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List of bridges in the United Kingdom facts for kids

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The United Kingdom is home to many amazing bridges! These structures help people and vehicles cross rivers, valleys, and other obstacles. From ancient stone bridges to modern cable-stayed designs, each one tells a story about how people have connected places over time. This article will explore some of the most important road and footbridges across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

England's Famous Bridges

England has a huge variety of bridges, from busy city crossings to quiet, historic structures in the countryside. Let's explore some of the most well-known ones.

Bridges in Greater London

London is famous for its many bridges over the River Thames. These bridges are not just ways to cross the river; they are also important landmarks.

Name Location Built Historic Grade Notes
Albert Bridge Battersea and Chelsea 1873 II* A beautiful suspension bridge.
Battersea Bridge Battersea and Chelsea 1890 II
Blackfriars Bridge Blackfriars 1869 II
Chelsea Bridge Chelsea and Battersea 1937 II A type of Suspension bridge.
Chiswick Bridge Chiswick and Mortlake 1933 II
Golden Jubilee Bridges Charing Cross and South Bank 2002 These are footbridges next to the Hungerford Railway Bridge.
Hammersmith Bridge Hammersmith and Barnes 1887 II* Another Suspension bridge.
Hampton Court Bridge Hampton and East Molesey (Surrey) 1933 II Its south end is in Surrey.
Kew Bridge Kew 1903 II
Lambeth Bridge Westminster and Lambeth 1932 II
London Bridge City of London and Southwark 1973 A modern Box girder bridge.
London Millennium Bridge City of London and Bankside 2000 A suspension footbridge.
Putney Bridge Putney and Fulham 1886 II
Richmond Bridge Richmond 1777 I
Richmond Footbridge Richmond and St Margarets, London 1894 II*
Royal Victoria Dock Bridge London Docklands 1998 A high-level footbridge.
Southwark Bridge City of London and Southwark 1921 II
Tower Bridge Tower Hamlets and Southwark 1894 I A famous Bascule bridge that opens for ships.
Twickenham Bridge Richmond 1933 II*
Vauxhall Bridge Vauxhall and Pimlico 1906 II*
Wandsworth Bridge Battersea and Parsons Green 1940 A Cantilever bridge.
Waterloo Bridge South Bank 1945 II* Another Box girder bridge.
Westminster Bridge Westminster and Lambeth 1862 II*

Bridges in the Rest of England

Beyond London, England has countless bridges, some very old and some very new. They cross many rivers and valleys, helping people travel all over the country.

Name County Location Built Historic Grade Notes
Aldford Iron Bridge Cheshire Aldford 1824 I This bridge crosses the River Dee.
Avonmouth Bridge Somerset Avonmouth 1974 It carries the M5 motorway over the River Avon.
Bakewell Bridge Derbyshire Bakewell c1300s I A very old bridge crossing the River Wye.
Barnstaple Long Bridge Devon Barnstaple 1280 I This long bridge crosses the River Taw.
Barton Road Swing Bridge Greater Manchester Barton-upon-Irwell 1894 II A swing bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal.
Berwick Bridge Northumberland Berwick-upon-Tweed 1624 I It crosses the River Tweed.
Bewdley Bridge Worcestershire Bewdley 1798 I It crosses the River Severn.
Bideford Long Bridge Devon Bideford C15 I Another old bridge crossing the River Torridge.
Bromford Viaduct West Midlands Birmingham 1972 This M6 Motorway bridge over the River Tame is the longest viaduct in Britain.
Bridge of Sighs Cambridgeshire Cambridge 1831 I A famous bridge crossing the River Cam.
Clifton Suspension Bridge Bristol Clifton 1864 I Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, it crosses the Avon Gorge.
Clopton Bridge Warwickshire Stratford-upon-Avon 1480 I This historic bridge crosses the River Avon.
Corbridge Bridge Northumberland Corbridge 1674 I It spans the River Tyne.
Eamont Bridge Cumbria Eamont Bridge C15 I This old bridge crosses the River Eamont.
Elvet Bridge County Durham Durham C13 I It spans the River Wear.
Essex Bridge Staffordshire Great Haywood 1550 I This bridge crosses the River Trent.
Framwellgate Bridge County Durham Durham C15 I Another old bridge spanning the River Wear.
Gallox Bridge, Dunster Somerset Dunster C15 I It crosses the River Avill.
Galton Bridge West Midlands Smethwick 1829 I This bridge crosses a canal and was the world's longest single-span bridge when built by Thomas Telford.
Gateshead Millennium Bridge Tyne and Wear Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne 2001 A unique pedestrian tilt bridge over the River Tyne.
Godmanchester Chinese Bridge Cambridgeshire Godmanchester 1827/2010 II* This special bridge spans the River Great Ouse.
Great Barford Bridge Bedfordshire Great Barford C15 I It spans the River Great Ouse.
Grosvenor Bridge Cheshire Chester 1832 I It spans the River Dee.
Henley Bridge Oxfordshire and Berkshire Henley and Remenham 1786 I It spans the River Thames.
High Bridge Lincolnshire Lincoln 1160 I This is the oldest bridge in the UK with shops on it, spanning the River Witham.
High Level Bridge Tyne and Wear Newcastle upon Tyne 1849 I A road and rail bridge across the River Tyne.
Holme Bridge Derbyshire Bakewell 1664 I It crosses the River Wye.
Horrabridge Bridge Devon Horrabridge c. 1400 I It spans the River Walkham.
Humber Bridge East Riding of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire Kingston-upon-Hull 1981 This was once the longest single-span bridge in the UK, spanning the Humber Estuary.
The Iron Bridge Shropshire Ironbridge 1781 I The world's first cast-iron bridge, crossing the River Severn.
Kildwick Bridge North Yorkshire Kildwick 1313 I It spans the River Aire.
Maidenhead Bridge Berkshire and Buckinghamshire Maidenhead and Taplow 1777 I It spans the River Thames.
Marlow Bridge Buckinghamshire and Berkshire Marlow and Bisham 1832 I A suspension bridge across the River Thames.
Newbridge, River Thames Oxfordshire Abingdon and Whitney C14 I and II* A very old bridge spanning the River Thames.
Newsham Bridge Lincolnshire Brocklesby Park 1772 I It crosses Newsham Lake.
Northgate, Chester Cheshire Chester 1810 I A footbridge over Northgate Street.
Old Bridge, Huntingdon Cambridgeshire Huntingdon 1332 I It spans the River Great Ouse.
Old Dee Bridge Cheshire Chester 1387 I It spans the River Dee.
Orwell Bridge Suffolk Ipswich 1982 It spans the River Orwell.
Prebends Bridge County Durham Durham 1778 I It spans the River Wear.
Pulteney Bridge Somerset Bath 1774 I This unique bridge crosses the River Avon and has shops along its length.
Queen Elizabeth II Bridge Kent and Essex Dartford and Thurrock 1991 A cable-stayed bridge over the Thames estuary.
Radcot Bridge Oxfordshire Radcot c. 1200 I One of the oldest bridges, spanning the River Thames.
Rotherham Bridge South Yorkshire Rotherham by 1483 I It spans the River Don.
St Ives Bridge Cambridgeshire St Ives C15 I It spans the River Great Ouse.
Sunderland Bridge County Durham Sunderland Bridge C 14 I It spans the River Wear.
Swarkestone Bridge Derbyshire Swarkestone C13 I It crosses the River Trent.
Tarr Steps Somerset Exmoor National Park 1000 BC I An ancient clapper bridge over the River Barle.
Teston Bridge Kent Teston C14 I It spans the River Medway.
Thornborough Bridge Buckinghamshire Thornborough and Buckingham C14 I It crosses Padbury Brook.
Tickford Bridge Buckinghamshire Newport Pagnell 1810 I An iron bridge over the River Ouzel.
Trinity Bridge Lincolnshire Crowland 1390 I This former river crossing is now on dry land.
Trinity College Bridge, Cambridge Cambridgeshire Cambridge 1765 I A road bridge over the River Cam.
Twizell Bridge Northumberland Duddo 1511 I It crosses the River Till and is now a footbridge.
Wilton Bridge Herefordshire Wilton and Ross-on-Wye 1599 I It spans the River Wye.

Bridges Connecting England and Wales

Some bridges connect England and Wales, crossing important rivers that form part of the border between the two countries.

Name County Location Built Historic Grade Notes
Bigsweir Bridge Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire St Briavels and Llandogo 1827 II* A cast-iron bridge over the River Wye.
Farndon Bridge Cheshire and Wrexham Farndon and Holt 1339 I This historic bridge crosses the River Dee.
Old Wye Bridge Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire Tutshill and Chepstow 1816 I It spans the River Wye.
Severn Bridge Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire Aust and Chepstow 1966 I A famous Suspension bridge crossing the River Severn and the River Wye.
Second Severn Crossing Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire Severn Beach and Sudbrook 1996 A Cable-stayed bridge crossing the River Severn.

Bridges Connecting England and Scotland

Bridges also connect England and Scotland, often crossing the River Tweed which forms part of their border.

Name County Location Built Historic Grade Notes
Coldstream Bridge Northumberland and Borders Cornhill-on-Tweed and Coldstream 1767 II* It spans the River Tweed.
Ladykirk and Norham Bridge Northumberland and Borders Norham and Ladykirk 1887 II It spans the River Tweed.
Union Chain Bridge Northumberland and Berwickshire Horncliffe and Fishwick 1820 I This chain bridge spans the River Tweed.

Scotland's Bridges

Scotland has many impressive bridges, from those in its bustling cities to those in its stunning natural landscapes.

Bridges in Glasgow

Glasgow has many bridges, mostly crossing the River Clyde. They are vital for getting around the city.

Name Location Built Historic Grade Notes
Albert Bridge Saltmarket and Gorbals 1871 Cat A A road bridge (A8) next to the City Union Bridge.
Bell's Bridge Pacific Quay and SECC 1988 A footbridge built for the Glasgow Garden Festival.
Clyde Arc Finnieston and Pacific Quay 2006 A road bridge, often called the Squinty Bridge.
George V Bridge Tradeston and Glasgow City Centre 1928 Cat B A road bridge (A77) for northbound traffic.
Glasgow Bridge Central Glasgow (Jamaica Street) and Laurieston 1899 Cat B A road bridge (A77) for southbound traffic, sometimes called Jamaica Bridge.
Kingston Bridge Kingston and Anderston 1970 A Cantilever bridge carrying the M8 over the River Clyde.
Millennium Bridge Pacific Quay and SECC 2002 A footbridge between the Glasgow Science Centre and a hotel.
South Portland Street Suspension Bridge Glasgow city centre (Clyde Street) and Laurieston 1853 Cat A A footbridge.
St. Andrew's Suspension Bridge Glasgow Green and Hutchesontown 1855 Cat A Another footbridge.
Tradeston Bridge Tradeston and IFSD (Broomielaw) 2009 A footbridge, known as the Squiggly Bridge.
Victoria Bridge Central Glasgow (Stockwell Street) and Laurieston 1854 Cat A A road bridge (A730), sometimes called Stockwell Bridge.

Bridges in the Rest of Scotland

Scotland's landscape is full of rivers and lochs, making bridges essential for travel.

Name County Location Built Historic Grade Notes
Bridge of Dee Aberdeen Aberdeen 1527 Cat A It spans the River Dee.
Brig o' Balgownie Aberdeen Old Aberdeen 1320 Cat A A very old bridge spanning the River Don.
Canongate Bridge Scottish Borders Jedburgh 16th Century Cat A A sandstone bridge over the Jed Water.
Clachan Bridge Argyll and Bute Oban 1793 Cat A This bridge connects the Isle of Seil to the mainland.
Craigellachie Bridge Moray Aberlour 1814 Cat A A cast iron bridge across the River Spey.
Brig o' Doon Ayrshire Alloway C15 Cat A It spans the River Doon.
Drygrange Old Bridge Scottish Borders Melrose 1780 Cat A A disused bridge over the River Tweed.
Erskine Bridge West Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire Erskine 1971 A Cable-stayed box girder bridge carrying the A898 over the River Clyde.
Forth Road Bridge Edinburgh and Fife South Queensferry and North Queensferry 1964 Cat A It carries the A90 road over the Firth of Forth.
Kalemouth Suspension Bridge Scottish Borders Kalemouth c. 1830 Cat A A wrought iron bridge spanning the River Teviot.
Kelso Bridge Scottish Borders Kelso 1803 Cat A It spans the River Tweed.
Ken Bridge Dumfries and Galloway New Galloway 1824 Cat A It spans the Water of Ken.
Millhousebridge Bridge Dumfries and Galloway Millhousebridge 1827 Cat A It spans the River Annan.
Musselburgh Bridge East Lothian Musselburgh 16th C. Cat A It spans the River Esk.
Old Bridge of Dee Dumfries and Galloway Bridge of Dee 1740 Cat A It spans the River Dee.
Perth Bridge Perth and Kinross Perth 1771 Cat A Also known as Smeaton's Bridge, it crosses the River Tay.
Queensferry Crossing Edinburgh and Fife South Queensferry and North Queensferny 2017 A modern cable-stayed bridge carrying the M90 motorway over the Firth of Forth.
Tay Road Bridge Fife and Dundee Newport-on-Tay 1966 It carries the A92 road over the Firth of Tay.
Tweed Bridge Scottish Borders Peebles C15 Cat A It spans the River Tweed.
Yair Bridge Scottish Borders Yair c1764 Cat A It spans the River Tweed.

Northern Ireland's Bridges

Northern Ireland also has many important bridges, from historic railway viaducts to modern road crossings.

Name County Location Built Historic Grade Notes
Albert Bridge County Antrim and County Down Belfast 1890 It spans the River Lagan.
Bann Bridge County Londonderry Coleraine 1924 The only bascule railway bridge in Northern Ireland, spanning the River Bann.
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge County Antrim Ballintoy 2008 A fun pedestrian walkway to Carrickarede island.
Craigavon Bridge County Londonderry Derry 1933 A double-deck bridge over the River Foyle.
Craigmore Viaduct County Armagh Newry 1852 This is the tallest railway bridge in Ireland.
Foyle Bridge County Londonderry Derry 1984 It spans the River Foyle.
Peace Bridge County Londonderry Derry 2011 A pedestrian and cycleway bridge over the River Foyle.
Queen Elizabeth II Bridge County Down Belfast 1966 It spans the River Lagan.
Queen's Bridge County Down Belfast 1849 It spans the River Lagan.
Senator George Mitchell Peace Bridge County Fermanagh and County Cavan (ROI) Belturbet 1999 Named after George J. Mitchell for his role in the peace process.

Wales' Bridges

Wales is known for its stunning landscapes and impressive bridges, especially those designed by famous engineers like Thomas Telford.

Isle of Man Bridges

The Isle of Man, a self-governing island in the Irish Sea, also has its own notable bridges.

Name Location Built Historic Grade Notes
Braddan Bridge Braddan Braddan Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 24356.jpg This bridge crosses the River Dhoo.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Puentes del Reino Unido para niños

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