Seeing London afresh, one bridge at a time

Bridges aren’t necessarily something you think of as being beautiful, particularly if you consider them primarily as the means to cross a river, rather than as works of art. London, however, has always been famous for its bridges, many of which are architectural marvels. From medieval London Bridge, piled high with shops and houses, to the gothic beauty of Tower Bridge, their variety is one of their most interesting assets.

The capital has built itself up around the river over thousands of years, and its bridges offer contrasting viewpoints of the city. This is all emphasised in Bridge at the Museum of London Docklands (until 2 November).  It is one thing to look up at buildings from the street, but the panorama that emerges when you view London from a bridge is entirely different. We also tend to see bridges from above, rather than from below. But as the works in the exhibition show, an alternative viewpoint can make a whole world of difference.