London Bridge is Falling Down

You'll probably know it, but what does it mean? Has London Bridge ever fallen down? Sing along with us and find out.

London Bridge is Falling Down

London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.

Build it up with wood and clay,
Wood and clay, wood and clay.
Build it up with wood and clay,
My fair lady.

Wood and clay will wash away,
Wash away, wash away.
Wood and clay will wash away,
My fair lady.

London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.

Build it up with silver and gold,
Silver and gold, silver and gold.
Build it up with silver and gold,
My fair lady.

Gold and silver I have none,
I have none, I have none.
Gold and silver I have none,
My fair lady.

London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.

Build it up with iron bars,
Iron bars, iron bars.
Build it up with iron bars,
My fair lady.

What's the story behind London Bridge is Falling Down?

Yep, you guessed it – London Bridge is Falling Down is about one of the capital's most famous features: London Bridge. There's been a bridge very close to where the current London Bridge stands for nearly two thousand years.

Bridges have been destroyed and rebuilt there many times, so it’s difficult to know which disaster the song is about.

Could it be about one of the many fires that burnt it down? Is it about a Viking attack on London? Or is it about the many different times the bridge was destroyed, with each verse describing a new bridge being built and then destroyed again?

When was London Bridge built?

The first London Bridge was built by the Romans around 50 CE and the town of Londinium grew around it.

Although archaeology tells us that people were in London before the Romans, there's no proof that they lived in the city all year round. The Romans were the first people to do so.

  • A detailed vintage illustration of London Bridge, depicting buildings on the bridge and boats in the river below, with text at the bottom describing the scene.

    The medieval London Bridge was lined with shops and houses.

  • Historical engraving of the new london bridge, showing its multiple arches and classical architectural details, with small boats and river debris in the foreground.

    The 'new' London Bridge made from stone that now lives in the United States.

How many times has London Bridge fallen down?

Many, many times. The first London Bridge was probably destroyed with the rest of Roman Londinium by Queen Boudica in 61 CE.

The city was abandoned for a long time, until the Saxons moved in and rebuilt London Bridge sometime during the 900s. This settlement was a rich trading port which attracted attacks from Vikings. During this time there lots of battles and in 1014 the bridge was pulled down.

King Henry II decided to rebuild London Bridge in stone. With so many bridges destroyed, it’s no wonder he wanted something more permanent. It was finished in 1209 and used for over 600 years.

When the medieval bridge was eventually pulled down, the scrap wood and iron was recycled into knives and forks. Can you imagine eating your dinner with a piece of London Bridge?

Is it true one London Bridge is now in the USA?

Yes! The stone bridge that opened in 1831 was used for over 100 years. That bridge was sold and is still in use today – not in London but as a crossing in Lake Havasu in the United States.

The popular story goes that the American who bought London Bridge thought they were buying Tower Bridge instead. While this is a funny story, it isn’t true. The person who bought it knew exactly which bridge they were buying.

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