Tower Hill sits in one of London’s most historically dense and visually extraordinary corners. Within a ten-minute walk you have the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the Thames riverfront, one of the City of London’s best-kept-secret dining areas, and — tucked underneath a Victorian railway arch just steps from the tube — Europe’s highest-rated axe throwing venue.
Whether you’re planning a full day in this part of London or you’re looking for things to do before or after a session at Axeperience, this guide covers the best of what Tower Hill and the surrounding area has to offer.
Getting to Tower Hill
Tower Hill is served by Tower Hill station on the Circle and District lines — one of the most central and well-connected stops in east London. Aldgate and Aldgate East (Hammersmith & City / District lines) are both within ten minutes’ walk. Fenchurch Street National Rail station is five minutes away on foot.
The area is walkable from London Bridge (15 minutes), Liverpool Street (10 minutes), and Canary Wharf (10 minutes via the Thames path or DLR to Shadwell). By bike, it sits on several of London’s major cycle routes along the riverfront.
1. Axe Throwing at Axeperience — Tower Hill
Start here — or end here. Axeperience at Tower Hill is Europe’s highest-rated axe throwing venue, with over 7,500 five-star Google reviews and a Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice award. It sits at Basement Floor, 48-51 Minories — two minutes’ walk from Tower Hill tube.
Expert-led sessions run for 60 minutes, accommodate up to 8 people per lane, and cost from £30pp. Corporate packages, stag and hen party packages, and VIP options are all available. The venue is 18+ and sessions run daily.
- Best for: Groups, couples, stag and hen parties, corporate teams, date nights
- Book: axeperience.co.uk/booking/
- Transport: 2 minutes from Tower Hill station (Circle/District)
2. The Tower of London
One of the most visited attractions in the world — and for good reason. The Tower of London is a genuine 1,000-year palimpsest of English history: William the Conqueror’s original white tower, the Crown Jewels in Waterloo Barracks, the Bloody Tower, the ravens, the Beefeaters, and the stories that make every child’s history lesson come alive.
For visitors who want to go beyond the standard tour, the Tower runs evening events, special exhibitions, and after-hours experiences that give the site a completely different atmosphere. Booking in advance is strongly recommended, especially on weekends between April and October.
- Opening hours: Tue–Sat 9:00–17:30, Sun–Mon 10:00–17:30 (seasonal variation)
- Cost: Adults £34.80, children £17.40 (book online for best prices)
- Transport: Exit Tower Hill station and it’s visible from the station entrance
3. Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is more extraordinary up close than it appears in photographs. The Victorian Gothic towers, the high-level glass walkway with views along the Thames in both directions, and the engine rooms — which still house the original Victorian hydraulic machinery used to raise the bascules — make this a proper attraction rather than just a photogenic backdrop.
The Tower Bridge Exhibition includes access to the high-level walkways (glass floor included) and the engine rooms. On the days when the bridge opens to let tall ships through — which still happens regularly — watching the two bascule sections rise is an unexpectedly impressive spectacle.
- Cost: Adults £14.00, children £6.60
- Best time to visit: Early morning or early evening for the best light and smaller crowds
- Opens: 10:00–18:00 daily (last entry 17:00)
4. The Thames Riverside Walk
The section of Thames riverfront between Tower Bridge and London Bridge (via the South Bank) or between Tower Bridge and Wapping (heading east) is one of the finest stretches of walking in the capital. The juxtaposition of medieval fortress, Victorian industrial bridge, and 21st-century Shard in a single eyeline is uniquely London.
Walking east from Tower Bridge along the north bank toward St Katharine Docks takes about 20 minutes and passes through the yacht marina at St Katharine’s, Wapping’s old dock architecture, and the atmospheric riverside pubs of Wapping Stairs. In the other direction, the Southwark side of the Thames offers Borough Market, Tate Modern, and the Globe Theatre.
5. St Katharine Docks
Five minutes east of Tower Bridge, St Katharine Docks is one of London’s best-kept food and leisure secrets. The dock itself — one of the last working Victorian docks to survive relatively intact — is now home to a marina of sailing yachts and houseboats, surrounded by restaurants and bars that manage to feel like a European port rather than a central London tourist trap.
Dickens Inn, The Pommeler’s Rest, and Bravas Tapas are consistently the best dining options in the immediate area. The dock itself is free to walk around at any time, and the atmosphere on a summer evening — boats, candlelit restaurant terraces, the Shard and Gherkin visible above the roofline — is genuinely special.
- Best time: Early evening, especially from April to September
- Cost: Free to visit; restaurant prices vary
6. Borough Market (15-minute walk)
The walk from Tower Hill to Borough Market — across Tower Bridge, down Tooley Street, and along the south bank — takes about 15 minutes and deposits you at one of the finest food markets in Europe. Borough Market has been operating in some form since the 13th century. Today it runs Tuesday through Saturday and covers everything from artisan bread, British farmhouse cheese, and rare-breed meat to international street food, specialist coffee, and fresh produce.
The market is at its best on a weekday morning or a Saturday before 12:00, when it’s busy but navigable. Saturday afternoons can be extremely crowded. Allow at least an hour.
- Opening hours: Mon–Thu 10:00–17:00, Fri 10:00–18:00, Sat 08:00–17:00
- Cost: Free entry; bring cash and appetite
7. Leadenhall Market
Eight minutes’ walk from Tower Hill, Leadenhall Market is one of the most architecturally beautiful covered markets in London — a Victorian arcade of ornate painted ironwork, arched glass ceilings, and cobbled floors. The 2024 renovation restored it to something approaching its 19th-century glory.
Today it houses a mix of wine bars, restaurants, and independent businesses. The atmosphere at lunchtime on a weekday is genuinely extraordinary — the entire City of London seems to converge on the market simultaneously. Come at 6 PM on a Thursday or Friday for the post-work City crowd at its most convivial.
- Best for: Drinks, lunch, atmosphere
- Don’t miss: The central clock and the painted ceiling at the main crossing
8. Sky Garden
At 20 Fenchurch Street — ten minutes’ walk from Tower Hill — the Sky Garden is London’s highest public garden: three floors of landscaped greenery and viewing terraces at the top of the ‘Walkie Talkie’ building, with panoramic views across the entire city.
Entry is free but must be booked in advance at skygarden.london. The garden includes a restaurant and two bars; the bars can be accessed without a separate booking if you’re having drinks and the tables are available. The views from the terrace at sunset — across to St Paul’s Cathedral, east to Canary Wharf, south to Crystal Palace — are extraordinary.
- Opening hours: Mon–Fri from 10:00, Sat–Sun from 09:00
- Cost: Free (advance booking required at skygarden.london)
Building Your Perfect Tower Hill Day
Tower Hill rewards a well-structured day. Here’s one version that works well for groups who want activity, history, food, and a proper evening:
- 10:00 — Arrive at Tower Hill. Coffee at a nearby café or the Pommeler’s Rest.
- 10:30 — Tower of London. Allow 2–2.5 hours for the full visit including Crown Jewels.
- 13:00 — Lunch at Leadenhall Market (10-minute walk).
- 14:30 — Axe throwing at Axeperience Tower Hill. 60 minutes of expert instruction and competition.
- 16:00 — Walk to Tower Bridge and the Thames riverfront. Explore St Katharine Docks.
- 18:30 — Drinks at one of the dockside bars. Watch the marina lights come on.
- 20:00 — Dinner in the area or across Tower Bridge into Borough.
For groups using axe throwing as the social anchor of the day, this structure works particularly well — the historical visits give the day a sense of variety and the axe throwing provides the competitive energy that carries the group into the evening.
Practical Information
Nearest tube stations: Tower Hill (Circle/District, exit 1), Aldgate (Circle/Hammersmith & City), Aldgate East (District/Hammersmith & City), Monument (Circle/District, 10-minute walk)
Nearest National Rail: Fenchurch Street (5 minutes’ walk)
Nearest river pier: Tower Pier — Thames Clipper services to Westminster, Waterloo, Bankside, and Greenwich
Parking: Limited and expensive in EC3. Arrive by public transport if possible.
Best season: Tower Hill is excellent year-round but particularly good April–October when outdoor areas come alive
| Book your Axeperience session at Tower Hill from £30pp — axeperience.co.uk/booking/ — and make a day of it in one of London’s most extraordinary neighbourhoods. |
