London Bridges
An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the upper back.
Starting position
End position
How to Do London Bridges
- Attach a climbing rope to a high beam or cross member. Below it, ensure that the smith machine bar is locked in place with the safeties and cannot move. Alternatively, a secure box could also be utilized.
- Stand on the bar, using the rope to balance yourself. This will be your starting position.
- Keeping your body straight, lean back and lower your body by slowly going hand over hand with the rope. Continue until you are perpendicular to the ground.
- Keeping your body straight, reverse the motion, going hand over hand back to the starting position.
Muscles Worked
Alternatives to London Bridges
10 movements that train the same primary muscle, closest substitutes first — same kind of training, then variations of the movement itself, then a similar difficulty.
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1
Alternating Kettlebell Row
An intermediate isolation strength exercise that works the upper back, using a kettlebell.
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2
Bent Over Two-Arm Long Bar Row
An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a barbell.
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3
Full Range-Of-Motion Lat Pulldown
An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a cable machine.
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4
Lying T-Bar Row
An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a machine.
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5
One-Arm Kettlebell Row
An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a kettlebell.
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6
Reverse Grip Bent-Over Rows
An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a barbell.
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7
Seated One-arm Cable Pulley Rows
An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a cable machine.
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8
Two-Arm Kettlebell Row
An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a kettlebell.
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9
V-Bar Pulldown
An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a cable machine.
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10
Wide-Grip Pulldown Behind The Neck
An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a cable machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What muscles do london bridges work?
London Bridges primarily works the upper back. The biceps and forearms assist as secondary muscles.
What equipment do I need for london bridges?
The source dataset does not record equipment for london bridges. Check the instructions above before you set up.
London Bridges: is it suitable for beginners?
London Bridges is rated intermediate. Movements that assume you already own the basic pattern and are ready to load it.
What can I do instead of london bridges?
Alternating Kettlebell Row, Bent Over Two-Arm Long Bar Row, Full Range-Of-Motion Lat Pulldown train the same primary muscles and are listed with 7 more alternatives above.
Can Fitnit count my london bridges reps automatically?
Not automatically yet. Fitnit's AI rep counting covers push-ups, squats, dumbbell curls, crunches and pull-ups today; london bridges can be logged manually in the app, and tracked movements are added over time.
Photographs and step-by-step instructions from free-exercise-db, a public-domain exercise dataset. Muscle mapping and alternatives by Fitnit.
Track Your London Bridges with AI
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