h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Tower Bridge, London - UPDATE A559 - A2509256
Author: Mina - I plan on living forever; so far, so good - U290

This is intended as a replacement for the existing Tower Bridge entry, which doesn't contain very much information about the actual bridge.

I've left most of the anecdotal comments that are in that entry - they are in the conversations below. If it seems better to include them in this entry as well, I'll add them.

Hopefully there is more to come for this entry - I'm hoping to find out moreinfo about the 'bus'incident, plus there may be more gruesome information to add.

In the meantime, any comments welcome!

Are you not going to mention the Horny Man?

I can give you a name check if you like.

On a more serious - something that's always made me wonder is exactly why tall ships needed to be able to access the Pool of London... it's not exactly a huge distance from Tower Bridge to London Bridge.

Maybe a wee section on how to get there?

If memory serves there were a lot of warehouses there at the time - so the ships had to get there to unload. Is that what you mean by 'how to get there'?

If I add something along those lines I'll research it properly, not rely on memory!

If I cacn find time, I'd also like to go out and research which pub has the best view of the Tower. The sort of research I really like!

Actually, come to think about it the Horniman pub is part of Hay's Galleria, which is converted from a former warehouse... I worked at Guy's Hospital for a couple of years, and used to go there occasionally at lunchtimes.

By how to get there I mean today, like by public transport (there isn't really anywhere to park, is there? Except maybe that monstrosity of a hotel by St Katharine's Dock might have a multi-storey and be open to the public some time?). Obviously Tower Hill on the North Bank, but there isn't really a tube station on the South Bank side, is there? I think it's sort of halfway between London Bridge and Bermondsey on the Jubilee Line Extension. There are a few buses that go along Tooley Street from London Bridge, but I'd really recommend walking from London Bridge - you get riverside by going through Hay's Galleria, and then go past HMS Belfast and Ken's Helmet and then you're there.

I also remember from when I used to cycle to work at Guy's that somewhere in the backstreets just north-east of Tower Bridge that there's a chippy with the fantastic name of The Codfather, although I wouldn't recommend including that

Aha, now I see what you mean - Sorry.

I might add a bit about the exhibition as well. At the moment it's all about the history, so stating that it's actually still there to visit would be a nice change from some of my other London entries!

I was going to give the link for the livesights webcam but I see it's gone for good, which is a shame. However, something for you:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/panoramics/popups/tower_bridge.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/travel/jamcams/camloco/040187.shtml (works during traffic hours?)

I think I've already got one of those links in the entry - I can't check as it crashes my computer, so I'll have to have another look during the week if I'm not busy at work.

I will do some work on the exhibition, but that depends on how busy I am at weekends. I can't do anything today as I cut one of my fingers and it hurts to type.

*passes the first aid kit*

You do have a panorama view link in the entry. But it uses Quick Time so some people might not be able to see it. (Well, I can't anyway. It says I need to download QT.) Is that why it crashes at home? The panorama link I found is still BBC but doesn't require a download for anyone (me) to see it and might not crash your PC.

I'll have a look from work in that case, and see what I can sort out. I remember that I looked at quite a lot of them, and chose the one I thought was best. I might include them both, so people can see without downloading anything if they don't already have it.

I do have QT, as it's included in a lot of the games that J plays, so I missed that issue.

I've added that extra view of the bridge. I managed to catch a tv program last week that had some info about the bridge and the bus jump, so I'll be able to update that shortly (from home!)

I've also been given a goody bag of stuff from a friend who works there. I'm hoping to get everything done on this over the coming weekend. Depending on whether the sun comes out though!

Sudden remembered thought - in the risible movie 'Spiceworld', a double-decker bus with the future Mrs Beckham at the wheel jumps the bridge while it's in the process of opening.

Oh dear. I don't have to mention that, do I?

I'm going to be moving this into PR today. I've made a few tweaks - and added more information. It's getting a bit long, but I think it's ok.