Tower Bridge's new glass walkway gives a fresh perspective to the historical London landmark.
London Tower Bridge glass walkway unveiled —
Tower Bridge's new glass walkway gives a fresh perspective to the historical London landmark.
Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
Visitors can watch pedestrian and traffic cross the River Thames from the high-level glass walkway. Each glass panel of the ￡1 million ($1.6 million) installation weighs more than 500 kilograms.
Bird's eye view across the Thames —
Visitors can watch pedestrian and traffic cross the River Thames from the high-level glass walkway. Each glass panel of the ￡1 million ($1.6 million) installation weighs more than 500 kilograms.
Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
Tower Bridge opens 1,000 times every year for vessels, ships, sailing barges and cruises. During lift times visitors can watch the bascules raising below their feet.
Rising roadways —
Tower Bridge opens 1,000 times every year for vessels, ships, sailing barges and cruises. During lift times visitors can watch the bascules raising below their feet.
Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
The new glass floor at the Tower Bridge spans 11 meters long between the north and south towers. London's red buses and black cabs can be seen from 42 meters above the River Thames.
Bustling bridge traffic —
The new glass floor at the Tower Bridge spans 11 meters long between the north and south towers. London's red buses and black cabs can be seen from 42 meters above the River Thames.
Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
Engineers had to consider the upward view for pedestrians below. Distance, angle and reflection during the day and deliberate lighting at night ensure there are no surprise views up skirts and dresses above.
Fashion concerns —
Engineers had to consider the upward view for pedestrians below. Distance, angle and reflection during the day and deliberate lighting at night ensure there are no surprise views up skirts and dresses above.
Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
For those who might suffer heart palpitations, narrow wood panels along the side of the walkway offer respite from the view.
Safe crossing —
For those who might suffer heart palpitations, narrow wood panels along the side of the walkway offer respite from the view.
ANDREW COWIE/AFP/Getty Images
London's Tower Bridge greets 600,000 visitors a year. This year marks the 120th birthday of the bridge, which opened June 30, 1894. The eastern glass walkway will open December 1.
Old bridge, new attraction —
London's Tower Bridge greets 600,000 visitors a year. This year marks the 120th birthday of the bridge, which opened June 30, 1894. The eastern glass walkway will open December 1.
Courtesy Thi Anh Dao Le
A new glass floor was unveiled at the Eiffel Tower in October, instantly becoming a hit with selfie takers.
Eiffel Tower glass floor —
A new glass floor was unveiled at the Eiffel Tower in October, instantly becoming a hit with selfie takers.
LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images
Chicago's Skydeck looks down from the 99th story of the Willis Tower.
Chicago Skydeck —
Chicago's Skydeck looks down from the 99th story of the Willis Tower.
Courtesy Scott Pitocco
At the Grand Canyon, the Skywalk reaches out over a drop of 1,450 meters.
Grand Canyon Skywalk —
At the Grand Canyon, the Skywalk reaches out over a drop of 1,450 meters.
Craig Ruttle/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Glass walkway on London Tower Bridge unveiled

Story highlights

Officials say there was no danger to public after glass panel broke in walkway

Engineers repaired the panel within two days and the attraction remained open

Glass floor has four layers. The top layer can be easily replaced when scratched or damaged

London CNN  — 

A scary view of London just got slightly scarier.

At 138 feet above the city’s River Thames, the view from the newly opened glass walkway at Tower Bridge was already enough to generate high anxiety.

Then, last Friday, someone dropped a beer bottle and the glass shattered.

The good news, say Tower Bridge officials, is that the breakage only affected a “sacrificial” panel covering thicker glass below and there was no risk to visitors.

Two days after the incident occurred at a private event, the glass had been repaired.

The attraction remained open as normal.

Witness Peter Gordon tweeted an image of the broken glass, which was reportedly made worse by someone walking across in pair of stiletto heels.

‘Unique viewpoint’

“A sacrificial layer of glass on the new West Walkway at Tower Bridge Exhibition shattered on Friday evening, when an empty beer bottle fell from a tray being carried by a member of the catering team during an event,” a statement from Tower Bridge said.

“The floor was immediately inspected and covered to protect guests from glass splinters.”

It said engineers were called in the following morning and replaced the glass panel within 24 hours.

“The new glass floor has four layers of glass with the sacrificial layer on top of that – this is installed so that it can be replaced if it is scratched or damaged.

“We look forward to continue welcoming visitors from across the globe to our attraction, and enjoying a unique viewpoint from one of London’s most iconic landmarks.”

MORE: Glass walkway opens at London’s Tower Bridge