Description
London Wall Gardens is an area of public open space adjacent to Tower Hill underground station, flanked by the best preserved fragment of the Roman City Wall, which runs c.68m from Trinity Place. To the west of the Roman Wall the ground level is lower, representing ground level in Roman times and within this area is a C19th composite statue based on two ancient monuments, with the head of Roman Emperor Trajan (AD98-117) and the body of Emperor Augustus.
Practical Information
| Site location | Tower Hill |
|---|---|
| Postcode | EC3 |
| What3Words | ///taken.hush.cone |
| Type of Site | Public Gardens |
| Borough | Tower Hamlets |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Tube: Tower Hill (District, Circle). DLR: Tower Gateway |
| Research Updated | 1 September 2012 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Tower Hill underground station opened in 1987, built on the site of the former Tower of London underground station, which operated from 1882 but was closed in 1884. Tower Hill station replaced a station with the same name, but which had earlier been called Mark Lane and had been slightly farther west. The statue in London Wall Gardens was presented by the Tower Hill Improvement Trust at the request of the founder of TocH, the Rev Clayton of All Hallows by the Tower (q.v.). Near this is mounted an inscription plaque, a replica of London's earliest inscribed monument part of which was found in Trinity Place in 1852 when a Roman bastion was being excavated, and a further section not unearthed until 1935 when The Crescent to the north was excavated. It commemorates Gaius Julius Alpinus Classicianus, Procurator of the Province of Britain 61-65AD 'by his action the province was pacified without vindictive reprisals after the destruction of London during the revolt of Queen Boadicea and the Iceni' and these words were carved on his funeral monument erected in the neighbouring Roman cemetery by his wife Julia Pacata.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ336807 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | English Heritage |
| Site Management | LB Tower Hamlets Leisure Services |
| Listed Structures | SAM: London Wall |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Tower Hamlets |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | The Tower |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Area of Archaeological Importance |
Gallery
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
Tower Hill Gardens are divided from London Wall Gardens by the best preserved fragment of Roman City Wall that remains, running c.68m from Trinity Place. The public open space was simply landscaped with paths, grass, a number of trees and a few flower beds but was re-designed in 2010 to create a new play area, one of two such facilities in the City as part of the Corporation's City Play Partnership. The design placed an emphasis on introducing natural play by including plants, mounding of lawn areas and using natural materials.
The Tower of London and the area around it was formerly part of the Liberties of the Tower. Along the northern boundary of the sunken grassed area of the Tower Moat is a pedestrian walkway that runs around the moat. A steep bank of planting forms the northern boundary of the walkway with an area of public garden in the east corner, with grass, trees, shrub beds and seating. These public gardens were laid out in 1888 by Fanny Wilkinson, landscape gardener of the MPGA.
Although Wakefield Gardens was laid out in 1992 over the London Underground station, it is on land donated in the 1930s by the Wakefield Trust for public open space for the benefit of local people. It is in front of Tower Hill underground station, which was adapted from a 1961 office building in 1967. The garden contains a large sundial commissioned by London Underground Ltd and unveiled by Denis Tunnicliffe on 3 August 1992, designed by John Chitty; Edwin Russell made the bronze relief panels, which provide a history of the area.
