Where to picnic in Tower Hill

There’s no getting away from it, London is expensive. One way to try and mitigate some of the expense is to avoid dining out. Instead, a sandwich or picnic lunch can really help to stretch the budget. A picnic style lunch isn’t just kinder on your bank balance, but it is also the idea solution for families with kids who might struggle to sit still in a restaurant for a long period of time. Plus, isn’t there something nicer about eating in the open air when you can?! In this guide we will tell you where the best places are to buy sandwiches or picnic provisions in Tower Hill and our favourite places where you can enjoy an al fresco meal. So, whether you want a picnic lunch after visiting the Tower of London or Tower Bridge, or are looking for a pause when sightseeing, we’ve got you covered with our recommendations on where to picnic in Tower Hill.

Where to buy picnic food in Tower Hill

There are a handful of small convenience supermarkets in Tower Hill where you can buy a picnic lunch or just a few sandwiches:

Tesco

Just a few minutes from the Tower of London is a Tesco Express (St Katharine’s Way, E1W 1LE) which is perfect for buying picnic essentials. This shop offers a great selection of options ready to grab and go, including sandwiches and wraps, crisps, fruit, snacks and drinks. Tesco offers a range of budget-friendly meal deals that allow you to pick up a sandwich, snack and drink without breaking the bank.

M&S

Inside nearby Fenchurch Street Station is a small M&S shop. Although small in size, you will still likely find what you need in the form of sandwiches and snacks to take away and eat elsewhere.

Pret

Right across from the entrance to the Tower of London (1 Three Quays Walk, EC3R 6AH), you will find a Pret A Manger (Pret for short). Although a slightly more expensive option than M&S, Pret is an excellent option for picnic provisions. Their menu features a selection of cold options including sandwiches and salads. They also offer a range of warm options, including hearty soups, so it’s the ideal choice for colder days when you want a warm meal, without dining in a restaurant. Pret also offers a wide variety of barista drinks like coffee and other drinks. So it’s perfect for grabbing food on the go.

Waitrose

If you’re looking for a wider selection of food than a small convenience store or takeaway food shop can offer, the nearest large supermarket to Tower Hill is Waitrose (41 Thomas More Street, E1W 1YY). Located just through St Katharine Docks, this is an excellent place to stock up on almost anything you might need in terms of food or other supermarket items.

Where to eat a picnic lunch in Tower Hill

There are a number of places near the Tower of London and Tower Bridge where you and your family can sit and enjoy a picnic. Here are a list of suggestions.

By the river

For an unforgettable location for a picnic lunch, head to the riverside area in front of the Tower of London. This stretch of riverside offers a picturesque setting to eat lunch. Although you can’t sit on the grass there, there are a number of benches that line the promenade and where you can perch with your sandwich lunch. From here you can dine in the shadow of the Tower of London and with a view of Tower Bridge, the Shard and the River Thames.

St Katharine Docks

For a picnic in a delightfully picturesque setting, just minutes from the Tower of London, head to the little plaza outside the Dickins Inn in St Katharine Docks. Here you’ll find a number of benches that look out over the various yachts and boats in the marina. On a sunny day, there’s nothing better than the peaceful atmosphere of St Katharine Docks.

Trinity Square Gardens

If you want to really spread out and give the kids a chance to run about, the best option in Tower Hill is Trinity Square Gardens, which offers an expanse of grass on which to set out a picnic blanket. Trinity Square Gardens offers a backdrop of the Tower of London and forms an important part of its history – within it is the old scaffold site, where prisoners from the Tower of London were taken to be executed.

St Dunstan in the East

A tourist destination in its own right, St Dunstan in the East is also an excellent spot for a picnic lunch. Damaged in the Second World War, the ruins of this Wren-designed church has been turned into a public garden. Sit within or in the old grounds of the church and enjoy this small oasis from the noise and pace of London.

Portsoken Street Garden

A lesser known alternative to the other places on our list, this small green space is a tiny hidden gem located just a short walk from the Tower of London. With areas of lawn, a small raised pond and also a few items of play equipment (bouncy disks and balancing steps), this garden is the ideal spot for families picnicking with younger children.

If you’ve picnicked in any of these spots, let us know what you thought of them in the comments!