City of London Corporation

Tower Bridge is managed by the City of London Corporation, the sole trustee of the charity Bridge House Estates. 

The Corporation is a uniquely diverse organisation with three main aims:

• to support and promote the City as the world leader in international finance and business services
• to provide high quality local services and policing for those working in, living in and visiting the Square Mile
• to provide valued services to London and the nation as a whole, including its role as one of the most significant arts sponsors in the UK and its support for the economic development of the surrounding boroughs.

Managed by the City of London Corporation, Tower Bridge adheres to its relevant plans and polices including their safeguarding policy and their modern slavery statement. See further details on all plans and policies here.  

The City of London Corporation is older than Parliament and its experience and tradition underpin its modern role as the provider of key services. Elected Members, headed by the Lord Mayor, operate on a non-party political basis.

Tower Bridge was constructed over 125 years ago by Bridge House Estates, which is now one of London’s largest independent charities.

Originally founded by Royal Charter in 1282 to build and maintain London Bridge, the charity now also looks after Blackfriars Bridge, Southwark Bridge and more recently, Millennium Bridge. Its income was initially generated through bridge tolls, taxes levied on goods transported over London Bridge and from properties that once lined the river crossing.

Today, while Bridge House Estates maintains its original function as an established City of London entity, it now operates a charitable arm called City Bridge Trust. Entrusted with managing the surplus funds accumulated by the institution since its foundation, this philanthropic division supports a vast range of Greater London charitable causes, environmental initiatives and social investment.

As part of Bridge House Estates, any profit generated by Tower Bridge is invested directly into the capital in the form of charitable grant making funds so by visiting Tower Bridge, visitors will help to support worthy causes across London.

Interested in finding out more about the Bridge House Estates? Why not read our blog post, which explores the origins of this ancient organisation.

Read the blog