Tower Hamlets offers a wide range of discoveries: the Tower of London looks back on almost a thousand years of history, St Katharine Docks reflect the area’s dock history, and parks and Brick Lane add further highlights. When looking for a holiday rental, let your interests guide your plans: would you like to explore historic sites, experience markets or focus on nature? The places below offer specific ideas to help you decide.
History at the Tower and the docks
The Tower of London is a World Heritage Site and a Grade I listed building, the highest level of protection. Its history spans almost a thousand years. An admission ticket includes access to the Crown Jewels, the White Tower, the battlements and the Bloody Tower; it also includes the “Torture at the Tower” exhibition, the Fusiliers Museum and the exhibition on the Royal Mint. Ticket inclusions and access may change, so check the latest information before your visit.
St Katharine Docks officially opened on 25 October 1828. The engineer Thomas Telford designed them as two interconnected basins. After closing in 1968, the docks were revitalised as a marina and tourist attraction. Yachts, black bollards and waterfowl can be seen along the dockside. Route information may change; check it before setting out.
The Museum of London Docklands is located in No. 1 Warehouse at West India Quay. West India Quay DLR station is a three-minute walk from the museum. Check the latest transport information before travelling.
Discover culture in different places
The Whitechapel Gallery’s free main entrance provides access to exhibitions, displays, film screenings, talks and events. As admission arrangements may change, check the latest visitor information before your visit.
Eight information panels along the Cultural Trail guide visitors through the rich heritage and culture of the area around Brick Lane and nearby Spitalfields. Brick Lane Market offers fashion, food and art. The Sunday Columbia Road Flower Market also has its own history: it developed after the Jewish population in the area grew. This is a way to explore markets and culture through both what they offer today and their history.
Green spaces with their own distinct character
Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park is recognised as a Local Nature Reserve and a Metropolitan Site for the Importance of Nature Conservation. Its network of paths leads through woodland and wildflower meadows. These two features—the nature designations and the landscapes described—make the park a discovery in its own right.
Victoria Park is London’s oldest public park. At 86 hectares, it is also the largest park in Tower Hamlets. It is also part of a green corridor that stretches from the Thames at Limehouse along Regent’s Canal and through Mile End Park. Victoria Park is therefore on a different scale from the paths through woodland and wildflower meadows at Cemetery Park: its size and role in the green corridor set it apart.
Mudchute Park and Farm covers 32 acres of rural landscape. Visitors can feed or pet the animals under the supervision of staff. This activity is therefore clearly subject to staff supervision.
Discover more destinations: Poplar, Barking And Dagenham, Croydon, Sutton, Hammersmith And Fulham, Bromley, Bexley, Waltham Forest.
For the wider travel overview: Greater London.
