Pool House by the Bay

Lake Havasu City

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Lake light seen from the backyard

Lake Havasu City

London Bridge

Arizona's second-largest tourist attraction: a 19th-century London bridge rebuilt over the Bridgewater Channel, 10 minutes from a private pool house.

How a London bridge ended up in the Arizona desert

The bridge was built in 1831, spanning the River Thames. By the 1960s it was sinking, unable to handle modern traffic. The City of London put it up for sale. Robert McCulloch, the chainsaw magnate who had founded Lake Havasu City a few years earlier, bought it in 1968 for US$2.5 million.

Sundt Construction of Tucson disassembled the bridge stone by stone, marked each one, and shipped them through the Panama Canal to Arizona. Reassembly cost another $7 million and took three years. On October 5, 1971, the London Bridge was inaugurated over a man-made channel that connected Lake Havasu to Thompson Bay, turning a peninsula into an island and giving the bridge water to cross.

Today it is the second-largest tourist attraction in Arizona, behind only the Grand Canyon.

Details you can see if you look

  • WWII graffiti. On the island side of the bridge, near the abutment, two names are carved into the stone: “Aug. 1942 Sgt. Fitzwater, Pfc. Smith.” Two American 1st Infantry Division servicemen left them while on weekend leave from maneuvers with British commandos. Strafing scars from German aircraft fire are also visible.
  • Napoleon's lampposts. When the British defeated Napoleon at Waterloo, they seized his army's cannons, melted them down, and cast them into the ornamental lampposts that still line the bridge.
  • Severed-head history. Between 1305 and 1660, the heads of executed criminals were displayed on spikes at the southern gateway of the original London Bridge. The relocated bridge sits on the same stones. Some locals say it is haunted.

What to do at London Bridge

  • Walk the bridge

    Open to pedestrians and cars. Look for the WWII carvings on the island abutment and the Napoleonic lampposts along the railings.

  • English Village

    Shops, restaurants, ice cream, and souvenirs on the east side of the channel. Tourist-facing but worth a walk-through.

  • Bridgewater Channel

    Placid, no-wake water between the bridge and the island. Cruise it by boat, jet ski, paddleboard, or kayak. Boat-in dining lines both sides.

  • Channel-side restaurants

    The Chair, Barley Brothers, Shugrue's, Javelina Cantina, Turtle Grille, and more. Some take boat-in diners. The Chair has outdoor tables right on the water.

  • Rubba Duck Safari

    Guided boat tours from the English Village. A way to see the channel and the bridge from the water if you did not bring a boat.

  • Kayak and paddleboard rentals

    Southwest Kayaks and other outfitters rent from near the bridge. The channel is calm enough for beginners.

  • Replica lighthouses

    27 replica lighthouses line the lake and the island. Walk the loop or cruise past them by boat.

  • Events at the bridge

    The Boat Parade of Lights in December, Winterfest on McCulloch in February, and concerts and markets throughout the year.

Getting there from the house

Pool House by the Bay is in north Lake Havasu City, about 10 minutes from London Bridge by car. The house sits on the lake side of AZ-95, in a quiet residential neighborhood. The channel and the restaurants are a short drive. The backyard is a private pool.

See the full list of what to do in Havasu on the things to do page, or check annual events if you are planning around a festival.

FAQ

London Bridge questions

How far is Pool House by the Bay from London Bridge?
About 10 minutes by car. The house is in a residential neighborhood in north Lake Havasu City, on the lake side of AZ-95. London Bridge, English Village, and the Bridgewater Channel are about 10 minutes south.
Can you walk across London Bridge in Lake Havasu?
Yes. London Bridge spans the Bridgewater Channel and is open to pedestrians and vehicles. You can walk across it, stop and look at the WWII-era graffiti on the island side, and continue into the English Village shops and restaurants.
What is there to do at London Bridge Lake Havasu?
Walk the bridge, explore English Village (shops, restaurants, ice cream), eat at a channel-side restaurant like The Chair or Barley Brothers, rent a kayak or paddleboard, take a Rubba Duck Safari boat tour, or cruise the Bridgewater Channel by boat. The replica lighthouses on the island are a short walk or boat ride.
Why is London Bridge in Arizona?
Robert McCulloch, the founder of Lake Havasu City, bought the bridge from the City of London in 1968 for $2.5 million when it was being replaced. The stones were disassembled, shipped through the Panama Canal, and reassembled over three years. It was inaugurated on October 5, 1971, and is now Arizona's second-largest tourist attraction after the Grand Canyon.
Where should I stay near London Bridge in Lake Havasu?
Pool House by the Bay is a four-bedroom vacation home about 10 minutes from the bridge, with a private heated pool, spa, game room, and room for 10. You get the bridge and the channel during the day, and a quiet backyard at night.

Stay near the bridge, sleep near the lake

A four-bedroom Lake Havasu vacation home with a private heated pool, about 10 minutes from London Bridge and English Village. Sleeps 10.

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