Nope. Not a typo. This is not about flying buttresses, even though they are super-cool on their own. No, this is about an average British chap simply doing his job and then, all of a sudden, hey presto! He’s a hero. The driver who ‘jumped’ his bus over the Tower Bridge gap. It’s a true story and what a legend he was. Or was it?
There are various tales floating around about this. Did it even happen? Did he get his reward? Will we ever know? It’s worth the effort to find out. On 30 December 1952, a double-decker bus drove on to Tower Bridge on its usual route between Shoreditch and Dulwich. It was late in the evening, dark and the temperature had dipped below freezing. It was a couple of weeks after the great smog had brought London to a standstill, and although that particularly foul miasma had dispersed, smog still regularly reduced visibility. Read the story here
That is a fascinating and well-known story, but is it an urban legend? The tale of a London bus driver jumping his vehicle over the River Thames is a fictional narrative and has never actually happened, or so they say. No matter what, though, you can easily walk or take a taxi across that beautiful legend. You can even climb up into the Tower itself with guided tours. Definitely worth it. When your editor lived in London, it was De Rigueur to visit. And while you’re there, visit nearby Shad Thames. Lovely pubs, galleries & food. Free walks
A lovely stroll and buckets of history. I worked there. PS: The power of AI tells us that While the story is a testament to the power of film and urban legends, there is no historical record or evidence of a London bus ever jumping the Thames. The incredible width and height of London’s bridges make such a stunt physically impossible in real life.
Our affiliate partner, Viator can show you around London, including Tower Bridge. To book, click here.