Itchen Bridge

This is the iconic Itchen Bridge which is the last crossing of the River Itchen before it merges into the sea of Southampton Water about a mile downstream.

Yet time was when the crossing here was by twin chain ferries linking the eastern part of Southampton with the city centre, and it shows my age when I admit it was a favourite Saturday afternoon pastime to take my young daughter for a regular treat to cross the water on the “floating bridge.”

The new permanent bridge, pictured here, replaced the twin floating bridges back in 1977, and still imposes a toll for traffic using it to cross the half-mile length, 92 feet above the river at its highest point, and for pedestrians provides an unrivalled vantage point to view the river and Southampton’s dockland.