Explore Lake Havasu City’s London Bridge
Lake Havasu City, Arizona is home to one of Europe’s most famous historical landmarks – The London Bridge. It’s a strange place to see the Union Jack or other symbols of Great Britain. But, people come from around the world to enjoy the desert lake and see a bit of European history at the London Bridge.
Find out how to spend a day at the London Bridge in Lake Havasu City.
Wait? What? The London Bridge?
Yes, the London Bridge spans Lake Havasu. But, why?
Here’s the story. This bridge, built in the 1830s was purchased in 1968 by Robert McCulloch, for a planned community he established on the shores of Lake Havasu. The bridge was meant to draw tourist and homebuyers to McCulloch’s newly established community. The purchase price was somewhere around $2.4 million.
After the purchase, as the bridge was deconstructed, each facing piece was numbered and mapped for reassembly in the United States. The 10,276 pieces were transported by sea, through the Panama Canal to Long Beach, California. They then traveled by road to Lake Havasu City.
It took three years. Re-construction finished in 1971.
If You Build It, They Will Come
As anticipated, the London Bridge became a tourist draw, and Lake Havasu City grew and prospered in subsequent years. It is now a popular destination town in the desert, drawing tourists year round with special events, and the London Bridge.
But, a bridge by itself is a minimal draw. So, an open mall grew around the bridge. Over time, the mall included restaurants, souvenir shops, boat rentals, and a museum.
The London Bridge
Of course, the main draw to this downtown area is the London Bridge.
It was fun for our family to see this piece of Europe in the American West.
The bridge has lampposts made from melted down cannons from Napoleon’s failed Battle of Waterloo. And, you find the Union Jack flag flying over the bridge.
Nearby, you’ll find the infamous English red telephone booths.
The cobbled walkways remind one of walking some of the oldest London streets.
The English Village
Around the bridge is the English village, which is the open air mall.
The village does have a number of restaurants and gift shops to peruse.
The London Bridge Museum
In the village, you can step inside the museum, to learn some about the London Bridge’s history and it’s reconstruction in Arizona.
The museum has a lot of displays and memorabilia for the Anglophile in your group.
There also is a map where you can place a pushpin at your hometown.
The London Bridge Resort
The hotel overlooks the London Bridge and Lake Havasu.
It also has a full size replica of the Coronation Coach that carried Queen Elizabeth II to her coronation event. Another fun item for your Anglophile to see during a visit to the town.
You don’t need to spend the night at the resort to see the carriage.
Ride the Dixie Belle
The Dixie Belle is a paddlewheel boat docked at the English village.
The paddleboat provides tours of Lake Havasu, including a popular sunset cruise.
We got to take the sunset tour, which gives you an interesting, different look at the London Bridge and other parts of Lake Havasu.
During the tour, we were able to spot machine gun bullet holes we had not seen during daylight hours. The indentations are marks of the German aerial attacks on England During WWII.
Final Thoughts on Lake Havasu City
The London Bridge and English Village is a fun stop on a trip to Lake Havasu City. You can definitely spend a good portion of the day strolling the open air-mall, riding the Dixie Belle, and exploring the museum. It’s especially fun for those who appreciate all things British.
You Might Also Enjoy:
Take a look at our Guide to Kings Beach, Lake Tahoe.
If you like history, you’ll love learning about the history of currency at the Money Museum.
Come along with us on a Tour of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
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