Step into the sky: A fresh way to experience London's historic Tower Bridge

Until recently, my favourite travel anecdote involving London's Tower Bridge had been riding across it years ago on an open-top bus, and my friend's hat flying off her head in the breeze and landing on the roadway.

Despite the traffic, the bus stopped in the middle of the bridge, my friend jumped off to retrieve her hat and once back onboard, the bus tour continued, as we laughed at the ridiculousness of the experience.

Since then, I've never given the historic bridge much thought. But a recent visit, involving a trip across the bridge's two sky-high glass walkways along its criss-crossed steel trusses, has changed all that. Rather than just another London picture-perfect landmark, I now consider stepping inside Tower Bridge a must for seeing the city from a whole new perspective.

I'm a little late in discovering the Glass Floors and Walkways as this year marks the 10th anniversary of their opening. But better late than never. After travelling from the roadway level up 33 metres in an old lift, the doors open to reveal a general landing area with displays detailing the rich history of the structure. Then it's a step to the left to the Eastern Walkway, which traverses the top trusses of the bridge and features the Glass Floors that look directly down to the roadway and the Thames.

The Glass Floors are almost 12 metres long and nearly two metres wide, and it's here the reverential respect for the historical significance of the 1894 bridge is abandoned by most, and the fun and games begins. The Glass Floors altered the bridge experience into an interactive attraction that now demands engagement rather than just a walk-through.

This is where you'll find visitors posing in the middle of, lying on, gingerly stepping over and staring through the six-layers of thickened glass. Coupled with the extended mirrored ceilings, this is the spot to capture the best shot of the view of seemingly walking on air atop the bridge.

Pretty soon, I'm also twisting my body in the middle of the glass and under the giant mirrors in an attempt to get the best selfie pic, as one red London double-decker bus after another rolls across the roadway below.

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The "walking on air" experience continues along the Glass Floors of the Western Walkway, which not only serves up more city landscapes but also offers an up-close view of some of the 13 million rivets that hold the structure together.

There's something of a treat in seeing visitors engage with an attraction that dates from Victorian times but now offers not just a new perspective on itself, but also some of the best views of the city and up and down the famous waterway.

While the Walkways and Glass Floors are the main attractions, a ticket also gives entry to the old engine rooms on the southern side which explains why the bridge was considered a marvel of engineering when it first opened. The giant original steam engines may have been replaced by electricity almost 50 years ago, but the machinery still looks impressive.

Where: Tower Bridge Ticket Office and entrance is on the west side of the North Tower. The closest tube stop is Tower Hill.

When: Doors open at 9.30am and close at 6pm. Entry fees are £13.40 ($26) for adults and £6.70 for children.

Explore more: towerbridge.org.uk