According to its website, the Tower Bridge is scheduled to lift on 11 Nov 2011 at 11:00 and 12 Nov 2011 at 9:20. Where would the best vantage point be to watch the lift on these dates/times? If we were to go to the Tower of London when it opens in the morning, would we be able to see the bridge lift while in the courtyard?

Not sure about from The Tower but you would get a decent view from Butlers Wharf - on the opposite side of the river. There are lots of cafes and restaurants along there as well.

Kay

see my post on your other thread . . .

Thank you both for your quick replies. Janisj – I’m not quite sure why my question posted twice. I think I may have double clicked when posting? However, the time stamps show that the posts are hours apart. Weird.

"<i>However, the time stamps show that the posts are hours apart. Weird.</i>"

I see them as 4 minutes apart. I don't know which time zone you're in so don't know which 'hour' applies, but this one is 11 mins past the hour and the other is 15 mins past.

When I read "watch," I think "photograph." So the answer depends on what kind of picture you want, either on film, in bytes or in your mind. I agonized over this the first time I planned to watch a lift. On my second trip, I decided to use a completely different perspective on the Bridge. Let me explain a bit, and then you can decide for yourself.

The first time I went, I took the Bridge tour in order to understand how this marvelous structure actually worked, thus satisfying the technological curiosity in my little engineer's brain. I came out of the tour and walked back to the tour entrance, located just on the North side of the channel and the West side of the Bridge. This location was as close as we (DW & I) could get to the actual lift and we waited a while with a crowd of people. The good thing about this view is you are right on top of the action here. You will be able to get multiple shots of the South Bridge deck lifting as well as the vessel passing below. You will not be able to get both towers in a picture unless you have an extremely wide angle lens.

The second time I photographed a lift I stationed myself on the North bankside outside the Tower. I like this area with the stone paving, seating and shade trees; it is easy to comfortably wait here. It is also a nice place to pose with the Bridge in the background while you are waiting for the lift. This view will be a longer shot that can encompass both Bridge towers and the vessel. Eastbound vessels (towards the sea) will first pass you here on the way to the Bridge. I was looking towards the sun during the morning lift that day, but it was totally obscured by the heavy clouds.

I looked at the schedule for the two days in your op and here’s what I would suggest. If you can only watch one lift on the 11th, position yourself on a Westside bank like I describe in my second time above. This vantage emphasizes the magnificence of the Bridge while providing a long shot of the vessel. The vessel will be Westbound and will be coming towards your position.

What piqued my interest was the passage on the 12th. Here we have a much more interesting flotilla passing below. For this one, I would want to be on the Bridge, on its eastside, so I can photograph the fleet as it approaches from the East as well as some good close ups as it passed under the Bridge. In other words, this is a special event and the Lord Mayors Flotilla would be my focus. It would be interesting to photograph both lifts with these different perspectives.

VolCrew makes a good point. 12 November is the Lord Mayor's Show (the installation of the - ceremonial - Lord Mayor of the City for the coming year). There will be a big parade around the City in the morning (a good vantage point for this is on Ludgate Hill around 11, or along Queen Victoria Street for the return procession about 1pm) and fireworks (well worth seeing) prompt at 5pm - for these I would try to get to the South Bank, between Blackfriars Bridge and Waterloo Bridge - Coin St/ Gabriel's Wharf offers the best vantage point. Be aware there will be crowds of people around for the fireworks.

http://www.lordmayorsshow.org/

The Flotilla sounds like a reinvention of the river pageants of old. I wasn't aware of this last year, but this is what it looked like:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paul_cl...7625259018337/

You might be interested in this piece about lifting Tower Bridge (not an option open to ordinary people):

http://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/09/...-tower-bridge/

PatrickLondon, I forgot to mention the fireworks - so good of you. And I enjoyed the article, too!

Thank you all so much. I really appreciate your help. I knew about the fireworks so I thought I'd spend the day in Southwark exploring the sites and work my way up to the area near Blackfriars Pier to see them.

I would recommend strolling and munching through Borough Market (but the cheese sandwiches are no longer there), touring Southwark Cathedral (there is a Roman excavation in a hallway between the old and new buildings) and stopping at Drake's Golden Hind. All are right there in close proximity.

Oh, and right across the street from the Market is the George Inn, the last remaining galleried inn in London (according to DW). Near here was a gathering point for Chaucer's Pilgrims.

>> I thought I'd spend the day in Southwark exploring the sites and work my way up to the area near Blackfriars Pier to see them.<<

All a matter of taste, but I honestly think staying on the South Bank would give you a better view - from the area between Gabriel's Wharf and the Oxo Tower you are right by the barges they're launched from. By Blackfriars pier, you are that much further away, and the crowds may make it difficult to get across Blackrfriars Bridge from the South Bank.

Ditto what Volcrew said, we had a lovely day wandering Southbank and eating our way through the markets then made sure we were in a good spot to watch the bridge lift. Plenty to fill a day.

PatrickLondon - great tip. I will definitely take your advice. Thanks again everyone!