54 Bridges to Explore in United Kingdom

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United Kingdom

The United Kingdom consists of four constituent countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It is the sixth-largest economy by nominal GDP and ninth-largest economy by purchasing power parity. It has a high-income economy and has a very high Human Development Index rating, ranking 14th in the world. It was the world's first industrialised country and the world's foremost power during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

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Bridges to Explore in United Kingdom

Framwellgate Bridge

This, Durham's oldest bridge, was constructed in 1127 by Bishop Flambard, a man who did much in the way of constructing public 'buildings' in the city. As a strategic entry point into the city, it was well-defended by the castle to prevent it becoming a military weak-point. The current bridge is of two shallow arches, each with several reinforcing ribs.

Gateshead Millennium Bridge

Gateshead Millennium Bridge is the world's first and only tilting bridge, and was designed by Ramboll with Wilkinson Eyre. Made of steel and designed with the aid of LUSAS Bridge analysis software, the bridge stands 45m high and spans 105m across the River Tyne to provide a link for pedestrians and cyclists between the newly revived Newcastle quayside and the Gateshead quayside opposite.

Glenfinnan Viaduct

A railway viaduct on the West Highland Line. The viaduct is built from mass concrete, and has 21 semicircular spans of 50 feet (15 m). It is the longest concrete railway bridge in Scotland at 416 yards (380 m). Glenfinnan Viaduct has been used as a location in several films and television series, most natably in four of the Harry Potter films.

High Bridge

High Bridge is the oldest bridge in the United Kingdom which still has buildings on it, dating back to 1160AD. The first building to be built on the bridge, that is now part of Lincoln High Street, was a chapel, dedicated to Thomas Becket - a common occurance on Medieval English bridges. Bridges like this were common in the Middle Ages, the best known being London Bridge, but most have long since been demolished because of their obstruction to the river flow and to shipping.

Kessock Bridge

The Kessock Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge across the Beauly Firth inlet. The bridge has a total length of 1,056 metres (3,465 ft) with a main span of 240 metres (787 ft). The four bridge towers dominate the Inverness skyline, especially at night when they are lit.

Kincardine Bridge

The Kincardine Bridge is a road bridge crossing the Firth of Forth from Falkirk council area to Kincardine, Fife, Scotland. The bridge was constructed with a swinging central section which remained in use until 1988, that would allow larger ships to sail upstream to the small port at Alloa.

Mathematical Bridge

The Mathematical Bridge is the popular name of a wooden footbridge in the southwest of central Cambridge. This bridge is built with entirely straight timbers, though it maintains an arch shape. This makes for some interesting architectural study while punting down the river below it. The bridge spans a 50-foot river using multiple shorter lengths of timber.

Nairn Viaduct

The Culloden Viaduct, known also as the Nairn Viaduct or the Clava Viaduct is a railway viaduct on the Highland Main Line. It was opened in 1898 as part of the Inverness and Aviemore Direct Railway. The 29 span viaduct crosses the wide valley of the River Nairn. At 1800 ft (549 m) in length, it is the longest masonry viaduct in Scotland.

Nasmyth Bridge

The Nasmyth Bridge crosses the River Almond a half-mile north of East Calder in West Lothian, beyond the Camps Viaduct. It was commissioned by Henry Erskine to provide a southern access to Almondell, his country estate. This romantic bridge was built in sandstone ashlar c.1800 to the designs of Alexander Nasmyth and features two rustic arches of different spans, together with a crenellated parapet and balustrade.

Neptune's Staircase

Neptune's Staircase is a staircase lock comprising eight locks on the Caledonian Canal which connects the Scottish east coast at Inverness with the west coast at Corpach near Fort William. Built by Thomas Telford between 1803 and 1822, it is the longest staircase lock in Britain, lifting boats 64 feet (20 m). It consists of eight locks, each 180 feet (55 m) by 40 feet (12 m), and it takes boats about 90 minutes to pass through the system.

Ness Islands

The Ness Islands are situated on the River Ness, connected by suspension briges. The islands are a walking spot for tourists and locals and are home to a number of imported species of trees.

New Bridge

New Bridge is a 13th-century bridge carrying the Abingdon–Witney road over the River Thames in Oxfordshire, England, close to the Thames' confluence with the River Windrush. It is one of the two oldest surviving bridges on the Thames, part Grade I and part Grade II*-listed. The bridge is in a rural setting, with a public house at either end: the Maybush Inn on the south bank and the Rose Revived on the other.

Nungate Bridge

This 16th century red sandstone bridge over the River Tyne in the East Lothian town of Haddington is limited to pedestrian traffic and is just about wide enough for a horse and cart. There are two 18th century arches on the eastern approach. The bridge itself is over 210ft [6.4m] long and 14ft 8 ins [1.4m] across the parapets; it has three main arches.

Old Stirling Bridge

Stirling Old Bridge is a stone bridge which crosses the River Forth. For over 300 years it provided the lowest crossing point of the Forth and so had strategic importance. The bridge originally had arches at either end and a defensive gate at the end nearer the burgh. Tolls were levied on goods being taken across the bridge.

Overtoun Bridge

A majestic bridge which was on the approaching road to Overtoun House, near Dumbarton in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It was a category B-listed structure completed in 1895, based on a design by the landscape architect H. E. Milner.

Pero's Bridge

Pero's Bridge is a pedestrian footbridge that spans Bristol's floating harbour, and was named in honour of Pero Jones, an enslaved African who lived in Bristol. The bridge was designed by the Irish artist Eilis O'Connell, in conjunction with Ove Arup & Partners engineers and opened in 1999. The most distinctive features of the bridge are the pair of horn-shaped sculptures which act as counterweights for the lifting section.

Pooh Sticks Bridge

Poohsticks Bridge in Ashdown Forest, East Sussex, was first built in 1907 and provides the setting for the beloved children's novels. The wooden bridge was officially declared closed on Monday after the wooden railing was ripped from the side of the bridge and the uprooted tree was left lying across the river.

Prebends Bridge

Prebends Bridge is a Grade I listed structure and a scheduled monument which was designed by George Nicholson and built from 1772 to 1778. It is one of three masonry structures on the loop of river that surrounds the cathedral, and is now part of the Durham World Heritage Site.

Royal Border Bridge

The Royal Border Bridge spans the River Tweed between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Tweedmouth in Northumberland, England. It is a Grade I listed railway viaduct built between 1847 and 1850, when it was opened by Queen Victoria. The engineer who designed it was Robert Stephenson . It was built for the York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway and is still in regular use today, as part of the East Coast Main Line. Despite its name, the bridge does not in fact span the border between England and Scotland, whic

Shillingford Bridge

Shillingford Bridge is Grade II* listed road bridge near Shillingford, Oxfordshire, carrying an unclassified road (formerly the A329 road) across the River Thames in England on the reach above Benson Lock. The bridge provides access between Shillingford to the north of the river and Wallingford to the south. The bridge is single track and vehicular passage is controlled by traffic lights.

Map of Bridges to explore in United Kingdom