Tower Bridge and The Monument

• Tower Bridge Exhibition to host an evening of talks about London, its history, engineering and culinary delights from some of the city’s best-known voices, from inside the high-level Walkways on the glass floor
• The event will feature Roma Agrawal, Matt Green, Adrian Evans, Rosie Boycott and The Gentle Author
• Monday 14 September from 7.30pm – 9pm
• Tickets: http://5x15stories.com/
• For further information: towerbridge@kallaway.com or 0207 221 7883
  
  

This Autumn, the most famous bridge in the world will host a captivating after hours event, as five of the London’s well-known and diverse speakers entertain the audience with tales of the city below – holding the floor for 15 minutes each. Rosie Boycott, Matt Green, Roma Agrawal, Adrian Evans and The Gentle Author will impart their stories of London in a one-off event beginning in the Bridge’s North Tower and ending on its famous glass floor.

Surrounded by the Bridge’s original features structural engineer Roma Agrawal will share her experience of being one of few women who helped design the great engineering feat that is The Shard. With Spitalfields just a stone’s throw away, The Gentle Author will then take guests back to life at the turn of the century in East London. Rosie Boycott will deliberate on ‘why we’re all getting fat’ – with an exploration of food around London. Artistic director of the Thames Festival Trust, Adrian Evans, who recently organised the first concert beneath the river, will discuss the Thames as a cultural landmark. Finally, the evening will draw to a close with Dr. Matt Green bringing the history of London to life on the glass floor, whilst city life continues beneath their feet.   

Guests can enjoy delicious drinks and canapés provided by Tower Bridge Events Management partner, Seasoned.

Eleanor O’Keeffe, Director of 5x15 said:“5x15 is thrilled to be working with Tower Bridge in such an exclusive and unique 5x15 format. With talks by The Gentle Author, Rosie Boycott and the phenomenal Adrian Evans taking place 42 metres above the Thames, it's going to be a heady experience.”

Chris Earlie, Head of Tower Bridge said: “We’re delighted to be hosting this special edition of 5x15 at Tower Bridge. As a heritage attraction with a state of the art glass floor feature, the Bridge offers a unique setting to experience London’s rich history in a contemporary way. We look forward to hosting these leading thinkers in an evening that will combine fantastic views over the city, engaging conversation and drinks and canapés provided by award-winning caterers Seasoned.”

Colin Sayers, Chief of Seasonedsaid: “As the onsite event management company we are excited to provide catering for this unique event. We manage many events, but to work on something dedicated to London’s history and architecture, just makes it that little bit more special. Great food and great stories of London, the guests will have a blast.”

The talks come at an exciting time for Tower Bridge Exhibition after the launch of its Glass Floor, giving visitors an extraordinary new perspective from which to experience London. They can now enjoy spectacular views from 42 metres above the Thames and learn more about its history through the animations and stories throughout the exhibition. Visitors should be sure not to miss the Engine Rooms where the original Victorian steam engines which once powered the Bridge are on view.

The Engine Rooms also play host to Art at the Bridge # 6 – an exhibition of stunning paintings in partnership with Southwark Arts Form (SAF). Visitors are invited to follow the blue line to admire the works of artists above the age of 55 with the theme ‘Tides of Change: charting life’s ebbs and flows’.

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Notes to Editors:

Tower Bridge (http://www.towerbridge.org.uk/)

• Tower Bridge was the creation of architect Sir Horace Jones and civil engineer Sir John Wolfe Barry. It took eight years to complete and was officially opened on 30 June 1894 by the Prince and Princess of Wales (the future King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra)

• Tower Bridge Exhibition opening hours:

o   Summer Opening Hours: April - September 10:00 - 17:30 (last admission)

o   Winter Opening Hours: October - March 09:30 - 17:00 (last admission)

• Admission prices for Tower Bridge Exhibition:
• Adults: £9
• Children aged 5-15: £3.90
• Groups of 10 or more: £3.40
• Concessions: £6.30
• Family tickets from £18
• Under 5s free

• The nearest underground stations are London Bridge or Tower Hill

• The experience visiting the high-level Walkways has now been bolstered with the addition of the new glass floor, which gives visitors a unique perspective of London 42 metres above the Thames. Guests are able to tread on the glass floor whilst traffic passes beneath their feet – the glass floor panels can withstand the weight equivalent to one elephant or two London Black Cabs.

• The popular Great Bridges of the World exhibition has been refreshed, now featuring 40 of the world’s most revered bridges, each of which represents a breathtaking feat of engineering.

• Tower Bridge are supported by The City of London Corporation – a uniquely diverse organisation, in that it not only promotes and supports the City and provides it with a full range of services, but provides wider services for London and for the nation as a whole. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk.

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