At the heart of almost great city you’ll find a mighty river flowing gently by, and London is no different. The iconic River Thames passes right through the centre, and is close to many of the city’s more famous landmarks, such as the Houses of Parliament, the Globe Theatre and the London Eye. Connecting the north of London to the south are a number of spectacular bridges that add to the character of this intriguing metropolis – here are five of the very best.

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge in London.

Tower Bridge is perhaps the most recognisable bridge in the whole world; it was officially opened in 1894 and became an instant hit with Londoners as well as visitors. As the name suggests, it’s located close to the Tower of London to the east of the city, and in the evenings it looks particularly spectacular. The views from the high-level walkway are wonderful.

Millennium Bridge

Millenium Bridge, London.

Opened in June 2000, this eye-catching pedestrian bridge has become a popular tourist attraction in no time at all, partly because of its convenient location. It connects St Paul’s Cathedral in the north to the Tate Modern and the Globe Theatre in the south. When it was first opened, it swayed unexpectedly and had to be closed for alterations. Ever since then, it has become affectionately known as the ‘Wobbly Bridge’.

Westminster Bridge

Westminster Bridge London

Part of the main A302 road, Westminster Bridge dates back to 1862, and is in perhaps the most impressive part of the whole city. With the Houses of Parliament on one side and the London Eye and County Hall on the other, it’s a beautiful bridge and a prime piece of real estate. It has featured in many well known movies, including 102 Dalmatians and 28 Days Later.

Albert Bridge

Albert Bridge, London

Originally built as a commercial toll crossing, Albert Bridge connects Chelsea and Battersea, and is famously overlooked now by the spectacular Battersea Power Station building. 220-metres in length, it was designed by Rowland Mason Ordish and was opened in 1873. Originally, it was deemed to be structurally unsafe and had to undergo extensive renovation work before being declared fit for use.

Richmond Bridge

Richmond Bridge, London

Located in the west of the city, Richmond Bridge is something of a hidden gem that deserves to be discovered. It was built in the 1770s as a replacement for a ferry crossing, and is constructed from Portland stone. Of all of the Thames bridges that are located in London, Richmond’s is now the oldest.

Read More: 8 Things You Didn’t Know About The Shard