Millennium Bridge

• Type: Muggle Infrastructure
• Location: London, England
• Owner/Residents: The Muggle government and public
• Key Features: A bridge crossing the River Thames

The Brockdale Bridge, as it is known in the novel, was a major Muggle bridge in London. In the summer of 1996, it was targeted by Death Eaters as part of Lord Voldemort's campaign of terror following his public return. The attack, which was confirmed by Cornelius Fudge to the Prime Minister of Muggles, did not completely destroy the bridge but caused it to “twist and buckle.” This severe structural damage resulted in a dozen cars plunging into the River Thames and caused “a few deaths.” The incident was one of several mysterious catastrophes that plagued the Muggle world, signaling the beginning of the Second Wizarding War's open conflict. The name “Millennium Bridge” is an adaptation for the film series; the canonical name for the destroyed bridge is the Brockdale Bridge.

The destruction of the Brockdale Bridge is the first major event described in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. It serves as the opening example of the chaos and fear that Lord Voldemort and his followers were spreading throughout Britain, affecting not just the wizarding world but the Muggle world as well. The incident is used by Cornelius Fudge to impress upon the Prime Minister of Muggles the extreme gravity of the situation and the reality of Voldemort's return to power. It effectively sets the dark, ominous tone for the remainder of the novel and the escalating war.

• In the book Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the structure is a fictional road bridge named the Brockdale Bridge that carries vehicle traffic.
• The film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film) changes this location to the real-life, iconic Millennium Bridge, a pedestrian-only steel suspension bridge in London.
• The attack in the film is depicted far more dramatically than described in the novel. A swarm of Death Eaters, visibly led by Fenrir Greyback (film), descends upon the bridge, casting spells that cause its support cables to snap and the structure to oscillate violently before shattering and collapsing into the River Thames, endangering hundreds of Muggles (film).
• The decision to use a real landmark for the film adaptation likely served to heighten the sense of realism and immediacy of the threat for the audience (film).