Tower Bridge vs. Tower Hamlets: Two Different London Landmarks

Tower Bridge and Tower Hamlets are both in London—but they are completely different things.

Tower Bridge

• Type: Combined bascule and suspension bridge.
• Location: Spans the River Thames between the City of London (north bank) and Southwark (south bank).
• Completed: 1894.
• Postcode: EC3N 4DT (north end), SE1 2UP (south end).

Tower Hamlets

• Type: London Borough (local government district).
• Location: East of the City of London, north of the Thames.
• Includes: Whitechapel, Bethnal Green, Stepney, Mile End, Canary Wharf, Isle of Dogs, St Katharine Docks.
• Named for: The historic "Tower Hamlets" — parishes that owed military service to the Tower of London.

The Connection

The Tower of London sits in the City of London, just west of Tower Bridge. Tower Hamlets borough begins immediately east of the Tower. So:

• Tower Bridge → in the City of London / Southwark.
• Tower Hamlets → a borough adjacent to the Tower.

They share the "Tower" name (from the Tower of London) but are distinct geographic and administrative entities.