Description
The Tower of London is a World Heritage Centre. Within the site are a number of landscaped areas, the outer moat area of the Tower is publicly inaccessible while the inner area is accessible to visitors to the Tower. This includes Tower Green, which is situated in front of the Governor's residence, bounded on two sides by C18th and C19th dwellings and by the church of St Peter ad Vincula to the north.
Practical Information
| Site location | Tower Hill |
|---|---|
| Postcode | EC3N 4AB |
| What3Words | ///dated.edges.apply |
| Type of Site | Public Gardens |
| Borough | Tower Hamlets |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | Opening times for The Tower: Tues-Sat: 9am-5.30pm; Sun-Mon: 10am-5.30pm (last admission 5pm) |
| Special Conditions | Admission charge to The Tower (check website or call 0844 482 7777 for details) To attend Sunday services, St Peter ad Vincula entrance via West Gate |
| Facilities | Shop, restaurants/cafes, toilets |
| Events | Numerous events, exhibitions, educational activities |
| Public Transport | Tube: Tower Hill (District, Circle). DLR: Tower Gateway. Bus: 15, 42, 78, 100, RV1. Riverboat: Tower Pier (Thames Clippers) |
| Research Updated | 1 September 2011 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The Tower of London is a World Heritage Centre; it was founded by William the Conqueror in 1066, and has witnessed momentous events over the following centuries. Within the Tower of London site are a number of landscaped areas, the outer moat area of which is normally publicly inaccessible while the inner area is accessible to visitors to the Tower. Within the other landscaped areas of the Tower site is a fragment of the old Roman Wall. Tower Green is situated in front of the Governor's residence, bounded on two sides by C18th and C19th dwellings and by the church of St Peter ad Vincula to the north. It consists of two rectangular areas of grass with a number of mature plane trees, surrounded by low railings, and having a cobbled area between the two, to the south of which is set a commemorative drinking fountain. To the north is the site of the scaffold where two of Henry VIII's wives and Lady Jane Grey were executed. In 2004 artist Brian Catling was awarded the commission for a new work to commemorate the site of the scaffold, which was then installed in 2006; selection was through an invited competition organised for HRP by Modus Operandi Art Consultants.
From the early C13th until the 1830s there was a Royal Menagerie at the Tower, dating from 1210 when King John is recorded as keeping lions here. Over the years the Menagerie held a great variety of species including elephants, tigers, bears, kangaroos and ostriches, and it provided entertainment to the court but also sport, for example under James I. It later became a visitor attraction and the first children's guidebook to the Tower in 1741 had illustrations of the menagerie. The first grizzly bear in England was given to George III by the Hudson Bay Company in 1816. In the 1830s the menagerie was transferred to London Zoo, following a number of attacks by animals in 1832. There has long been a tradition of keeping ravens at the Tower and today there are 7 in all. According to legend the kingdom and the Tower will fall if the six resident ravens ever leave the Tower. They have had protection since the time of Charles II, and continue to be cared for by a Ravenmaster and housed by the Wakefield Tower.
From the early C13th until the 1830s there was a Royal Menagerie at the Tower, dating from 1210 when King John is recorded as keeping lions here. Over the years the Menagerie held a great variety of species including elephants, tigers, bears, kangaroos and ostriches, and it provided entertainment to the court but also sport, for example under James I. It later became a visitor attraction and the first children's guidebook to the Tower in 1741 had illustrations of the menagerie. The first grizzly bear in England was given to George III by the Hudson Bay Company in 1816. In the 1830s the menagerie was transferred to London Zoo, following a number of attacks by animals in 1832. There has long been a tradition of keeping ravens at the Tower and today there are 7 in all. According to legend the kingdom and the Tower will fall if the six resident ravens ever leave the Tower. They have had protection since the time of Charles II, and continue to be cared for by a Ravenmaster and housed by the Wakefield Tower.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ336805 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | Historic Royal Palaces Agency |
| Site Management | Historic Royal Palaces Agency |
| Dates | C11th onwards |
| Listed Structures | LBI: Chapel of St Peter-ad-Vincula; The Queen's House, Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5 & 7 Tower Green; White Tower; Outer Curtain Wall with casements and Mural Towers; Middle Tower with Causeway to Byward Tower and Remains of Causeway to Lion Tower. LBII*: Old Hospital Block, raised Terrace and railings; Revetment wall to south side of moat. LBII: Waterloo Block; Museum of the Royal Fusiliers and attached Terrace; Revetment wall to west and north side of moat; Revetment wall to north side of moat; Former Pump House, 8 bollards outside main entrance to Tower |
| 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 |
| Other LA Designation | World Heritage Site |
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
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.
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.
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.
