London area of EC3 guide

What to do and where to stay in London's EC3 neighbourhood

The eastern side of the City of London sitting by the Thames is simply steeped in history. The plush hotels may be the ideal choice for business travellers but just wandering around the centuries-old landmarks will dust off the scene of a bygone London. Aldgate was literally the gate through the London Wall out to the east but, of course, there was another way into this side of the City - but one you were unlikely to come out of - as Edward I's water gate into the Tower of London was increasingly used as an entrance for prisoners accused of treason, later known as Traitors' Gate. Over on the western side of the district Leadenhall Market is a glorious example of Victorian architecture but also an historic marketplace since Roman times, and still trading today. Architect Sir Horace Jones was also responsible for nearby Old Billingsgate Market - now an events venue - which overlooks the Thames. For more overlooking opportunities climb the 311 steps of London's Doric column The Monument, built in the 1670s to commemorate the Great Fire of London; and bringing the City's architecture bang up-to-date is 30 St Mary Axe, best known as The Gherkin, one of London's most iconic, super-sleek structures.

See our recommended nearby EC3 Hotels, Entertainment, Sights and Attractions, Shopping, Restaurants, Pubs, Nightlife, Leisure, Education, and Meeting Venues.

EC3 Hotels

in or near EC3
Holiday Inn London - Whitechapel
London > Hotels > Mid-Range Chain Hotel
5 Cavell Street, E1
Perfectly located in the heart of the East End, this new generation Holiday Inn offers a quiet retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the ... More
 
 
 
Courthouse Hotel Shoreditch
London > Hotels > Luxury Chain Hotel
335-337 Old Street, EC1V
Prison cells are VIP booths in the bar at the Courthouse Hotel Shoreditch, a 128 room hotel in the Old Magistrates Court and Police Station, opposite ... More
 
 
 
Rosewood London
London > Hotels > Luxury Chain Hotel
252 High Holborn, WC1V
Located in High Holborn, Rosewood London is the most luxurious hotel in the area and is nearby to the capital's main business district and a number ... More
 
 
 

EC3 Entertainment

in or near EC3
PICK
The Scoop at More London
London > Entertainment > The Queen's Walk Bridge City, EC3, London SE1
Multi-purpose sunken outdoor amphitheatre next to London Bridge and Tower Bridge, next to City Hall on the South Bank of the Thames hosting films, theatre, music, ... More
 
 
 
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Heroes Grotto of Comedy
London > Entertainment > Comedy Clubs
27 Throgmorton Street, EC3, London EC2N
Empty for four years, the building next to Drapers Hall and behind the Bank of England which used to be Throgmortons became Heroes Grotto of Comedy ... More
 
 
 
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Drum Cafe
London > Entertainment > Live Music
Glaziers Hall, 9 Montague Close Bridge, EC3, London SE1
100 people in a room, all armed with a large African drum, banging in unison, until reaching a deafening crescendo - that's the premise of Drum ... More
 
 
 

EC3 Sights and Attractions

The best museums, galleries, attractions in or near EC3
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The London Underwriting Centre
London > Attractions > Sights
3 Minster Court, Mincing Lane, EC3, London EC3R
Opened in October 1993, The London Underwriting Centre (LUC) at 3 Minster Court is a purpose-built building where the world's leading insurance and reinsurance companies can ... More
 
 
 
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All Hallows by the Tower
London > Attractions > Historic Buildings
Byward Street, EC3, London EC3R
All Hallows, the oldest church in the City of London, is 1300 years old with a crypt museum, Roman pavement and Saxon and Roman artefacts. There ... More
 
 
 
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Walkie Talkie / 20 Fenchurch Street
London > Attractions > Sights
20 Fenchurch Street, EC3, London EC3M
Designed by world-renowned architect Rafael Vinoly, 20 Fenchurch Street, nicknamed the 'Walkie Talkie' made headlines before it even opened when it 'melted' cars parked ... More
 
 
 

EC3 Shopping

The best shops and markets in or near London's EC3
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Godiva
London > Shopping > Food and Drink Shops
150 Fenchurch Street, EC3, London EC3M
Belgium's finest export, the first Godiva was opened in Brussels approximately 75 years ago by master chocolatier Joseph Draps and named after the legendary Lady Godiva. ... More
 
 
 
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Leadenhall Market
London > Shopping > Markets
Whittington Avenue, off Gracechurch Street, EC3, London EC3V
Leadenhall Market is a restored Victorian covered market that sells traditional game, poultry, fish and meat. Although there has been a forum (market place) on where ... More
 
 
 
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Cheese at Leadenhall
London > Shopping > Food and Drink Shops
4-5 Leadenhall Market, EC3, London EC3V
Dedicated fromageries are rare in London, but with around 100 different British and continental cheeses on offer, they don't come much more dedicated than Cheese at ... More
 
 
 

EC3 Restaurants

What are the best dining options in or near EC3 London?
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Camino Monumento
London > Restaurants > Spanish restaurants
15 Mincing Lane, EC3, London EC3R
Set up by dedicated Hispanophile Richard Bigg, Camino first started in 2007 and has since expanded into a mini chain of Spanish restaurants across London, each ... More
 
 
 
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Eat Cafe
London > Restaurants > Cafes and Delis
48 Mark Lane, EC3, London EC3R
Food to go in its simplest form. Freshly baked bread for hand made made sandwiches, sold alongside hot pies, home made soups and simple salads. Since ... More
 
 
 
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Haz
London > Restaurants > Turkish restaurants
6 Mincing Lane, EC3, London EC3M
... More
 
 
 

EC3 Pubs

The best pubs in or near London EC3.
PICK
The Lamb Tavern
London > Nightlife > Pubs
10-12 Leadenhall Market, Gracechurch Street, EC3, London EC3V
Located within the beautiful nineteenth century covered Leadenhall Market, the Lamb Tavern is a traditional British pub that's popular with city workers and tourists. The historical ... More
 
 
 
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The George
London > Nightlife > Pubs
40 Liverpool Street, EC3, London EC2M
One of five different restaurants and bars within the confines of the Andaz hotel, the George is a traditional looking pub - not your typical hotel ... More
 
 
 
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Leman Street Tavern
London > Nightlife > Pubs
31 Leman Street, EC3, London E1
Between Wapping and Aldgate is the Leman Street Tavern , a 1.5 million pound pub that's owned by the Geronimo Inns group ... More
 
 
 

EC3 Nightlife

EC3 clubs, bars, cabaret nights, casinos and interesting nightlife.
PICK
Proud Cabaret City
London > Nightlife > Nightclubs
1 Mark Lane, EC3, London EC3R
Just as you used to be in a 1920s speakeasy, at Proud Cabaret you're entertained while you dine. A lively mix of cabaret, jazz and burlesque ... More
 
 
 
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Dirty Martini, Monument
London > Nightlife > Bars
1 Lovat Lane, EC3, London EC3R
This chain of glamorous cocktail bars is a great spot for after work drinks and big nights out, with regular happy hours and drink deals. There ... More
 
 
 
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All Bar One Cannon Street
London > Nightlife > Bars
103 Cannon Street, EC3, London EC4N
Bright airy chain bars with a good range of beer, wine and spirits offering reasonable gastropub style food. Comfortable, with plenty of tables, leather sofas, polished ... More
 
 
 

EC3 Leisure

EC3 gyms, sporting activities, health & beauty and fitness.
PICK
Tower Bridge Health and Fitness Club
London > Leisure > 45 Prescot Street, EC3, London E1
Free to use for all hotel residents, the Tower Bridge Health and Fitness Club boasts a range of luxury fitness and spa services. The fully equipped ... More
 
 
 
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Potters Fields Park
London > Leisure > Parks and Gardens
City Hall, 110 The Queens Walk, EC3, London SE1
Potters Fields Park occupies a prime spot between City Hall (from where the Mayor runs London) and Tower Bridge. The pedestrianised, grassy area on the south ... More
 
 
 
Pulse Light Clinic
London > Leisure > Health and Beauty
141-142 Fenchurch Street, EC3, London EC3M
Iron out those wrinkles or obliterate those pesky freckles - this clinic specialises in the latest in photorejuventation therapy. ... More
 
 
 

EC3 Education

in or near EC3
London Metropolitan University
London > Education > Universities and Colleges
31 Jewry Street, EC3, London EC3N
Student support ... More
 
 
 
Pitman Training Centre
London > Education > Professional Training
Warnford Court, 29 Throgmorton Street, EC3, London EC2N
Secretarial, clerical and IT training... More
 
 
 
 

EC3 Meeting Venues

Where to have your meeting, conference, exhibition, private dining or training course in or near EC3.
PICK
Old Billingsgate
London > Business > Venue Hire
Old Billingsgate Market, 1 Old Billingsgate Walk, EC3, London EC3R
A magnificent 19th-century market building designed by Sir Horace Jones and entirely renovated in 1988 by acclaimed architect Richard Rogers. At the foot of the City, ... More
 
 
 
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Tower of London
London > Business > Venue Hire
Waterloo Block, EC3, London EC3N
With close to 1,000 years of royal history lurking within its highly fortified walls, a trip to the Tower of London is like traveling back to ... More
 
 
 
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