Waverley marks 80 years beneath Tower Bridge on 2 October

Tower Bridge saw the Waverley pass through on 2 October 2026 as the historic paddle steamer marked the 80th anniversary of its launch. The anniversary voyage brought the vessel beneath London's famous crossing before continuing along the River Thames towards Gravesend, Southend and the Thames Forts.

Waverley anniversary voyage passed Tower Bridge on 2 October

The Waverley reached Tower Bridge during a special Thames sailing on Friday, 2 October 2026. The date marked eight decades since the vessel was launched at Pointhouse Yard in Glasgow in 1946, and the passage formed part of a wider anniversary programme.

The vessel was built as the last steamer for the London and North Eastern Railway. The operator, Waverley Excursions, recorded the anniversary date on its current sailing information, while the BBC report on the passage confirmed that the ship travelled through Tower Bridge during the voyage. The programme continued on the Thames until 11 October 2026 before the vessel returned to Scotland for its final anniversary sailings.

Tower Bridge linked Victorian engineering with maritime history

The passage connected a working river crossing with a vessel whose story began in Glasgow and continued through Britain's coastal and river heritage. Tower Bridge opened to the public in 1894, after eight years of construction led by architect Sir Horace Jones and civil engineer Sir John Wolfe Barry.

The bridge is a bascule structure. Its two road sections pivot upwards like seesaws, allowing tall vessels to reach the Pool of London. The central span between the towers is almost 66 metres, while the tower crests rise almost 63 metres above road level, according to the official Tower Bridge facts. That design explains why a paddle steamer such as the Waverley remains part of the bridge's living setting rather than merely passing a static monument.

The anniversary sailing continued beyond London on 2 October

After passing beneath the bridge, the Waverley continued downriver as part of its anniversary sailing. The route included visits towards Gravesend and Southend, as well as a cruise connected with the Thames Forts, before the vessel's remaining Thames programme concluded on 11 October 2026.

The event was therefore a time-specific maritime passage, not a permanent change to access at the bridge. Visitors in London after 2 October 2026 can still encounter the same engineering features that made the passage possible, including the elevated walkways, the bascules and the former machinery displayed in the Engine Rooms.

Visiting Tower Bridge: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The Waverley's 80th anniversary passage through Tower Bridge took place on 2 October 2026 during a Thames voyage.
• The anniversary sailing has ended at the bridge; it did not create a continuing exhibition or a changed visitor entrance.
• Tower Bridge spans the River Thames beside the Tower of London. Its south side is in Southwark and its north side is in Tower Hamlets.
• The walkways rise above the river and are reached by internal stairs. The bridge's bascule chambers and former Engine Rooms explain how the crossing opens for vessels.

The Waverley passage placed a moving piece of British maritime history against a bridge built to preserve access for river traffic.

Searching for Tower Bridge on social platforms

These links open searches for Tower Bridge on each platform.

Frequently asked questions about Tower Bridge

When did the Waverley anniversary passage take place at Tower Bridge?

The Waverley passed through Tower Bridge on 2 October 2026 during a Thames voyage marking 80 years since its launch.

What is Tower Bridge?

Tower Bridge is a late nineteenth-century bascule bridge over the River Thames that opened to the public in 1894.

Where is Tower Bridge and how do you get there?

Tower Bridge crosses the Thames beside the Tower of London, linking Southwark on the south bank with Tower Hamlets on the north bank.