Axeperience has two venues: London Tower Hill (EC3N 1JJ) and Birmingham city centre. They run the same session format, the same equipment, and the same instructor certification. The experience quality is identical. So the choice between them comes down entirely to practicalities — where you’re based, what’s easier to get to, and what you’re planning around the session.
This guide covers every practical difference between the two venues so you can make the right call for your group without guessing.
The Short Answer
| Quick verdict Based in London or the South East → London Tower Hill. Based in the Midlands, North, or Wales → Birmingham city centre. Group coming from different directions → whichever has better transport connections for the majority. Flexible on location → both are identical in experience. Choose based on price (Birmingham evening dining is typically 20-30% cheaper) and accommodation costs. |
Location and Transport
London — Tower Hill
Basement Floor, 48-51 Minories, London EC3N 1JJ. Sits at the edge of the City of London, steps from the Tower of London and adjacent to Aldgate.
Tower Hill tube (Circle/District): 3-minute walk. Exit and head north along Tower Hill Road, then onto the Minories.
Aldgate (Circle/Metropolitan/Hammersmith & City): 4-minute walk.
Aldgate East (District/Hammersmith & City): 6-minute walk.
Fenchurch Street (National Rail): 7-minute walk. Liverpool Street 12 minutes on foot or 2 stops by tube.
By car: NCP Minories car park is on the same street. Evening rates from approximately £6-10. ULEZ applies.
For live journey planning from anywhere in London, the TfL Journey Planner routes you door to door including real-time service updates.
Birmingham — City Centre
Central Birmingham location. The venue is accessible by every major transport option from the city centre and surrounding areas.
By train: New Street Station is Birmingham’s main hub — the venue is within walking distance or a short taxi ride.
By tram: West Midlands Metro serves the city centre. Check current stops for the nearest point to the venue.
By car: Multiple NCP car parks within 5 minutes’ walk. Grand Central NCP and The Mailbox car park are both convenient.
From surrounding Midlands: Birmingham is accessible from Wolverhampton, Coventry, Leicester, Nottingham, and Derby within 30-60 minutes by train.
For full transport details, parking options, and everything about the Birmingham venue specifically, our complete Birmingham venue guide covers all of it.
Session Format — Identical at Both Venues
The session experience is the same at both venues. If you’ve read about one, you know the other:
Duration: 60 minutes at both venues.
Format: Safety briefing (0-10 min) → Practice throws (10-20 min) → Games (20-40 min) → Tournament (40-60 min).
Instructor: Certified instructor for the full session at both venues.
Equipment: All equipment provided at both — axes, targets, safety gear. Nothing to bring.
Group size: 2 to 60 per session at both venues. Exclusive lane hire available at both.
For a detailed minute-by-minute breakdown of exactly what happens in a session, our full session guide covers every phase at both venues.
Pricing — Identical at Both Venues
| Off-peak (Sun–Wed) | £30pp at both London and Birmingham |
| Peak (Thu–Sat) | £35pp at both London and Birmingham |
| Corporate groups (10+) | From £25pp at both venues (off-peak) |
| Exclusive lane hire | Contact us at both venues — same pricing structure |
| VIP package | Available at both — exclusive lane + snacks + drinks + trophy |
| Gift vouchers | Valid at either venue — recipient chooses when booking |
For the complete price breakdown including all session types and add-ons, our axe throwing cost guide covers every tier at both venues.
Opening Hours
| Monday – Wednesday | 12:00 – 20:30 (both venues) |
| Thursday – Friday | 12:00 – 22:00 (both venues) |
| Saturday – Sunday | 11:00 – 22:00 (both venues) |
What’s Different Between the Two Venues
Surrounding area
London Tower Hill sits at the edge of the City of London — the restaurant and bar options within walking distance are predominantly City of London establishments: formal, expensive, and geared toward the financial sector. For post-session drinks and dinner, the surrounding EC3 area has options but they skew expensive. Shoreditch is a 15-minute walk for more independent venue choices.
Birmingham city centre has a more varied and generally cheaper surrounding area. Digbeth, the Jewellery Quarter, and Brindleyplace are all within 15-20 minutes, offering a full range of independent restaurants, bars, and nightlife at prices typically 20-30% lower than central London equivalents.
Accommodation
Overnight stays near Tower Hill (for stag/hen groups staying overnight) typically cost £80-£140pp for a central hotel. Zone 2 options (Shoreditch, Canary Wharf) bring this down to £60-£100pp.
Overnight stays in Birmingham city centre are significantly cheaper: £40-£80pp for equivalent quality. The Mailbox area and Brindleyplace have strong hotel options at rates that make Birmingham considerably more cost-effective for overnight group events.
Catchment area
Tower Hill draws primarily from Greater London, the South East, and Home Counties. Easy train access from the south coast, Kent, Essex, and Surrey makes it the natural choice for groups from those areas.
Birmingham draws from the Midlands, Wales, the North West, and increasingly the North East as HS2 connections improve. Groups from Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, and Cardiff often find Birmingham more practical than London despite the London brand recognition.
Which Venue for Which Occasion
| London stag do | Tower Hill. City of London location between bars and restaurants. |
| Birmingham stag do | Birmingham city centre. Cheaper surrounding area, strong stag infrastructure. |
| London hen party | Tower Hill. Strong tube access from all London zones. |
| Birmingham hen party | Birmingham. Cheaper accommodation, lively city centre night scene. |
| London corporate event | Tower Hill. Proximity to City of London and Canary Wharf corporate offices. |
| Birmingham corporate event | Birmingham. Accessible from across the Midlands by rail without coming to London. |
| Gift voucher recipient | Either — the recipient chooses which venue when they book. |
Reviews — What Visitors Say About Each
Both venues hold Axeperience’s overall 7,500+ five-star review count across Google and Tripadvisor. The review sentiment is consistent across both locations — the instructor quality is the most frequently mentioned positive at both venues, followed by the competitive tournament structure and the ‘I didn’t think I’d enjoy it but I loved it’ first-timer experience.
The City of London location generates specific compliments about post-session options — proximity to the EC3 pub and restaurant scene. The Birmingham venue generates more comments about value — the session quality relative to the price, and the accessible location from across the Midlands.
Booking — How It Works for Both Venues
Both venues book through the same online system. When you select your session, you choose the venue, date, time, and number of participants. Payment is taken at booking to secure the slot. Confirmation is instant.
Live availability for both venues — book London Tower Hill and Birmingham city centre through the same booking system.
Frequently Asked Questions — London vs Birmingham
Can I buy a voucher for one venue and use it at the other?
Yes. Gift vouchers are valid at either venue — the recipient chooses which one when they redeem the code online. There is no venue-specific restriction on vouchers.
Is the quality different at London vs Birmingham?
No. The same session format, the same instructor certification requirements, the same equipment specifications. If anything, the reviews suggest Birmingham visitors are sometimes pleasantly surprised by the quality relative to expectation — a bias built by the assumption that the London venue would be the stronger option.
Can one group book at both venues on the same trip?
Yes, but it’s unusual — London and Birmingham are 1h 20m apart by train. A few corporate clients have booked both venues on successive days for team offsites split across the two cities. Contact us directly at info@axeperience.co.uk if you’re planning a multi-venue booking.
Which venue has more lanes for larger groups?
Contact us directly for large group bookings — group capacity varies and we can advise on the best venue configuration for your specific headcount. Both venues can accommodate groups of up to 60 across simultaneous lanes.
