Things to do in Tower Hill, London

Tower Hill is (understandably) best known for the mighty Tower Bridge and Tower of London, but there are plenty more historic attractions to explore in the area. We’re talking ancient Roman ramparts, atmospheric docks and the world’s oldest music hall, to mention but a few. Join us on a voyage of discovery as we reveal the best things to do in Tower Hill, London – and beyond!

By <a href="#author-bio">Stuart Bak</a>
By Stuart Bak
Published: March 13, 2025
London Bridge in spring

Things to do in Tower Hill: The Essentials

Group of friends taking a selfie near Tower Bridge

Tower Hill’s iron grip on the tourist dollar can be attributed to just two London attractions. But, boy, are they biggies. Here’s the lowdown on Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.

Tower Bridge

Perhaps *the* most photographed landmark in London, Tower Bridge is instantly recognisable from its graceful suspension cables, soaring Gothic Revival turrets and glass-floored elevated walkway. One of the best ways to experience this feat of Victorian engineering is by grabbing breakfast in Borough Market (by London Bridge station) and strolling the South Bank, where hordes of selfie takers preen, pose and pout for their close-ups, using London’s best Tower Bridge views as the stunning backdrop.

Want to get closer? Pedestrian walkways mean you can walk from one side of the bridge to the other (you’ll need a head for heights when the bascules are raised though!). But if you fancy (ahem) elevating your experience further still, it’s the viewing platform you want, with sweeping vistas downriver to St Paul’s Cathedral, The Shard and beyond. The gallery’s floor is made of glass, so you can look straight down beneath your feet at the pedestrians, boats and buses far below. Entry also includes a peep at the old Victorian engine rooms.

The Tower of London

Person walking their dog at the Tower of London

What can be said about the Tower of London that hasn’t been said before? Not much, that’s what. But among the quirkier facts relating to this 11th-century fortress are the following…

  1. It contained a menagerie for more than 600 years, with beasts including monkeys, lions, a polar bear and an African elephant among the medieval inhabitants.
  2. The most famous non-human residents today are the Tower’s six ravens – a centuries-old superstition has it that the kingdom will fall if they ever make a flap for freedom. 
  3. Among the many people executed here were gouty serial monogamist Henry VIII’s second and fifth wives. Anne Boleyn’s ghost is said to haunt the Tower to this day (Catherine Howard is busy elsewhere, spooking visitors to Hampton Court Palace).

Whether you’re here to catch a ghost or simply to ogle the eye-popping Crown Jewels, The London Pass® is your friend. Check out our complete guide to visiting the Tower of London, then choose your pass for maximum savings. Pro-tip: The London Pass® also includes entry to Tower Bridge and dozens more top London attractions.

Things to do in Tower Hill: Beyond the Tower

St Katharine Docks in London

There are plenty more things to do in and around Tower Hill that involve neither bascules nor beheadings. Here are just a few of our faves…

  • St Katharine Docks. Just east of Tower Bridge on the north bank of the Thames, this urban marina has a rich history as one of London’s busiest commercial ports. Commerce is still king here, but in a far more refined way: think indie boutiques and chichi coffee houses. There are also frequent outdoor exhibitions, a fountain paying tribute to British tennis icon Virgina Wade and, of course, those permanently swoonsome views of the boats passing beneath Tower Bridge. Check out what’s on at the Docks here.
  • All Hallows-by-the-Tower. Only the oldest church in the City of London, All Hallows has survived Great Fires, blitzes (just) and diarist Samuel Pepys climbing its tower. Inside, you can ogle treasures including medieval fonts, statues and brass rubbings, as well as an excavated section of Roman pavement in the crypt museum.
  • London Wall. Roman ruins tickle your pickle? Good news: there are more nearby. Mosey over to Tower Hill Tube station, outside which you can find one of the most impressive remaining sections of the great Roman wall that once encircled the city of Londinium.
  • Wilton’s Music Hall. Ok, so technically this one’s just over county lines in Shadwell, but who’s counting? Head north from St Katharine Dock for a peek into the world of Victorian music halls. Not just any old music hall, but the oldest in the world, Wilton’s boasts original features including ornate balconies and cast-iron pillars, and continues to thrive as an eclectic arts venue to this day. Find out what’s on here.

Things to do near Tower Hill, London

Jack the Ripper-style figure wandering dark and gloomy streets

Tower Hill is also a fine jumping-off point for many more top London attractions, not least because you can simply hop on a boat at Tower Pier for destinations including Westminster and Greenwich, both of which contain more London Pass highlights than you can shake a very large stick at. What else? Oh yes…

  • Whitechapel. Go for the Jack the Ripper tours and old-school Victorian vibes; stay for artisan crafts at Spitalfields Market, contemporary art exhibitions at the Whitechapel Gallery, and some of the best bagels (and street art) in town along the storied cobbles of Brick Lane.
  • Sky Garden. The highest public garden in London – way up top of the Fenchurch Building (aka ‘the Walkie-Talkie’) – is free to enter. Expect colourful hothouse plants including the African Lily and Bird of Paradise, not to mention blooming fantastic views of the City of London.
  • HMS Belfast. Militaria mavens will find much to enjoy at this hulking vessel, a decommissioned Naval warship that’s now a permanent museum. You’ll find it (actually, you can’t really miss it) moored in the middle of the Thames within view of Tower Bridge.
  • Monument. It’s hard to believe that this Monument to the Great Fire of London was briefly the tallest structure in the city, following its completion in 1677. Now somewhat dwarfed by the glass-and-steel jungle that's sprung up all around it, the OG still packs a fair old punch, not least for those who brave the narrow 311-step internal staircase up to its lofty viewing platform. The reward? Splendid skyline views… and a certificate to prove that your little legs made it all the way to the top.
Monument to the Great Fire of London

Looking for more things to do in Tower Hill and elsewhere around London? The London Pass® includes savings on entry to nearly 100 top attractions, tours and activities. Click to find out more and choose your pass.

Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Freelance travel writer

Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.

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Way back when, on the 28th June 1491, one of England's most famous monarchs was born. King Henry VIII. Known for his six wives, desperation for a male heir, and desire to separate from the Catholic church, jolly old Henry continues to fascinate us even today. That's why we've put together some of our best historical facts about this rotund royal, so you can think about him all over again. It's exactly what he would want. So, here are our favourite facts about Henry VIII! 1. He was not expected to rule Henry was the second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. His elder brother, Arthur, was heir to the throne until he died from sweating sickness at 15. Yes, that's a thing. And yes, they were sorely lacking antiperspirant back in ye olden times. Then, when Henry was just 17 his father passed away. Once atop the throne, Henry VIII continued living a leisurely life for a monarch - preferring to sleep in. 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Any time there was an outbreak, he would minimize his risk of infection by leaving London and limiting the number of ambassadors he saw. Even when Anne Boleyn caught the sweating sickness in 1528, Henry stayed far away until she got better. A true gentleman. 4. Weight issues Yes, some of the more well-known facts about Henry VIII are due to his enviable size. Despite being a tall, handsome and athletic young king (yes, really), older age was not kind to Henry VIII. When he died in 1547 after ruling for 30 years, he weighed nearly 400 pounds and had a 54-inch waist. This was partly due to some pretty severe jousting accidents and ulcers on his legs stopping him from his previous activities and partly because he loved a feast. 5. A merciless king In his later years, Henry grew more paranoid and ill-tempered. Crowds of prisoners were sent to the Tower of London at his orders. He sent more men and women to their deaths than any other English monarch. It's estimated 57,000 - 72,000 people were executed during his 37-year reign. 6. Multi-talented Not only could Henry speak Latin, French, Ancient Greek and Spanish, but he also played the lute and organ, sang, played tennis and jousted. Who knew that a life of luxury gave people time to do so much cool stuff?  7. Serial womaniser Henry VIII's womanising reputation has lasted throughout history thanks to his six infamous wives and mistresses. In spite of this reputation, we only know of three specific mistresses, one of which was Anne Boleyn's sister Mary. Not cool, King Henry. You should have kept playing tennis instead of playing the field. 8. Wife after wife There's a common belief that Henry married and discarded his six wives in quick succession, but that's not exactly true. He married his brother's widow Catherine of Aragon when he came to the throne at 17, and they remained married for nearly 24 years. That is - until he had their marriage annulled to marry Anne Boleyn. 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The Best Pub Crawls in London

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Pubs on the crawl include: Ye Grapes in Mayfair, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese on Fleet Street, and 24 other pubs that may or may not have Ye in their name Attractions along the way: Trafalgar Square, Eros Statue, King’s Cross Station, London Transport Museum The Historical pub crawl Hailed by The Telegraph as a crawl taking in ‘London’s most fascinating historical nuggets,' this route starts off in Blackfriars and takes you through to Holborn. It’s a much more manageable trek with just six spots on the list, but each one is steeped in British history from the Grade II listed Blackfriar with its stained glass details, through to the rich timber wood of the Cittie of Yorke, tucked away in a cellar. If you’re on the lookout for more historic watering holes, check out our guide to the Oldest Pubs in London. Pubs on the crawl include: Cittie of Yorke in Holborn, Blackfriar in Blackfriars Attractions along the way: London Transport Museum The Circle Line pub crawl No surprises here: this pub crawl is a relatively straightforward one that follows the Circle Line around the heart of London. It one-ups the Monopoly Pub Crawl, both literally and metaphorically, as you’ll have to hit 27 bars to fully complete the crawl. Starting and ending in Embankment (with a suggested celebratory tipple in Leicester Square, because you’ll probably need a drink after you’ve completed it), it follows the Circle Line – which, funnily enough, doesn’t resemble a circle, but a beer bottle. They suggest you do it in 12 hours, having half pints in each pub. Pubs on the crawl include: The crawl website gives you multiple options for each station, so take your pick. Or choose a pub local to a station to suit your tastes. Attractions along the way: Tower Bridge, King’s Cross Station, Barbican Theatre, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben Wimbledon Eight pub crawl Along with the tennis whites and Wombles, Wimbledon’s also home to a pretty amazing pub crawl route. The crawl was popularised by actor Oliver Reed, who allegedly took Steve McQueen on a night out to his favourite Wimbledon pubs.  After a 15 minute pint in each, they started the crawl again, though now the common route goes around the board just once. It starts in the Hand in Hand and finishes at the Swan (a replacement for the now-closed Finch’s).  Pubs on the crawl include: The Fox and Grapes, The Fire Stables  Attractions along the way: Wimbledon Tennis Stadium 💰 >> See how you can save up to 50% with a London attraction pass! Shoreditch pub crawl  Shoreditch: home of the hipsters, craft beer hangouts and street art. The neighbourhood has plenty of bars which put a twist on the usual melon man and there's a dedicated Shoreditch Pub Crawl company that'll take you to the quirkiest spots in the area. The kind of places that give Shoreditch its reputation for being...very Shoreditch.  It starts off at Sink Pong Bar, a bar filled with ping pong tables. Better bring your A-Game and gym shorts: this is one for shots and dancing and playing around, rather than quiet pubbing.  Attractions along the way: Brick Lane, Old Spitalfield Market  Because sometimes it’s good to have some culture with your crawl. This special guided crawl lasts 3 hours, involves about a mile of walking. You don’t stop in every pub...so you can still take in all the info. This pub crawl takes you to the favourite boozy haunts of London’s writers and creatives, from Shakespeare to Charles Dickens and Virginia Woolf.  You’ll be accompanied by actors playing some of the deceased literary figures and reading famous extracts from their works. It’s a lot of fun and you might find you have something in common with one of the country’s most popular writers...you both like drinking.  Pubs on the crawl include: Shhh...it’s a secret  Attractions along the way: Pollock's Toy Museum The Sam Smiths pub crawl  Okay, so this is officially more of a challenge than a crawl. It’d be impossible to do all of these on one crawl. So please don’t try. Samuel Smith’s Brewery is located in Yorkshire, but they’ve got a number of very popular (and cheap) pubs across London, mainly in the very centre.  These guys came up with the Sam Smiths Challenge, where they looked to visit every Sam Smiths pub across the capital. 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