Arizona Bought London Bridge and Put It in the Desert
We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you ... you're just helping re-supply our family's travel fund.
London Bridge was bought from London and rebuilt in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The landmark joins a famous British past with a working waterfront in the desert. Its original granite forms cladding, an outer facing attached to a separate load-bearing structure. You can enjoy its history during an easy public visit.
The setting feels unusual at first: stone from a city London landmark now spans the Bridgewater Channel. The surrounding area mixes homes, shops, boats, and open water, so the bridge feels part of daily community life, not a display behind ropes. You can take a short walk or stay to enjoy the waterfront.
Key Takeaways
- London Bridge is a public landmark in Lake Havasu City.
- Its original exterior granite faces a reinforced-concrete frame.
- You can walk, drive, or cycle across the bridge.
- English Village and Bridgewater Channel sit nearby.
- The lake supports water storage as well as recreation.
Its appeal is the contrast between a celebrated British landmark and an everyday Arizona waterfront.
How London Bridge Lake Havasu City Came to Arizona
The bridge standing over the Arizona channel began as John Rennie’s 1831 crossing of the River Thames. Its history spans several bridges, a planned community, and a careful move of the original exterior stone. Only the outer granite came from the 1831 structure; reinforced concrete now carries the load.
From the Thames to John Rennie’s 1831 bridge
The first stone London Bridge was built between 1176 and 1209. It stood for centuries, until its replacement opened in 1831. John Rennie designed that newer bridge, but his son completed it after his death.
By 1962, the 1831 bridge could no longer safely handle the traffic load. London needed a replacement, while the old structure still had valuable granite on its outside. The modern Tower Bridge, often confused with London Bridge, is a different landmark.
Why Robert P. McCulloch bought it
Entrepreneur Robert P. McCulloch saw the bridge as a way to draw visitors to Lake Havasu City and help his planned community grow. He finalized the 1968 purchase of London Bridge on April 18, paying £1.02 million, or $2.46 million at the time.
McCulloch bought London Bridge to attract visitors and support growth in his planned community.
That choice tied the new city to an old British landmark, giving the area a striking feature that could also serve local traffic. The sale was a business decision, not a mistaken bid for another bridge.
How numbered granite blocks reached Arizona
Workers numbered all 10,276 original exterior granite blocks before shipping them. They traveled through the Panama Canal to Long Beach, California, then continued to Arizona for reassembly.
The project reused the stone as exterior masonry over a reinforced-concrete structure. Shipping, assembly, and Bridgewater Channel dredging cost $7 million. The rebuilt bridge stretches 930 feet and was rededicated on October 10, 1971.
Its granite face preserves the look of the old crossing, while the concrete frame handles modern use. The familiar Tower Bridge mix-up is a rumor, not the reason McCulloch bought London Bridge.
Can You Visit and Cross the Bridge for Free?
You can walk, drive, or cycle across the public bridge without buying an admission ticket. Access is free for seeing and crossing the landmark, so you can build a visit around the time you have. Pedestrians, motorists, and cyclists all use the bridge.
Public access on foot, by car and by bike
A map of London Bridge in Lake Havasu City helps you see how the bridge links the mainland with the Island. Directions are simple: reach the bridge from either side, then follow the public route that suits your mode of travel. Traffic continues to use this working crossing.
| Mode | Route | Access detail |
|---|---|---|
| Walking across the bridge | Bridge sidewalk | No admission ticket |
| Driving across the bridge | Vehicle lanes | Public road crossing |
| Cycling across the bridge | Bridge route | Public crossing |
Parking, maps and routes around the island
The Go Lake Havasu Visitor Center is at 422 English Village, beside the mainland end of the bridge. Free parking is identified at the center, which can serve as a clear starting point before you cross. Visitors need no admission ticket to see, walk across, or drive across the public landmark.
The Island Trail map helps you orient yourself beyond the bridge. Before setting out, check these four details:
- Public parking spots on the Island
- Public restrooms on the Island
- The Channel Walk walking trail
- Your starting point on the mainland or Island
A short mainland-to-Island crossing can stay brief, while the map helps you add a longer walk. Save the Island Trail map before setting out so public parking and restrooms are easy to locate.
What Is There to Do Around English Village and the Channel?
A good visit pairs a slow walk over the bridge with time beside the water or in English Village. The draw is the setting: an old bridge, a channel, and an open-air mall in one compact area. Plan for a relaxed history-and-waterfront stop, not a full day indoors.
The bridge and English Village
English Village was built as an open-air mall near the bridge. Shops, restaurants, and lodging make the Island setting useful for more than a quick look at the stonework. You can browse, sit down for a meal, or simply watch people move between the shops and the channel.
The public walk gives you a close view of the arches and masonry without needing a formal tour. It is an accessible attraction, but it is not a large museum with hours of exhibits. A guided tour may add context if you want more history than the walk provides.
Channel-side time and visitor expectations
Bridgewater Channel is the waterfront setting for boating and waterside walks. Follow the paths for views of the bridge from the water’s edge, or pause to watch boats pass through the channel. The shifting mix of stone, open water, and everyday activity gives the stop its character.
For a broader Arizona water trip, Lake Powell’s red-rock coves offer a different kind of lake scenery, with boat and kayak routes. Here, the appeal is closer to town and shaped by the bridge, shops, and channel.
Reviews of London Bridge in Lake Havasu City are best judged against what the place offers: a public historic walk and a pleasant waterfront setting. It suits a few easy hours better than wilderness hiking or a full day of museum exhibits. Treat the landmark as an easy waterfront outing, not a full-day museum destination.
What Lies Beneath Lake Havasu, and How Is Its Water Managed?
Lake Havasu is a managed water-storage reservoir, not just the scenery around the bridge. Its average depth is 35 feet, and its maximum depth is 90 feet. Storage is the main job, with water pumped into the Central Arizona Project Aqueduct and the Colorado River Aqueduct.
Water depth, elevation and aqueducts
The lake must stay near a set elevation for legal and structural reasons. Its required range is 445 to 450 feet, even during severe Colorado River droughts. That managed range does not make the lake physically impossible to deplete.
Lake Havasu’s storage role links the reservoir to water supplies beyond the local town. The term bridge lake may sound like a separate place, but the water around London Bridge is part of Lake Havasu. Its level is managed for the lake’s role in the regional aqueduct systems.
Aubrey Landing and unusual wildlife
Aubrey Landing was a former river landing and mining town, later inundated when Lake Havasu formed. Its post office closed on November 3, 1886, long before the lake covered the site. The submerged town adds a human layer to the lake’s history, beyond stones and bridge construction.
Wildlife reports need careful wording. Animal-control officials received at least one beaver-related call in the Havasu region in 2023. A reported 2022 alligator sighting was traced to a caiman released into the lake by its owner.
The reported 2022 animal was a released caiman, so do not describe that sighting as proof of an alligator population.
How to Plan a Relaxed Visit and Get Better Photos
The bridge’s arches and stonework are easiest to photograph when the desert light is softer. Early morning and late afternoon generally bring gentler light than midday sun. That softer light can bring out the granite masonry without washing out its shape.
Summer midday heat can make exposed walks uncomfortable, so plan outdoor time with the season in mind. The Bridgewater Channel and Island Trail give you different views, one close to the water and one across the Island.
| Photo location | Viewpoint | What fits in the frame |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge deck | Along the crossing | Arches and granite masonry |
| Channel Walk | Waterfront path | Bridge above the water |
| Island Trail | Island-side path | Bridge and channel together |
In summer, keep the outdoor portion short around midday and carry water and sun protection.
A patient wait can help you catch boats in the channel rather than an empty stretch of water. Give yourself room to walk, look up at the stonework, and wait for the scene to change.
- Choose early morning or late afternoon light.
- Wait patiently for activity on the channel.
- Carry water and use sun protection.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes.
In summer, keep the outdoor portion short around midday and carry water and sun protection.
Conclusion
London Bridge is both a relocated piece of history and a working part of Lake Havasu City. Its original stone gives the Arizona waterfront an unexpected link to London, while daily traffic keeps the crossing tied to the community.
Choose the kind of visit that fits your day: a short walk over the bridge or a longer stretch beside the water. Either choice lets you see how the old exterior and modern construction sit within the life of the city. Choose your walking route before you arrive, then leave time to enjoy the waterfront at your own pace.
