Millennium Bridge, London

Millennium Bridge
The bridge seen from St Paul's Cathedral.
Coordinates51°30′37″N 0°05′54″W / 51.510173°N 0.098438°W / 51.510173; -0.098438
CarriesPedestrians
CrossesRiver Thames
LocaleLondon, England
Official nameLondon Millennium Footbridge
Maintained byBridge House Estates,
City of London Corporation
Preceded byBlackfriars Railway Bridge
Followed bySouthwark Bridge
Characteristics
DesignSuspension bridge
Total length325 metres (1,066 ft)
Width4 metres (13 ft)
Longest span144 metres (472 ft)
History
Engineering design byArup
Constructed byMonberg & Thorsen
Sir Robert McAlpine
Opened10 June 2000; 24 years ago (2000-06-10)
Location
Map

The Millennium Bridge, officially known as the London Millennium Footbridge, is a steel suspension bridge for pedestrians crossing the River Thames in London, England, linking Bankside with the City of London. It is owned and maintained by Bridge House Estates, a charitable trust overseen by the City of London Corporation. Construction began in 1998, and it initially opened on 10 June 2000.

Londoners nicknamed it the "Wobbly Bridge" and even the "Wibbly Wobbly" after pedestrians experienced an alarming swaying motion on its opening day.[1][2] The bridge was closed later that day and, after two days of limited access, it was closed again for almost two years so that modifications and repairs could be made to keep the bridge stable and stop the swaying motion. It reopened in February 2002.

The bridge is located between Southwark Bridge and Blackfriars Railway Bridge. Its southern end is near the Globe Theatre, the Bankside Gallery, and Tate Modern, while its northern end is next to the City of London School below St Paul's Cathedral. The bridge's alignment is such that a clear view (i.e. a "terminating vista") of St Paul's south façade is presented from across the river, framed by the bridge supports.

  1. ^ "Millennium Bridge London". Britain Visitor - Travel Guide To Britain. 15 August 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  2. ^ "London Millennium Footbridge London". Guide London. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2024.