As recommended by: Keppochhill, Johanes, Chloderloser, & others
This bridge was the first major steel structure to be built in Britain, with construction beginning in 1883 and finishing in 1890. The image of the Forth bridge is one that has powerful connotations in Scotland, featuring regularly in popular culture (also cropping up in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, thanks to Edinburgh game developer Rockstar North). Chloderloser thinks that disregarding the Forth bridge is “twisted”. Photograph: Sportsphoto Ltd/Allstar
As recommended by: attagil & elizwyatt1
Construction of the Pont du Gard begun in the first century AD by the Romans to serve as an aqueduct carrying water to the colony at Nîmes from its source at Uzès. Over time it became clogged by mineral deposits and debris, stopping the flow of water. Following the collapse of the Roman empire the bridge served as a toll crossing and is now one of France’s most popular tourist attractions. Attagil attests that the “Pont du Gard is amazing and beautiful”. Photograph: Travel Ink/Getty Images
As recommended by: UrbanGourou, Karmapolice, & others
When it was constructed in 1883, Brooklyn bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world (the title was taken by Williamsburg bridge in 1903). It is now a staple of the New York City tourism industry. UrbanGourou says that bridges, such as the Brooklyn bridge, “[are] essential social and economic links, and cultural icons”. Photograph: Steve Kelley/Flickr/Getty Images
As recommended by: ThelneffableSwede
The Øresund bridge is the longest combined road and rail bridge in Europe, stretching almost 8 kilometres between Sweden and Denmark. Construction began in 1995 and ended a mere four years later in 1999. Swedish Crown Princess Victoria and Danish Crown Prince Frederik met halfway across the bridge to celebrate its completion. Photograph: BRIAN RASMUSSEN/AP
As recommended by: reasonforlide & augite
This historic bridge was the first arch bridge in the world to be constructed of cast iron, naturally making it a feat of historic civil engineering despite being only 200ft in length. It was named a World Heritage Site in 1986, making it one of England’s first. Reasonforlife believes that this bridge marks “the birth of the industrial revolution”. Photograph: Paul Thompson/Corbis
As recommended by: CatchTwentyToo & melissa500
The Stari Most was finished in 2004. It is a reconstruction of the original 16th-century Ottoman bridge that stood in its place but was destroyed in 1993 during the Croat-Bosniak war. Photograph: Walter Bibikow/Corbis
As recommended by: Fraxby, captainlukeron, johnrhys1987, & others
The Puente Nuevo is the third in a series of bridges that span the chasm dividing the city of Ronda in Spain. It took a staggering 42 years to build and includes a chamber beneath the central arch that, on regular occasions, was used as a prison; now it serves as a museum for the bridge. Captainlukeron recommends that this bridge is “absolutely stunning and ancient… Go immediately.” Photograph: Mike Kipling /Alamy
As recommended by: am1964 & Haneen1
Also known as the Anji bridge, this is the world’s oldest example of a stone segmental arch bridge. Constructed between 595 and 605, it is China’s oldest standing bridge, having survived numerous wars, floods and earthquakes. Am1964 believes that this bridge is an “engineering marvel”. Photograph: REX/Stock Connection/Rex Features
As recommended by: appealforsanity, tokyosushi, & others
Popular for still having operational shops along it, as once was the norm, the Ponte Vecchio in Florence is a noted tourist attraction. Recently it has also become popular thanks to the craze of affixing padlocks to its railings as a romantic gesture, as popularised in Russia and Asia. This practice is actually quite damaging to the structure of the bridge and thousands of padlocks have to be removed regularly. Photograph: Rex Features
As recommended by: mooneym, marion57, losttheremote, & others
The Tyne bridge is a defining feature of the Tyneside area, built in 1928. Linking Newcastle and Gateshead, it stretches 389 metres and is open to road traffic and pedestrians. Marion57 feels that not including the Tyne bridge was a “gaping omission”. Photograph: Mark Sunderland/Alamy
