Bank)

Doon Street, SE1

Drury Lane, WC2B Named from Sir William Drury, Knight of the Garter in Queen Elizabeth’s reign, who owned land on its site (Covent Garden)

Drury Lane, WC2B

Duke’s Court, WC2B Duke’s Court appears on maps made between 1750 and 1900 (Covent Garden)

Duke’s Court, WC2B

Essex Street, WC2R Essex Street stretches from Milford Lane in the south to Strand in the north, flanked by Little Essex Street on the west and Devereux Court on the east. (Temple)

Essex Street, WC2R

Exeter Street, WC2E Exeter Street off Strand was built circa 1677, and so called after Exeter House, the town house of Cecil, Earl of Exeter (Charing Cross)

Exeter Street, WC2E

Fletcher Buildings, WC2B Fletcher Buildings is sited on Martlett Court (Covent Garden)

Fletcher Buildings, WC2B

Fox Under Hill Alley, WC2N Fox Under Hill Alley ran alongside Cecil House and later Salisbury Street (Charing Cross)

Fox Under Hill Alley, WC2N

FranklinWilkins Building, SE1 FranklinWilkins Building is sited on Stamford Street (South Bank)

FranklinWilkins Building, SE1

Gibraltar House, WC2R Gibraltar House is a block on Strand (Temple)

Gibraltar House, WC2R

Gladstone House, WC2R Gladstone House is a block on Arundel Street (Temple)

Gladstone House, WC2R

Golden Jubilee Bridge, WC2N Golden Jubilee Bridge is a road in the WC2N postcode area (River Thames)

Golden Jubilee Bridge, WC2N

Houghton Square, WC2B Houghton Square is a road in the SW9 postcode area (Aldwych)

Houghton Square, WC2B

Howard Street, WC2R Howard Street ran from Surrey Street to Arundel Street until 1974 (Temple)

Howard Street, WC2R

Howley Street, SE1 Howley Street ran between Tenison Street and Sutton Street (Waterloo)

Howley Street, SE1

Howley Terrace, SE1 Howley Place was renamed as Howley Terrace in 1939 (South Bank)

Howley Terrace, SE1

Hudson House, WC2R Hudson House is a block on Tavistock Street (Covent Garden)

Hudson House, WC2R

Hungerford House, WC2N Residential block (Embankment)

Hungerford House, WC2N

Imperial House, WC2B Imperial House is a block on Kingsway (Aldwych)

Imperial House, WC2B

India House, WC2B India House is a block on Aldwych (Aldwych)

India House, WC2B

India Place, WC2B India Place is a small alleyway leading from Aldwych (Aldwych)

India Place, WC2B

Ivybridge Lane, WC2N Ivybridge Lane is named after a former ivy-covered bridge (Charing Cross)

Ivybridge Lane, WC2N

James Clerk Maxwell Building, SE1 James Clerk Maxwell Building is a block on Waterloo Road (South Bank)

James Clerk Maxwell Building, SE1

Kean Street, WC2B Kean Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2B postal area (Aldwych)

Kean Street, WC2B

King’s Building, WC2R King’s Building is a block on Strand (Temple)

King’s Building, WC2R

Lancaster Place, WC2R Lancaster Place is part of the northern approach to Waterloo Bridge (Charing Cross)

Lancaster Place, WC2R

Little Essex Street, WC2R Little Essex Street lies off Essex Street (Temple)

Little Essex Street, WC2R

Maltravers Street, WC2R Maltravers Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2R postal area (Temple)

Maltravers Street, WC2R

Manners Street, SE1 Manners Street ran northeast off Vine Street (South Bank)

Manners Street, SE1

Martlett Court, WC2B Martlett Court appears on maps from the 1750s onwards (Covent Garden)

Martlett Court, WC2B

Melbourne Place, WC2B Melbourne Place is a road in the WC2B postcode area (Aldwych)

Melbourne Place, WC2B

Mepham Street, SE1 Mepham Street is one of many streets in the area named after Archbishops of Canterbury (Waterloo)

Mepham Street, SE1

Milford House, WC2R Milford House is a block on Tweezers Alley (Temple)

Milford House, WC2R

Milford Lane, WC2R Milford Lane is one of the streets of London in the WC2R postal area (Temple)

Milford Lane, WC2R

Montreal Place, WC2R Montreal Place is a road in the WC2R postcode area (Aldwych)

Montreal Place, WC2R

National Film Theatre, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (South Bank)

National Film Theatre, SE1

Norfolk Street, WC2R Norfolk Street ran from the Strand in the north to the River Thames and, after the Victoria Embankment was built (1865–1870), to what is now Temple Place (Temple)

Norfolk Street, WC2R

Norman House, WC2R Norman House can be found on Strand, behind Savoy Steps (Charing Cross)

Norman House, WC2R

North East Wing Bush House, WC2R Residential block (Aldwych)

North East Wing Bush House, WC2R

North West Wing Bush House, WC2R Residential block (Aldwych)

North West Wing Bush House, WC2R

Old Building, WC2A Old Building is a building on Houghton Street (Aldwych)

Old Building, WC2A

Penley Court, WC2R Angel Court was renamed as Penley Court in 1937 (Aldwych)

Penley Court, WC2R

Russell Street, WC2E Russell Street is a road in the WC2E postcode area (Covent Garden)

Russell Street, WC2E

Salisbury Street, WC2N Salisbury Street was named after Robert Cecil, the first Earl of Salisbury (Charing Cross)

Salisbury Street, WC2N

Savoy Court, WC2R Savoy Court is a modern name for Beaufort Buildings (Charing Cross)

Savoy Court, WC2R

Savoy Hill, WC2R Savoy Hill is located at a site originally called Savoy Manor (Charing Cross)

Savoy Hill, WC2R

Savoy House, WC2R Savoy House is a block on Tweezers Alley (Temple)

Savoy House, WC2R

Savoy Place, WC2N Savoy Place is located at a site originally called Savoy Manor - taking its name from Peter II, Count of Savoy. (Charing Cross)

Savoy Place, WC2N

Savoy Street, WC2E Savoy Street is final street east off Strand before the approach road to Waterloo Bridge (Charing Cross)

Savoy Street, WC2E

Savoy Way, WC2R Savoy Way is located on the former site of the Savoy Palace, built for Peter II, Count of Savoy in 1245. (Charing Cross)

Savoy Way, WC2R

Shell Mex House, WC2N Shell Mex House is a grade II listed building located at 80 Strand (Charing Cross)

Shell Mex House, WC2N

Somerset House, WC2R Somerset House is a block on Strand (Temple)

Somerset House, WC2R

South East Wing Bush House, WC2B Residential block (Aldwych)

South East Wing Bush House, WC2B

Southampton Street, WC2E Southampton Street - named for Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton and landowner (Covent Garden)

Southampton Street, WC2E

Southbank Centre Square, SE1 Southbank Centre Square is a road in the SE1 postcode area (South Bank)

Southbank Centre Square, SE1

Southbank, SE1 Southbank is a road in the SE9 postcode area (South Bank)

Southbank, SE1

Strand Bridge House, WC2R Strand Bridge House is a block on Strand (Temple)

Strand Bridge House, WC2R

Strand Building, WC2R Strand Building is a block on Strand (Temple)

Strand Building, WC2R

Strand Lane, WC2R Strand Lane once led up to the Strand (Temple)

Strand Lane, WC2R

Strand Underpass, WC2E Strand Underpass is the name of the tunnel leading from the northern approach of Waterloo Bridge to Kingsway (Charing Cross)

Strand Underpass, WC2E

Strand, WC2R Strand, as it nears the Aldwych, is home to many London theatres (Aldwych)

Strand, WC2R

Surrey Street, WC2R Surrey Street was built on land once occupied by Arundel House and its gardens (Temple)

Surrey Street, WC2R

Sutton Walk, SE1 Sutton Walk - formerly Sutton Street until 1939 - was redeveloped as part of Concert Hall Approach (South Bank)

Sutton Walk, SE1

Tavistock Street, WC2B Tavistock Street is a road in the WC2B postcode area (Covent Garden)

Tavistock Street, WC2B

Temple House, WC2R Temple House is sited on Tweezers Alley (Temple)

Temple House, WC2R

Temple Place, WC2R Temple Place forms a crescent behind the Embankment Gardens (Temple)

Temple Place, WC2R

Tenison Street, SE1 Tenison Street was lost during the construction of the Shell buildings (South Bank)

Tenison Street, SE1

The Australia Centre, WC2B The Australia Centre is one of the streets of London in the WC2B postal area (Aldwych)

The Australia Centre, WC2B

The Globe House, WC2R The Globe House is a building on Temple Place (Temple)

The Globe House, WC2R

The Macadam Building Street, WC2R The Macadam Building Street is a location in London (Temple)

The Macadam Building Street, WC2R

Tower House, WC2E Tower House is a block on Southampton Street (Covent Garden)

Tower House, WC2E

Tweezer’s Alley, WC2R Tweezer’s Alley probably got its name after the tweezers used by smiths to heat items in the forge that stood there. (Temple)

Tweezer’s Alley, WC2R

Victoria Embankment, WC2N Victoria Embankment was built as part of Joseph Bazalgette’s Embankment scheme (Embankment)

Victoria Embankment, WC2N

Victoria Embankment, WC2R Victoria Embankment runs from the Houses of Parliament to Blackfriars Bridge (Temple)

Victoria Embankment, WC2R

Victoria House, WC2B Victoria House is a block on Strand (Aldwych)

Victoria House, WC2B

Water Street, WC2R This is a street in the WC2R postcode area (Temple)

Water Street, WC2R

Waterloo Bridge, SE1 Waterloo Bridge is a road in the WC2R postcode area (South Bank)

Waterloo Bridge, SE1

Waterloo Bridge, SE1 Waterloo Bridge, as well as being the bridge itself, lends its name to the southern approach road (South Bank)

Waterloo Bridge, SE1

Wellington House, WC2E Wellington House is a 1930s office block on the corner of Lancaster Place and Strand (Charing Cross)

Wellington House, WC2E

Wellington Street, WC2E Wellington Street is one of the streets of London in the WC2E postal area (Covent Garden)

Wellington Street, WC2E

Wellington Terrace, WC2E Wellington Terrace is a street in Paddington (Covent Garden)

Wellington Terrace, WC2E

Whichcote Street, SE1 In the first years of the 19th century three streets of stock brick, terraced houses were laid out and named Anne Street, Agnes Street and Frances Street (Waterloo)

Whichcote Street, SE1

Whitehouse Apartments, SE1 Whitehouse Apartments is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (South Bank)

Whitehouse Apartments, SE1

Wren House, Wren House is a building on Milford Lane (Temple)

Wren House,

Wren House, WC2 Wren House is a block on Milford Lane (Temple)

Wren House, WC2

Wren House, WC2R Wren House is a building on Milford Lane (Temple)

Wren House, WC2R

Wych Street, WC2R Wych Street was near where Australia House now stands on Aldwych - it ran west from the church of St Clement Danes on the Strand to a point at the southern end of Drury Lane. (Aldwych)

Wych Street, WC2R

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