20 Best Things to Do Near Tower Bridge, London — Complete Area Guide
Tower Bridge is one of London’s most recognisable landmarks, but the area surrounding it on both banks of the Thames is packed with some of the city’s best attractions, food markets, hidden gardens, and cultural venues. Whether you arrive via Tower Hill or London Bridge station, you can spend a full day — or more — exploring the neighbourhood without running out of things to do. This guide covers the 20 best things to do near Tower Bridge, organised by type, with practical information on opening times, entry prices, and how to get there.
Getting Around: Tower Hill vs London Bridge
Two tube stations serve the Tower Bridge area, and which one you use determines your starting point.
Tower Hill (Circle Line and District Line) sits on the north bank of the Thames, five minutes on foot from Tower Bridge. This is the closest station to the Tower of London, St Katharine Docks, the London Wall, and the northern approach to Tower Bridge itself.
London Bridge (Jubilee Line and Northern Line) is on the south bank, approximately ten minutes on foot from Tower Bridge. It gives you direct access to Borough Market, Southwark Cathedral, HMS Belfast, the Shard, and the southern riverside attractions.
Both stations have excellent connections to the rest of London, and all the attractions in this guide are walkable from one or the other. The area is compact and very pedestrian-friendly — the walk from Tower Hill to London Bridge along the river, crossing Tower Bridge in the middle, is one of the best urban walks in the city.
Historic Attractions Near Tower Bridge
1. Tower of London
Entry: Adult £34.80 / Child (5–15) £17.40 | Opening times: 9am–4:30pm | Nearest station: Tower Hill (5 min walk)
The Tower of London is the single most important historic site in the Tower Bridge area and one of the most significant in England. The fortress was begun by William the Conqueror in 1066, expanded through the medieval period, and has served variously as a royal palace, a state prison, an armoury, a treasury, and — most famously — a place of execution. It is one of only four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in London.
Today the Tower houses the Crown Jewels — the coronation regalia and ceremonial objects used by British monarchs — which draw enormous visitor numbers year-round. The Yeoman Warders, known as Beefeaters, lead entertaining and informative tours of the fortress grounds. The medieval great hall, the Bloody Tower, the White Tower (the original Norman keep), and the recreated medieval palace all deserve time.
Book tickets in advance online to avoid the often lengthy queues at the entrance. A thorough visit takes two to three hours.
2. Tower Bridge Exhibition
Entry: Adult £13.40 / Child £6.70 | Opening times: Check website seasonally | Address: Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 2UP
Tower Bridge itself is worth more than the standard walk-across experience. The Tower Bridge Exhibition takes visitors up into the high-level walkways connecting the two towers — glass floor panels looking directly down to the road and river 42 metres below provide one of the more vertiginous moments available in central London. The Victorian engine rooms beneath the bridge contain the original steam-powered engines used to raise the bascules, preserved and displayed as a museum.
The bridge opens to river traffic throughout the year. Lift schedules are published on the Tower Bridge website and watching the bascules rise for a tall vessel is a genuinely impressive spectacle. The views from the high-level walkways in both directions along the Thames are excellent.
3. The London Wall
Entry: Free | Opening times: All day | Address: Tower Hill, London EC3N 4DJ
Directly outside Tower Hill tube station, a substantial section of the Roman wall that once enclosed Londinium — the Roman settlement from which modern London grew — stands alongside the road. Built around AD 200 using Kentish ragstone transported up the Thames, the wall enclosed an area of approximately 133 hectares and reached about six metres in height.
The section visible at Tower Hill is particularly well-preserved and gives a clear sense of the wall’s scale and construction. The statue of the Emperor Trajan — who ruled from AD 98 to 117 during the period when Roman London flourished — stands nearby. Combining the London Wall with the Tower of London in a single visit illustrates 2,000 years of the same site’s continuous importance.
4. London Bridge (Historical Context)
Entry: Free | Location: London EC4R 3TN
The current London Bridge is a plain concrete structure that attracts little photographic attention, but its site carries extraordinary historical weight. The Romans built the first crossing here around AD 50, and this crossing — the only fixed Thames crossing in London for over a thousand years — determined the entire development pattern of the city. Medieval London Bridge was lined with houses, shops, and a chapel, and at various times displayed the heads of executed traitors on its gates.
The old nursery rhyme ‘London Bridge Is Falling Down’ is thought to reference various collapses and fires over the centuries. The 1831 version of London Bridge was famously purchased by an American businessman in 1968 and reassembled in Lake Havasu City, Arizona — a story that is stranger than any fiction. Walking across the current bridge takes you from the City of London to Southwark and provides views of both Tower Bridge to the east and Blackfriars Bridge to the west.
5. The Monument to the Great Fire of London
Entry: Adult £6 / Child £2.70 | Opening times: 9:30am–5:30pm | Address: Monument Street, London EC3R 8AH
Designed by Sir Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke, the Monument was completed in 1677 to commemorate the Great Fire of 1666 that destroyed 13,200 houses and 87 churches across the City of London. Its height — 62 metres — equals precisely its distance from the bakery in Pudding Lane where the fire began, a piece of deliberate geometry that has been noted by visitors for three and a half centuries.
Climbing the 311 steps of the internal spiral staircase to the viewing platform at the top is a genuine physical workout, but the 360-degree view over the City of London, the Thames, and the surrounding skyline is exceptional. On clear days the view extends significantly beyond the immediate area. A certificate is provided to climbers at the bottom — a tradition worth knowing about if you are visiting with children.
6. Southwark Cathedral
Entry: Free (donations welcome) | Opening times: 9am–6pm | Address: London Bridge, London SE1 9DA
Southwark Cathedral is the oldest church building in London, with parts of the current structure dating from the 12th and 13th centuries. It sits immediately adjacent to Borough Market, which means most visitors to the market walk within twenty metres of it without going inside. This is a significant oversight: the interior is genuinely beautiful, with soaring Gothic arches, medieval stonework, and stained glass that represents some of the finest mediaeval craftsmanship in the city.
The cathedral has notable historical connections including a memorial to William Shakespeare — Southwark was the heart of Elizabethan theatre, and the original Globe Theatre stood nearby. John Harvard, founder of Harvard University, was baptised here in 1607. Free to enter, quiet on weekday mornings, and a two-minute walk from Borough Market, it deserves more attention than it typically receives.
Hidden Gems Near Tower Bridge
7. St Katharine Docks Marina
Entry: Free | Address: 50 St Katharine’s Way, London E1W 1LA | Nearest station: Tower Hill (1 min walk)
St Katharine Docks is one of central London’s best-kept secrets. Hidden behind the Tower Hotel just across the road from Tower Hill station, this former commercial dock — opened in 1828 and designed by Thomas Telford — was redeveloped in the 1970s into a marina surrounded by converted Victorian warehouses. It now houses restaurants, pubs, boutique shops, and a yacht club, all clustered around the water where sailing yachts and historic vessels moor.
The dock is home to Gloriana, the 90-foot royal row barge commissioned for Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and rowed on the Thames in ceremonial processions. Occasional visiting historic vessels — tall ships, Thames barges, and traditional working boats — add to the atmosphere. The whole area has a calm, unhurried quality that contrasts sharply with the tourist bustle of nearby Tower Bridge and the Tower of London, which makes it an excellent first or last stop on a visit to the area.
8. St Dunstan in the East Church Garden
Entry: Free | Opening times: 8am to dusk | Address: St Dunstan’s Hill, London EC3R 5DD
St Dunstan in the East is one of London’s most photographed secret gardens and one of the most genuinely atmospheric spots in the city. The church was originally built around 1100, damaged in the Great Fire of 1666, repaired by Sir Christopher Wren, then severely bombed during the Blitz in 1941. Rather than rebuild, the ruins were converted into a public garden in the 1960s.
The effect is extraordinary: Wren’s Gothic arches and window frames remain standing, draped with climbing vines and mature greenery that soften the stone into something more dreamlike than ruined. A central fountain, benches, and the sound of birdsong create a retreat so peaceful that it is hard to believe it sits within five minutes’ walk of some of the busiest tourist sites in London. It is free, largely unknown to first-time visitors, and genuinely special.
9. Skulls at St Olave’s Church, Hart Street
Entry: Free | Opening times: Mon–Fri 10:30am–5pm / Sunday 10am–1pm / Closed Saturday | Address: 8 Hart Street, London EC3R 7NA
St Olave’s is a small medieval church dating from the 12th century and one of the handful of City of London churches to survive both the Great Fire of 1666 and the Second World War bombing relatively intact. The unusual detail that draws visitors is the entrance gateway: a stone arch decorated with carved human skulls and crossed bones above the doorway, with the Latin inscription ‘Memento Mori’ — ‘Remember Death’.
The imagery relates to the church’s role as a burial site during London’s 17th-century plague epidemics, when over 300 plague victims were interred here. Charles Dickens, who had his office nearby, referred to the church as ‘Saint Ghastly Grim’ in The Uncommercial Traveller — a description that has stuck. Samuel Pepys, the famous diarist who chronicled the Great Fire and Plague years, is buried here alongside his wife. For visitors interested in the macabre history of the city, St Olave’s rewards a short detour.
10. Shad Thames and Butler’s Wharf
Entry: Free | Address: Shad Thames, London SE1 2YG
Shad Thames is a narrow cobbled street running east from Tower Bridge on the south bank, flanked by converted Victorian warehouse buildings that retain much of their original industrial character. The most distinctive feature is the network of iron walkways and barrel chutes connecting the buildings at upper-floor level — these were used to transport spices and tea from the docked ships to the warehouses, and they remain as the most visible reminder of the area’s history as London’s principal spice-trading quarter.
Today the warehouses contain upscale apartments, the Design Museum (in its former location — now in Kensington), and a selection of restaurants and bars with outdoor terracing overlooking Tower Bridge. The Anchor Tap pub on Shad Thames dates from 1761 and is one of the more atmospheric riverside pubs in the area. The whole street takes less than ten minutes to walk, but it rewards slow exploration.
Views and Skyline Experiences
11. Sky Garden — Free Viewing Platform
Entry: Free (booking essential) | Opening times: Weekdays 10am–6pm / Weekends 11am–9pm | Address: 20 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 8AF
The Sky Garden occupies the top three floors of 20 Fenchurch Street — the distinctive tapering tower commonly known as the ‘Walkie Talkie’ — and provides some of the best free panoramic views in London. The indoor garden space, filled with tropical planting and spanning three open floors with floor-to-ceiling windows, gives 360-degree views including direct sight lines to Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, the Shard, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the broader London skyline.
Entry is free but booking a timed ticket in advance is essential — the Sky Garden is consistently popular and walk-in entry is rarely available. Bar and restaurant spaces on the upper levels offer drinks and food with the views as backdrop, though these are charged separately. The sunrise yoga sessions held here periodically — stretching and meditating as the city below gradually illuminates — are among the more memorable experiences available in London.
12. The View from The Shard
Entry: From £32 | Opening times: Wed–Sun 11am–7pm / Sat 10am–10pm | Address: 32 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9SG
At 310 metres, The Shard is the tallest building in the United Kingdom and its viewing platform on floors 68 to 72 provides the highest publicly accessible viewpoint in the country. On a clear day, visibility extends up to 40 miles in every direction. The view encompasses the entire Thames basin, from the Kent and Essex marshes to the east to Windsor Castle to the west, with central London spread below.
Tower Bridge is directly visible from the upper floors, making this one of the few places where you can look down on the bridge rather than up at it. The Shard also houses several restaurants — Aqua Shard and Oblix among them — which provide the views alongside a meal at a premium but without the viewing platform entry charge. Worth noting: the outdoor terrace on floor 72 is open in good weather and provides an unglazed outdoor experience at the summit.
Food Markets Near Tower Bridge
13. Borough Market
Entry: Free | Opening times: Mon–Fri 10am–5pm / Sat 9am–5pm / Sun 10am–3pm | Address: Southwark Street, London SE1 1TL
Borough Market is one of London’s oldest and most celebrated food markets, with trading on this site documented since the 13th century. Today it is both a working wholesale market and a premium retail food destination, covering an area of Victorian iron-and-glass market buildings between London Bridge station and Southwark Cathedral.
The range is extraordinary: specialist cheese from across Britain and Europe, fresh bread from artisan bakeries, meat and game from specialist butchers, seasonal vegetables from British farms, street food representing dozens of cuisines, and prepared foods ranging from high-quality ready meals to freshly made pies, pastries, and hot dishes. The atmosphere is chaotic, fragrant, and completely absorbing.
Go hungry and expect to spend more than planned. Saturday morning is the busiest time — arrive before 10am for space and the best selection. The market is covered so it works in any weather. For those who find Borough too busy and expensive, Maltby Street Market (see below) is a quieter alternative a ten-minute walk away.
14. Maltby Street Market
Entry: Free | Opening times: Saturday 10am–5pm / Sunday 11am–4pm | Address: Arch 46, Ropewalk, Maltby Street, London SE1 3PA
Maltby Street Market is the locals’ alternative to Borough — smaller, less polished, considerably less crowded, and in many respects more interesting for the quality and variety of its food offering. Tucked under the Victorian railway arches in Bermondsey, the market runs along a short alleyway lined with independent food producers and small restaurants.
The range includes oysters served at the counter with wine, pulled pork rolls, prawn gyozas, specialist cheese, craft beer, sourdough bread, and a rotating selection of seasonal and international street food. The atmosphere is relaxed and the prices are high but the quality justifies them. It operates only on Saturdays and Sundays. For anyone who wants a food market experience near Tower Bridge without the weekend Borough Market crowds, Maltby Street is the better choice.
15. Vinegar Yard
Entry: Free | Opening times: Tue–Sat 12pm–10:30pm / Sun 12pm–6pm / Closed Monday | Address: 72–82 St Thomas Street, London SE1 3QX
Vinegar Yard is a street food and cultural space directly outside London Bridge station, occupying a series of arched industrial units with a courtyard decorated with murals and fairy lights. Several independent food vendors operate inside alongside bars, with a rooftop terrace providing views across to the Shard.
The venue has a deliberately informal, neighbourhood feel that makes it more comfortable than the tourist-oriented food halls elsewhere in the area. It works well as an evening destination after a day’s sightseeing, particularly for groups who want variety — different people can choose from different food stalls and then eat together in the shared courtyard. Booking a table is advisable on weekends.
Museums and Galleries Near Tower Bridge
16. HMS Belfast
Entry: Adult £25.45 / Child £12.70 / Under 5 free | Opening times: Daily 10am–5pm | Address: The Queen’s Walk, London SE1 2JH
HMS Belfast is a Second World War Royal Navy cruiser permanently moored on the Thames between Tower Bridge and London Bridge, now operated as a branch of the Imperial War Museum. The ship saw service in the Arctic convoys, the D-Day bombardment of Normandy, and operations in the Korean War before being preserved in 1971.
Visitors can explore nine decks of the ship, from the engine and boiler rooms deep in the hull to the gun turrets and captain’s bridge at the top. The compartments are largely preserved as they appeared during the ship’s active service, with reconstructed scenes showing life aboard for the crew. The gun turrets are trained on a target in the Surrey hills — a detail that draws attention once you know it.
HMS Belfast provides some of the best views of Tower Bridge and the Tower of London from the upper decks. Allow two to three hours for a thorough visit. The ship is popular with children for the immersive, physical quality of the exploration — climbing ladders, squeezing through hatches, and operating mock gun controls.
17. White Cube Bermondsey — Free Contemporary Art
Entry: Free | Opening times: Tue–Sat 10am–6pm / Sun 12pm–6pm / Closed Monday | Address: 144–152 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3TQ
White Cube is one of the most influential contemporary art galleries in the world, representing many of the most significant living artists including Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, and Antony Gormley. The Bermondsey space is the largest of White Cube’s three London locations and occupies a converted industrial building with exceptional gallery spaces across three floors.
Entry is free, exhibitions change every few months, and the quality of work shown is consistently at the highest level. The gallery sits on Bermondsey Street, which is one of south London’s most pleasant independent shopping and dining streets — a combination of coffee shops, wine bars, and restaurants makes the area worth spending additional time in after the gallery visit.
18. Leadenhall Market
Entry: Free | Opening times: Vary by shop and restaurant | Address: Gracechurch Street, London EC3V 1LT
Leadenhall Market is a Victorian covered market in the heart of the City of London, built on the site of the Roman forum of Londinium and retaining the ornate painted ironwork and cobbled lanes of its 1881 rebuild. The market is visually extraordinary — the arched and painted ceiling with its detailed ironwork and hanging lanterns creates one of the most photographed interiors in London.
Harry Potter fans will recognise it as the filming location for Diagon Alley in the original films, specifically the exterior of the Leaky Cauldron. Beyond the film connection, the market houses upscale restaurants, traditional pubs, wine merchants, and a small number of specialist retailers. It is a functional working market for City workers rather than a tourist market, which gives it an authenticity that many London markets lack.
More Things to Do Near Tower Bridge
19. Thames River Cruise from London Bridge City Pier
Entry: Varies by operator | Nearest station: London Bridge (5 min walk) | Address: London SE1 2PR
A River Thames cruise from London Bridge City Pier or Tower Millennium Pier is one of the most enjoyable ways to see Tower Bridge and the surrounding landmarks from the water. The river perspective transforms familiar skyline views — looking up at Tower Bridge from a moving boat, seeing the Tower of London from the river, and watching the Shard recede as you head west provides a completely different understanding of the city’s layout and scale.
Regular services run to Westminster, Greenwich, and Kew in both directions. The MBNA Thames Clippers commuter ferry service is affordable and frequent. Longer sightseeing cruises with commentary are available from multiple operators. For visitors exploring Greenwich or heading back towards Westminster, the river route is both practical and considerably more enjoyable than the Underground.
20. Bridge Theatre
Address: 3 Potters Fields Park, London SE1 2SG | Website: bridgetheatre.co.uk
The Bridge Theatre opened in 2017 and has rapidly established itself as one of London’s most exciting producing theatres. Located on the south bank of the Thames with Tower Bridge visible from its entrance, the theatre occupies a purpose-built space with flexible staging that can be configured for traditional seated productions or promenade performances where the audience stands on the stage floor surrounded by the action.
The theatre’s artistic output has been critically acclaimed, with productions including Antony & Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and numerous transfers to the West End and Broadway. It operates at a smaller scale than the National Theatre but with a consistent quality and ambition that rivals any venue in London. Arriving early allows time to walk along the riverside with views of Tower Bridge before the performance, and there are several good restaurants within a few minutes’ walk for dinner before or after the show.
Practical Tips for Visiting the Tower Bridge Area
- Best days to visit: Weekday mornings are significantly less crowded than weekend afternoons for the Tower of London and Borough Market. If you want to visit both in the same day, arrive at the Tower of London when it opens and walk to Borough Market mid-morning.
- Oyster Card vs contactless: Both Tower Hill and London Bridge stations accept contactless bank card payment directly — there is no need to buy an Oyster Card for a single visit. Contactless is charged at the same rate as Oyster.
- Free highlights: The London Wall, St Dunstan in the East garden, St Katharine Docks, Southwark Cathedral, Sky Garden (with free booking), and all the food markets are free to enter. You can spend a full and rewarding day in this area without spending money on paid attractions.
- The riverside walk: The walk along the south bank from London Bridge to Tower Bridge takes approximately 15 minutes at a leisurely pace and passes HMS Belfast, the More London estate, and several riverside bars and restaurants. It is one of the most enjoyable urban walks in London.
- Photography: Tower Bridge is photographed from the south bank at sunrise and sunset for the most dramatic light. The viewpoint from Potters Fields Park directly across the river from the bridge is the classic angle used in most postcards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free thing to do near Tower Bridge?
St Dunstan in the East church garden is the best free hidden gem near Tower Bridge — a ruined medieval church converted into a tranquil public garden with climbing vines through Gothic arches, entirely free and largely unknown to most visitors. Sky Garden (free with advance booking) provides the best free panoramic views. The London Wall at Tower Hill combines history with the convenience of being directly outside the tube station. Southwark Cathedral is free, beautiful, and overlooked by most visitors to the Borough Market area.
How long do you need at the Tower of London?
Allow at minimum two hours for the Tower of London, and three hours if you want to see everything thoroughly. The Crown Jewels alone typically have a 30 to 45-minute queue during busy periods. The White Tower (the original Norman keep), the medieval palace, the Bloody Tower, the Yeoman Warder tours, and the wall walk all deserve time. The Tower of London is one of the most content-dense historic sites in Britain and rewards a full morning or afternoon.
Are Tower Bridge and London Bridge the same?
No — they are two distinct bridges approximately 800 metres apart on the Thames. Tower Bridge is the ornate Victorian suspension bridge with the distinctive towers, built in 1894. London Bridge is a plain modern concrete bridge built in 1973, located further west. The confusion is common, particularly among international visitors who know the nursery rhyme ‘London Bridge Is Falling Down’ and expect to see an impressive structure. Tower Bridge is the one worth photographing; London Bridge is worth knowing about for its historical significance.
Is Borough Market worth visiting?
Yes — Borough Market is one of London’s genuinely essential experiences, not just a tourist attraction. The quality and variety of food available is exceptional, the Victorian market buildings are beautiful, and the atmosphere on a busy Saturday morning is unlike anywhere else in the city. Go hungry, bring cash as well as cards (some stalls are cash only), and arrive before 10am on Saturdays for the best experience. If you find it too crowded, Maltby Street Market in Bermondsey provides a quieter and equally good alternative.
Final Thoughts
The area around Tower Bridge is one of the most rewarding parts of London for a day’s exploration, combining world-class history at the Tower of London with some of the city’s best food markets, hidden gardens, panoramic viewpoints, and riverside walks. The compact geography — everything within walking distance of two tube stations — makes it accessible and unhurried in a way that many London days are not.
If you are spending just one day in the area: start at St Katharine Docks, walk past the Tower of London, cross Tower Bridge, explore Shad Thames, have lunch at Borough Market or Maltby Street, visit Southwark Cathedral, and finish with drinks at the Sky Garden or views from the Shard. That itinerary covers the best of both banks without rushing and leaves room for the unexpected detours that make London worth returning to.