Inventory Site Record

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.

Site location:

Tower Hill

Postcode:

EC3

What 3 Words:

fame.trains.alien

Type of site:

Public Gardens

Borough:

Tower Hamlets

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted to pedestrian walkway

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

Tube: Tower Hill (District, Circle). DLR: Tower Gateway. Bus: 15, 42, 78, 100, RV1.

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

01/04/2010

Last minor changes:

14/07/2022

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.hrp.org.uk/TowerofLondon

The Tower of London (q.v.) and the area around it was formerly part of the Liberties of the Tower, which was self-governing until 1855 and is now within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Responsibility for the Tower comes under the Historic Royal Palaces Agency. Along the northern boundary of the sunken grassed area of the Tower Moat is a pedestrian walkway that runs around the moat, which passes beneath the road of Tower Hill and runs east to Tower Bridge and west to the main entrance to the Tower of London. Along the north side of the walkway is a steep bank of planting with shrubs, trees and flowerbeds. At the summit of the site in the east corner is an area of public gardens laid out with grass, trees and shrub beds, with paths and seating. It was laid out in 1888 by Fanny Wilkinson, the MPGA's landscape gardener. Reached by steps from the pedestrian walkway the garden is bounded by railings to the main road, and has a small garden building in the west corner.

Across the main road in front of London Guildhall University and the underground station is Tower Hill Gardens (q.v.), public open space that mostly lies within the boundary of the City of London and is maintained by the Corporation of London.

Sources consulted:

Simon Bradley & Nikolaus Pevsner, 'The Buildings of England, London 1: The City of London', 1997 (1999 ed.); Elizabeth Crawford, 'Enterprising Women: The Garretts and their Circle' (Francis Boutle Publishers, 2nd ed. 2009)

Grid ref:

TQ336807 (533650,180750)

Size in hectares:

Site ownership:

Historic Royal Palaces

Site management:

Historic Royal Palaces

Date(s):

1888

Designer(s):

MPGA (Fanny Wilkinson)

Listed structures:

LBII: Revetment Wall to west and north side of moat from outwork attached to Middle Tower to Tower Hill Postern and from Tower Hill Postern to Tower Bridge Approach

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 Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

No

In Conservation Area:

No

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

World Heritage Site

Tower Gardens pedestrian walkway and Tower of London Moat, April 2010. Photo: S Williams

Click a photo to enlarge.