London’s Embarrassing, Failed Structure
The story of the wobbly Millennium bridge.
The Millennium Bridge, across River Thames, between St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tate Modern Museum, January 3, 2026 at 3:11:45 PM. Looking to the south, Tate Modern is visible on the right side of the image.
(Photographed minutes before this image of St. Paul’s at dusk was taken.)
A Wikipedia article goes into great detail about the fiasco. It begins thus:1
The Millennium Bridge, officially known as the London Millennium Footbridge, is a steel suspension bridge for pedestrians crossing the River Thames in London, England, linking Bankside with the City of London. … Construction began in 1998, and it initially opened on 10 June 2000.
Londoners nicknamed it the “Wobbly Bridge” and even the “Wibbly Wobbly” after pedestrians experienced an alarming swaying motion on its opening day. The bridge was closed later that day and, after two days of limited access, it was closed again for almost two years so that modifications and repairs could be made to keep the bridge stable and stop the swaying motion. It reopened in February 2002, after real-life safety tests were conducted by 700 staff from engineering consultancy Arup.
Photo (EXIF) Deets:
Camera Model: FujiFilm X100 VI
Date Time Original: Jan 3, 2026 at 3:11:45 PM
Exposure Time: 1/125
FNumber: 5.6
Focal Length: 23
Photographic Sensitivity (ISO): 125
Altitude: 55 m (180.45 ft)
Altitude Reference: above sea level
Latitude: 51° 30’ 39.09” N
Longitude: 0° 5’ 56.552” W
© Copyright 2026 Jeremy Butler.