Toast to Fun by the Tower of London

Discover lively pubs and bars near the Tower of London.

tower of london restaurants

You may not know it, but The Tower of London is an ideal starting point for a culinary journey through some of the city’s best restaurants. Whether you’re looking to indulge in a luxurious meal, enjoy a mid-range feast, or keep it budget-friendly, we’ve got enticing selections to satisfy every palate. Let's embark on a delicious adventure together, just steps from one of London's most famous attractions. 

High-end 

OXO Tower Restaurant 

Walking distance: 15 minutes  

Nearest tube: Waterloo  

Cuisine: Modern British  

Google rating: 4.3 

Perched on the eighth floor, OXO Tower Restaurant not only boasts views across the Thames but boasts with a menu specializing in modern British cuisine.  

Start with their signature scallops, perfectly seared and paired with a delicate pea purée. For mains, the roasted lamb shoulder, cooked to melt-in-the-mouth perfection, is a must-try. Their dessert selection, especially the dark chocolate mousse, offers a sweet finish to an outstanding meal.  

Pair your dishes with a selection from their extensive wine list, emphasizing both local vineyards and international favourites.  

Balthazar 

Walking distance: 20 minutes  

Nearest tube: Covent Garden  

Cuisine: French  

Google rating: 4.5 

An homage to grand Parisian brasseries, Balthazar brings a piece of France to London. Diners rave about their beautifully crafted dishes, from savoury escargot to rich coq au vin.  

The seafood plateau, loaded with a fresh selection of oysters and prawns, makes for an enticing starter. A top pick for mains would be their classic duck confit, perfectly tender and bursting with flavour.  

Desserts like the tarte tatin offer a sweet, caramelized ending to your meal, and French wines dominate the drink menu, complementing the food exquisitely.  

Mid-range 

Tattershall Castle 

Walking distance: 10 minutes  

Nearest tube: Embankment  

Cuisine: British Pub  

Google rating: 4.3 

Moored on the River Thames, Tattershall Castle offers the charm of a traditional British pub with a twist.  

Diners can enjoy classic pub fare like fish and chips, served crispy and golden, or opt for their hearty steak and ale pie. Vegetarians will appreciate the roasted vegetable wellington, packed with seasonal goodness. Their Sunday roast, available all week, is a comfort food favourite, featuring succulent meats and crispy Yorkshire puddings.  

Beer aficionados will delight in the extensive list of ales and ciders, but there’s a drink to satisfy any preference. 

Wagamama 

Walking distance: 10 minutes  

Nearest tube: Waterloo  

Cuisine: Pan-Asian  

Google rating: 4.4 

For fans of Pan-Asian cuisine, Wagamama serves a vibrant menu bursting with flavour.  

Known for their hearty ramen bowls, the chili chicken ramen is richly spiced and deeply satisfying. Other favourites include beef teriyaki donburi, a rice bowl packed with tender beef and fresh veggies. Vegetarians can savour the spicy yasai itame, an invigorating coconut and lemongrass noodle soup.  

Pair your meal with traditional Japanese drinks like sake or opt for a refreshing iced tea.  

The Anchor 

Walking distance: 15 minutes  

Nearest tube: Southwark  

Cuisine: British  

Google rating: 4.2 

A historic pub that’s been serving patrons for centuries, The Anchor offers a hearty British menu full of traditional dishes.  

Enjoy the likes of bangers and mash made with locally sourced sausages and creamy potatoes, or the ale-battered cod that pairs perfectly with chips. Their Sunday roast, complete with all the trimmings, is a weekly highlight.  

The cheese board, featuring an array of fine British cheeses, makes a delightful end to any meal. And why not complement your meal with a choice from their robust selection of regional beers? 

Salad Pride 

Salad Pride 

Walking distance: 15 minutes  

Nearest tube: Westminster  

Cuisine: Vegetarian  

Google rating: 4.3 

For those seeking vegetarian delights, Salad Pride offers a colourful and fresh menu that pleases all palates.  

Highlighting locally sourced produce, their signature grain bowls burst with flavour and creativity, like the avocado and quinoa salad, topped with crispy chickpeas. The roasted vegetable frittata, loaded with seasonal vegetables, is light yet satisfying.  

Their smoothies, such as the green detox blend, provide a refreshing complement to any meal.  

Tas 

Tas 

Walking distance: 10 minutes  

Nearest tube: Southwark  

Cuisine: Turkish  

Google rating: 4.3 

Tas offers a delectable array of Turkish cuisine that delights both the eyes and the palate.  

Known for its generous portions and traditional flavours, this spot is ideal for those seeking great value and taste. Start with a selection of mezes, including hummus, kisir, and stuffed vine leaves, perfect for sharing. For mains, the lamb kofta and chicken shish are cooked to perfection, bursting with authentic spices. The baklava, a sweet and nutty pastry, is a must-try dessert.  

Complement your meal with traditional Turkish tea or a refreshing ayran. 

Budget-friendly 

Street Pizza 

Walking distance: 15 minutes  

Nearest tube: Westminster  

Cuisine: Pizza  

Google rating: 4.4 

Feast on unlimited pizza at Street Pizza, where the slices keep coming.  

Known for its simple menu of bottomless pizza and no reservations, it’s a must for pizza lovers. Enjoy classic margherita or be adventurous with options like corn and chorizo or wild mushroom. Their selection rotates, meaning you’ll be surprised with fresh creations every visit.  

For dessert, the creamy chocolate soft serve is a delightful indulgence. Their homemade lemonades add a refreshing touch to your meal.   

Borough Market 

Walking distance: 20 minutes  

Nearest tube: London Bridge  

Cuisine: Various  

Google rating: 4.7 

A short walk from the Tower of London, Borough Market is a foodie paradise offering a diverse range of culinary delights.  

From artisanal cheeses and fresh oysters to gourmet sandwiches and heavenly pastries, there's something to satisfy every taste bud. Dive into a hot salt beef sandwich dripping with mustard or indulge in a sweet treat from one of the many dessert stalls.  

Don't forget to sample dishes from around the world, whether it's spicy Indian curry or savoury Italian pasta.  

Honest Burgers 

Honest Burgers 

Walking distance: 15 minutes  

Nearest tube: Waterloo  

Cuisine: Burgers  

Google rating: 4.6 

Honest Burgers prides itself on no-nonsense burgers done right.  

Known for crafting delicious burgers with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, this eatery is a haven for burger enthusiasts. The "Honest Burger," featuring beef, red onion relish, and smoked bacon, nestled in a soft brioche bun, is a standout favourite. Veggie lovers can opt for the "Plant Burger," made with a wholesome, tasty plant-based patty. What sets them apart is their rosemary-salted chips, crispy and packed with flavour.  

For drinks, they offer a selection of craft beers and homemade lemonades to keep you refreshed. 

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Hampton Court Palace.
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Windsor Castle Vs Hampton Court Palace

With just a shade under 2,000 years of royal history between them, it’s little wonder that Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace are among the UK’s most popular tourist attractions, with millions of visitors flocking to these palatial piles every year. But how do these titans of British tourism measure up? Which is the world’s largest occupied castle? Which has the most reported hauntings? And which is home to the oldest (and largest) grapevine on the planet? We got up close and personal with these regal residences to find out. Windsor Castle Vs Hampton Court Palace: A Brief History Built in the aftermath of the Norman Conquest and pushing 1,200 years old, Windsor Castle is the older sibling by some margin. It’s remained a favorite royal residence since its 11th-century iteration as a motte-and-bailey fortress under William the Conqueror. Extensive expansion under (primarily) Henry III and Edward III in the 13th and 14th centuries formed the blueprint for the palace today, with Charles II’s post-Reformation renovations lending much of the baroque splendor for which the castle is best known. A favorite weekend retreat of the late Queen Elizabeth II for much of her long life, Windsor remains the world’s oldest and largest occupied castle to this day, with great swathes of its extensive grounds, state rooms and historic buildings open to the public. Quirky Windsor Castle fact: it takes around 16 hours to turn all of the castle’s 450-or-so clocks backwards and forwards for daylight saving. Hampton Court Palace is most closely associated with Henry VIII, who in turn is associated with epic medieval banqueting, obesity, gout and, of course, a guillotine-heavy approach to marital separation. In spite of an, um, somewhat bloody history, today the palace looks every bit the fairytale castle, all ornamental brick chimneys and crenelated Tudor towers. It wasn’t always this peaceful though. In fact, back in Henry’s day, it was anything but. Built by Henry specifically for the purpose of all-day feasting (with masons often forced to work through the night by candlelight to complete it), the Great Hall was the scene of many a bacchanalian food orgy. The palace was also where Henry’s third wife Jane Seymour died following childbirth and where Catherine Howard, Henry’s fifth wife, was confined prior to her beheading on charges of adultery. The palace was significantly remodeled by Sir Christopher Wren in the 17th Century, under the House of Stuart. These alterations erased much of the original Tudor look and replaced it with the fine Palace of Versailles-inspired architecture that still defines this epic edifice to this day. Quirky Hampton Court Palace fact: there have been multiple reported sightings of Catherine Howard’s screaming ghost running along the palace’s aptly-named Haunted Corridor. What to see and do at Windsor Castle You’ll need at least a half day to fully immerse yourself in Windsor Castle’s many riches. Here are some of our favorite must-sees... The Round Tower Originally built by Henry II way back in 1170, the castle keep has been remodeled countless times down the centuries. It’s arguably best viewed from the outside, but you can also take guided tours up the interior staircase to enjoy sweeping views across the Thames Valley to the London skyline. The State Apartments Marvel at the gratuitous gilded opulence of these hallowed halls and ogle the ostentatious displays of unimaginable wealth within! Chief among the riches to be found in the regal State Apartments are masterpieces by Rubens, Holbein and Brueghel, as well as an extraordinary triple portrait of Charles I by Anthony Van Dyck that would make even the most narcissistic selfie-taker blush. St George’s Chapel The final resting place of some 11 kings and queens (including the late Elizabeth II), this grand medieval Gothic confection is one of Windsor Castle’s most photogenic buildings. No wonder that many royals – like Harry and Meghan – have chosen to tie the knot here. Queen Mary's Dolls' House Experience life in miniature inside what might just be the planet’s most famous (and largest) doll’s house. Built for Queen Mary in the first half of the 1920s, it contains tiny pieces fit for a queen from some of the top artists of the day: we’re talking miniature books, paintings, flower vases, wine bottles, vehicles and just about every other Georgian household item you can imagine. There’s even running water, electricity, working elevators and an intricate landscaped garden designed by celebrated horticulturist Gertrude Jekyll. Afternoon entry to Windsor Castle is included with the London Pass®. What to see and do at Hampton Court Palace Hampton Court Palace differs from Windsor Castle primarily through imaginative use of its grounds, partly due to Henry VIII’s penchant for outdoor sporting pursuits (and wine). Here are some of the highlights, both inside and out... Hampton Court Gardens Some 60 acres of gardens comprise a deer park and a recreation of William III’s Privy Garden as well as some of the estate’s most popular attractions. We’re talking the Great Vine, only the world’s oldest grapevine. At over 250 years old, it's now over six feet thick and still produces a small amount of fruit to this day. Then there’s the palace maze: half a mile of paths hemmed in by towering yew tree hedges way too tall to see over, where courtiers have been getting lost since 1690. Good luck in there! The Great Hall Don’t miss England's most impressive medieval hall, which once rang to the sound of raucous all-day feasts and money-can’t-buy entertainment, even hosting William Shakespeare and his company in 1603. From here, peer into the Haunted Gallery where you might just encounter the screaming ghost of one Catherine Howard. Tudor Kitchens Discover how the below-stairs staff lived in these cavernous kitchens that once catered for up to 600 greedy aristos not once but TWICE daily during the Great Hall’s banqueting heyday. The Astronomical Clock Made for Henry VIII in 1540, this 15-foot-high mechanical marvel in the suitably named Clock Court is not to be missed. Not only does it tell the time, you can also check what month it is, which sign of the zodiac we’re currently in and how many days have passed since the last new moon. Handy. The Chapel Royal Within this extraordinary example of baroque architecture, beneath its fine Tudor timber ceiling, is where, in 1540, Archbishop Canmer presented Henry VIII with the letter accusing Catherine Howard of marital indiscretions. And the rest, as they say, is history. Entry to Hampton Court Palace is included with The London Pass®. Fast facts: Windsor Castle Tickets Entry tickets are available direct via the official website. Alternatively, The London Pass® includes entry to Windsor Castle as well as many more London attractions, including the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace and London Zoo. Opening Hours Open 1 March-31 October daily from 10AM to 4PM (closes 5.15PM), and1 November-28 February from 10AM to 3PM (closes 4.15PM). Getting There Trains from London serve nearby Windsor & Eton Central and Windsor & Eton Riverside stations. The Green Line 702 coach service has regular daily departures from near Victoria Station in central London. Fast facts: Hampton Court Palace Tickets Entry tickets are available direct via the official website. Alternatively, The London Pass® includes entry to Hampton Court Palace as well as many more London attractions, including St Paul’s Cathedral, Windsor Castle and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Opening Hours Open from 10AM to 5.30PM most days (last entry 4.30PM), with some seasonal variation. Check the official website for the latest opening dates. Getting There Train services run from London Waterloo Station every 30 minutes, calling at Vauxhall, Clapham Junction, Earlsfield, Wimbledon, Raynes Park, New Maldon, Berrylands, Surbiton, Thames Ditton and Hampton Court. Bus services also operate from Richmond and Kingston.
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