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The UK once boasted the longest inhabited bridge in Europe, complete with residences, shops and even a chapel all perched above the water. However, this bridge was eventually torn down and replaced by a new one that still stands today.

This 282-metre long bridge was teeming with life as it became a residential hub. The bridge, adorned with parapets and towers, morphed into a mini city ecosystem right in the heart of London.

This bridgeis none other than the Old London Bridge.

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The medieval incarnation of the bridge was ordered by King Henry II in 1209 following his murder of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The construction of the bridge was an attempt to atone for his heinous act.

The chapel on the bridge, named after Thomas Becket, was believed to be the starting point for pilgrimages to the Archbishop's tomb in Canterbury. However, the bridge had its fair share of macabre moments, reports the Express.

The heads of William Wallace, Thomas More and Thomas Cromwell were displayed on stakes over the wooden drawbridge. Houses and businesses flanked the bridge on both sides, with a road running through the centre.

Sadly, the renowned bridge succumbed to flames in 1212, resulting in numerous fatalities. But this wasn't the end for London Bridge.

By the late 14th Century, the bridge was home to 140 houses, each towering four or five storeys high.

Public toilets were situated at either end, but legend has it that in 1481, one of them collapsed into the Thames, causing the drowning of five men.

Throughout its history, the bridge suffered numerous fires, including the infamous 1666 Great Fire, leaving it in a fragile state and necessitating drivers to stick to one side of the road.

Eventually, the structures were demolished, leading to the decision to construct an entirely new bridge. Architect John Rennie won a competition in 1799 to design this new structure.

The new bridge was built without additional buildings and featured five stone arches. However, this isn't the bridge that stands in London today.

In 1968, the stonework was sold to an American entrepreneur and reassembled as a tourist attraction in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

The current structure, known as London Bridge, was opened in 1973 and is constructed from concrete and steel. Queen Elizabeth II inaugurated the modern edifice, which cost £4million.