I went to a private school where some of the teachers were freemen of the city of London. Apparently, they could request that tower bridge be raised. None of them ever tried, but I believe it is some weird legacy law. They also had the right to drive their sheep across London Bridge, but that one has burnt down, burnt down, burnt down.
The bridge was designed to allow using the elevated sidewalk when the drawbridge is up. It does not go up often anymore.
Fun fact:
I went to a private school where some of the teachers were freemen of the city of London. Apparently, they could request that tower bridge be raised. None of them ever tried, but I believe it is some weird legacy law. They also had the right to drive their sheep across London Bridge, but that one has burnt down, burnt down, burnt down.