Tower Hill Area Guide

History of Tower Hill

The land was historically part of the Liberties of the Tower of London; the Tower needed control of the area to keep it clear of any development which would reduce the defensibility of the Tower. Building has encroached to a degree, but a legacy of this control is that much of the hill is still open. The hill includes land on either side of the former London Wall, with a large remnant still visible.

For centuries, the hill hosted public executions, particularly of attained peers and today it is notable for being the site of the Tower Hill Memorial in its Trinity Square Gardens which are adjoined by its two smaller public gardens, Wakefield and Tower Gardens. The latter are lined by a web of pavements which cut short Trinity Square, rendering it a curved park-lined street.

Getting Around Tower Hill

The name Tower Hill is primarily applied to the high ground just north of the Tower of London moat, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Tower Hill is bordered on the west and north by the City, on the east by Shadwell, and on the south by the Thames.

Bus:

Tower Gateway Station (TC) 1 min walk

The Tower Of London (Ta) 2 min walk

The Tower Of London (Tb) 3 min walk

St Katharine Docks (TN) 4 min walk

Minories, City Of London 5 min walk

Aldgate Bus Station (L) 6 min walk

Aldgate (R) 7 min walk

Aldgate East Station (J) 9 min walk

DLR:

Tower Gateway 2 min walk

Tube:

Tower Hill 3 min walk

Aldgate 7 min walk

Train:

Fenchurch Street 6 min walk

Riverbus: Tower Bridge Quay 8 min walk

House and Market Trends

You’ll find a combination of old and new homes here, ranging from recently built modern condos and apartments to converted warehouses to the occasional detached Victorian house. A lot of what you will find is on the smaller side, so Tower Hill primarily attracts young professionals that don’t need a lot of space and want to be walking distance to work.

Local Authority

There are 8 council tax bands from A-H. Your home will fall within one of the tax bands, depending on its valuation which you can see in the second column. Depending on whichever band your home is in, the third column denotes the amount you’ll pay annual. 

Local Life in Tower Hill

Since it includes the tourist hotspot of the Tower of London within its boundaries, the neighborhood of Tower Hill isn’t often thought of as a residential area, but with its location just east of the City this is a good place to live for people who want to be close to work. Overall, it’s a great location for young couples, professionals and singles.

Eating and Drinking

Many of the local shops and restaurants are only open during the week since they cater to workers in the City. Still, there are quite a few good restaurants in striking distance and its central location makes it easy to get to weekend-friendly parts of the city.

• CloudM Bar
• The Wine Library
• Jamies
• La Dame de Pic London
• Revolution America Square
• Mei Ume Restaurant
• Devine Restaurant Coffee Bar

Shopping in Tower Hill

Visit Leadenhall Market to peruse the stalls of cheese, flower and meat traders and dine on international cuisine. This 600-year-old marketplace was a filming location for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Everything from traditional British to French, Italian and Spanish food is on offer at St. Katharine Docks. Shop at the outlets of luxury brands, such as Gucci and Tiffany, at The Royal Exchange.

Entertainment in Tower Hill

The imposing Tower of London shelters 1,000 years of history and is arguably Britain’s finest medieval castle. See the monarch’s Crown Jewels, admire William the Conqueror’s White Tower and meet the Beefeaters that guard the fortress. Peruse museum exhibits and learn about the castle’s notorious murders and prisoners. Splendid views of the River Thames and London skyline await at iconic Tower Bridge.

Continue the history trail at London’s oldest church, All Hallows by the Tower. St. Mary-At-Hill is Christopher Wren-designed church and venue for music recitals. Admire the views from the Monument to the Great Fire of London, another Wren-designed landmark and the world’s tallest freestanding stone column. See ruins from the Roman settlement of Londinium at Billingsgate Roman House and Baths.

Modern architectural masterpieces blend seamlessly with the area’s historical sights. Gaze up at the innovative spiral-shaped skyscraper affectionately known as The Gherkin. Another iconic tower is Uruguayan architect Rafael Viñoly’s The Walkie Talkie. Take the elevator to the rooftop Sky Garden for unbeatable panoramas, spectacular sunsets and fine dining

• London Eye Standard Ticket
• Jack the Ripper Tour with ‘Ripper-Vision’ in London
• Oxford Sightseeing River Cruise Along The University Regatta Course
• Madame Tussauds London Standard Ticket
• Westminster to Greenwich Sightseeing Thames Cruise in London

Crime and Safety

Tower Hill has a low violent crime rate and a high property crime rate for London.

Fun fact about Tower Hill

Public executions of high-profile traitors and criminals were often carried out on Tower Hill.