Vauxhall Bridge

Vauxhall Bridge is a steel and granite bridge crossing the Thames between Vauxhall and Pimlico. It stands on the site of an earlier ferry and a 19th-century iron bridge. The present structure, opened in 1906, replaced the first iron bridge over the Thames built in 1816. Both bridges had troubled histories, with multiple redesigns and financial difficulties. The second bridge was the first in London to carry trams and later introduced one of the first bus lanes. The bridge carries the A202 road and Cycle Superhighway 5 across the river. In 1963 plans to replace it with a seven-storey development were abandoned due to cost. Apart from minor changes to the road layout and balustrade, its design has remained largely unchanged since 1907. The area around the bridge was once marshland owned by a 13th-century mercenary named Falkes de Breauté. Visitors find a wide bridge with views along the Thames and towards the London Eye. The balustrades are decorated with ornate lamps and bronze figures. On the south bank, the former Doulton pottery site now hosts modern developments. The north bank leads to Pimlico’s residential streets and the Tate Britain. The bridge remains a busy crossing for traffic, cyclists and pedestrians.