Where: London, SE1

What: More famous for the bridges that aren't there, than for the rather uninspiring bridge that currently is. There have been many bridges on this site, the first having been built by the Romans and said to be the first permanent bridge across the thames.

Then in 1013, after Danish Vikings had taken London, King Aethelred the Unready (the then King of England) and his ally, St. Olaf of Norway, managed to manoeuvre their ships beneath the bridge. The Danes lined London Bridge and showered the attackers with spears. Undaunted, the attackers pulled the roofs off nearby houses and held them over their heads in the boats. Thus protected, they were able to get close enough to the bridge and (according to a Norse tale) "tied ropes around the supporting posts, and rowed downstream as hard as they could....until....the bridge fell" along with most of the Danish garrison. This is thought to be the origin of the old rhyme, "London Bridge is falling down".

Repaired, restored or replaced many times, the wooden bridge was then replaced by the 'Old' London Bridge. The 'old' London bridge was the first in London built entirely of stone and dated from (bad) King John's reign (the King John of the Robin Hood stories). This bridge was to remain the only London bridge crossing the Thames until 1739. It took 30 years to complete and lasted over 600 years, until 1832. Some of its more interesting features were a drawbridge and houses along its length.

The 'old' London bridge was replaced by a newer London Bridge in 1831. Again built in stone, in the late 1960s this London Bridge was sinking into the clay of the Thames, a victim of its own immense weight. London officials had to replace the bridge, but what to do with the old one?

Enter chainsaw magnate Robert McCulloch. He and a friend purchased the second 'london bridge (that) is falling down' for $2.4 million. At the time it was the highest price ever paid for an antique. For the next three years workers disassembled the bridge, then flew its bricks to America where they were hauled to then-tiny Lake Havasu City, Arizona, U.S.A. Once there they were reassembled over a newly dug out lagoon alongside Lake Havasu. When the reconstruction was complete in 1971 this London Bridge soon became a tourist attraction in America.

Which brings us to the current London Bridge, and there is not much to see really. It does offer a good distance view of Tower Bridge and of HMS Belfast. Other than that, it's a bridge over a river, like many others.

The bank of england museum is on Threadneedle Street, close to london bridge.

Nearest underground station: London Bridge and Bank