Isambard Kingdom Brunel called this bridge his “darling,” and it’s easy to see why. It’s Bristol’s most famous landmark. Brunel was only 24 when he was appointed to design it, though it wasn’t actually finished until 1864 when he was in his 50s. At the time, its 412m span over the River Avon was the longest in the world.
You can’t think of the North East without picturing this iconic arch linking Newcastle and Gateshead. When King George V opened it in 1928, he was the first to cross in his horse-drawn carriage while local kids got the day off school to watch. It’s actually a prototype for the Sydney Harbour Bridge!
This one is a real heavy hitter. It looks a bit like San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, but ours is actually longer! Spanning 2.22km, it was worth every penny of its £151m price tag to drivers who used to have to make a 128km detour around the river.
Telford’s Ironbridge Gorge is peaceful now, but it was once the beating heart of the Industrial Revolution. This bridge, erected in 1779, was the first in the world to be made of cast iron.
With its neo-Gothic towers, Tower Bridge is a symbol of London itself. It’s a “bascule” bridge, which is a fancy way of saying it moves to let tall ships through. It used to be powered by steam, with workers pulling 24-hour shifts to keep it moving!
Bath’s Pulteney Bridge is one of only four in the world to have shops built into it on both sides. It’s a stunning example of Georgian architecture and even had a starring role in the 2012 film Les Misérables.
This is a rare bird—one of only three transporter bridges in Britain. It works by carrying cars and people across the Tees in a “gondola” suspended below the main structure. It’s a massive symbol of Teesside’s engineering heritage.
A modern masterpiece, this bridge joined the Forth Road Bridge in 2017 to link Edinburgh and Fife. It’s the longest three-tower cable-stayed bridge in the world. They used 23,000 miles of cabling to build it—that’s nearly enough to wrap around the whole planet!
Oxford’s version of the famous Venetian bridge connects two parts of Hertford College. Students here probably don’t have as much to sigh about as the convicts in Italy did, but it’s still a beautiful spot for a photo.
Spanning the strait between Anglesey and mainland Wales, this was the world’s first major suspension bridge when it opened in 1826. Before Thomas Telford built it, crossing the water was a dangerous business with many boats capsizing.
This distinctive red railway bridge is as much a symbol of Scotland as haggis or kilts. It requires 240,000 litres of paint to keep it that iconic “oxide red” colour. It was the world’s first major steel structure and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Located in Stockton-on-Tees, this pedestrian bridge is strikingly modern. Its two asymmetrical arches reflect in the River Tees to create a mathematical infinity symbol.
The green colour of this bridge isn’t accidental—it matches the seats in the House of Commons! It’s been in heaps of films, from 101 Dalmatians to the eerie opening of 28 Days Later.
We’ve all heard the nursery rhyme, and it’s true—London Bridge has “fallen down” quite a few times since the Romans first built a timber crossing there in 50 AD. The current version was opened in 1973.
There’s a myth that Isaac Newton built this bridge at Queens’ College, Cambridge, without any nuts or bolts. He actually died 22 years before it was built, but it’s still a clever bit of engineering that uses straight timbers to create a perfect arch.
Dating back to 1272, this is the only remaining fortified river bridge in Britain with its gate tower still standing. It was built to protect Monmouth and has survived everything from the Civil War to massive floods.
The world’s first “tilting” bridge! It rotates to let boats pass, looking a bit like a giant eyelid blinking. It’s won heaps of awards for its sleek design and is a must-see if you’re staying in the North East.
Not one for the faint-hearted! This rope bridge in County Antrim was first put up by salmon fishermen in 1755. It’s suspended 30m above the Atlantic, connecting the mainland to a tiny island.If you’re dreaming of a summer getaway in 2026, North Wales is calling your name ⛰️ From the…
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