Lambeth Bridge

Lambeth Bridge is a road and footbridge crossing the River Thames in central London. It runs east–west, with the river flowing north at the crossing point. The bridge is painted red, matching the leather benches in the House of Lords at the southern end of the Palace of Westminster. This contrasts with Westminster Bridge downstream, which is green like the House of Commons benches. Lambeth Bridge replaced an earlier horse ferry that once linked the Palace of Westminster to Lambeth Palace on the south bank. The first modern bridge was a suspension structure designed by Peter W. Barlow, opening in 1862 but soon found unsafe for heavy traffic. It became a pedestrian-only crossing until replaced in 1932 by the current five-span steel arch bridge. This was designed by Sir George Humphreys with architects Sir Reginald Blomfield and G. Topham Forrest. The bridge carries three lanes of traffic, including a bus-only lane eastbound, and features pairs of obelisks topped with stone pinecones at each end. On the east side in Lambeth stand Lambeth Palace, the Albert Embankment, St Thomas’ Hospital and the International Maritime Organization. To the west in Westminster are Thames House, Horseferry House, Clelland House, Abell House, Millbank Tower and Tate Britain. The Palace of Westminster lies a short walk north through Victoria Tower Garden. The bridge itself is a Grade II listed structure, protecting its obelisks, parapets, lamps and approach walls from unsympathetic change.