Would like ideas for a restaurant between Sky Garden and Tower Hill (but not in Sky Garden)

My experience around there is pretty much limited to Pret and Greggs, but I know Eataly on Bishopsgate at Liverpool Street Station is a big, commercial Italian joint. I personally wouldn't plan dinner at a pub at that time if I had kids with me.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/j4CViJfygLjMkTpt5

Edited to add: There's a Pizza Express on Bishopsgate too. That's also somewhere not too imposing that kids will like.

The perfect place would be one of the many eateries in Leadenhall Market:
https://leadenhallmarket.co.uk/

(Not to mention it was used as a filming location in one of the Harry Potter movies.)
https://leadenhallmarket.co.uk/filming/

Check out the menus and hours here because some places close early on Sunday (close 6 PM or so). I assume you'll be eating a bit earlier than that.
https://leadenhallmarket.co.uk/eat-and-drink/

My favorite is The Lamb Tavern but your young people may prefer Pizza Express....good pizza!
Open until 6 PM on Sundays. Later on other days.
https://leadenhallmarket.co.uk/stores/pizzaexpress/

Can’t go wrong with Pizza Express in Leadenhall Market. I’d avoid Brewdog. The food at the Bristol branch is very poor and it’ll be the same mass produced menu everywhere.

i read what Gerry says about not taking the children to a pub at that time of night.

However in that area a Sunday night should be OK, although I wouldn't think of it on a weekday when the pubs are full of city commuters and tend to be a bit on the rowdy side (and very busy). It always used to be really quiet round there on my way home on a Sunday night, when quite a few places don't even open.

My first thought was The Cheshire Cheese (under the arches of Fenchurch Street station )- but on a Sunday they don't serve food after 7pm due to no demand. My second thought is the Minories (food until ten pm)- under a bridge by Tower Gateway DLR Station.

There are several places opposite All Hallows by the Tower Church, but street view shows they are all different from when I was last there so can't really suggest any of them.

PS- I too know the Pizza Express on Bishopsgate, but thought too predictable.

The Sky Garden is basically in London's Wall Street so it's really going to feel pretty dead and it's not a great place for getting dinner.

I don't know if this would work with your itinerary, but you're going to have much more luck going to the Aldgate East tube stop, it's two stops on the district line. There are a lot of great quirky, hipster places around there, and some amazing Indian and middle eastern.

Specifically, Detroit Pizza London, Efes Restaurant, and Jack The Chipper, I like.

Wagamama Tower Hill

There’s a clutch of chain restaurants right by the Tower as you approach from the Skygarden - a Pizza Express on the left, a Wagamama and Zizzi on the right. There’s also a Bodeans, for barbecue (tries to be American; don’t know how convincing it is, but I have eaten there and quite liked it.) It’s on the left hand side, looks small at street level but there’s seating downstairs.

Somewhere round the side of Sky Garden there’s Haz, which is kind of Turkish, middle eastern mezze.

However that part of the City can be absolutely dead on a Sunday evening so do check opening hours carefully.

My grandchildren, daughter, and I did the reverse to your trip last year, and we stopped at the Hung Drawn and Quartered on Great Tower Street. Frankly, we stopped in because of the name, but I think that the food was pretty good. They have a children's menu. EDIT: Just noticed they close at 6:00 PM on Sunday, so it probably won't work for your time frame.

Most places to eat in that area, including at Leadenhall Market, won't be open on a Sunday (especially in the evening). If BrewDog is open that may be your best bet. I think the food is generally good and it's very child friendly- I wouldn't really describe that location as a pub, it feels more like a casual restaurant to me. If you had more time I would suggest crossing the river to the area around London Bridge which would be a bit more lively.

Sure enough Pizza Express in Leadenhall Market closes at 6 on a Sunday. Bishopsgate branch is open until 10pm. I'd imagine most of the chain restaurants around the station will still be open on a Sunday, but it's a couple of hundred yards in the wrong direction if you're heading to The Tower.

The Tower Hill Pizza Express is open till 10pm on Sundays, as is the Zizzi opposite. The Tower Hill Wagamama is open till 9pm.

I agree with many of the comments written while I was asleep.

Good Morning!! The sun is shining and as we climb above freezing overnight it will be a beautiful day, with the Planet Parade thrown in for good measure...

back to the Q

Most of The City, especially around the Tower and from the Sky Garden will be deadsville on a Sunday night. We stayed on Pepys Street so just a few hundred yards from the Tower when we did the Ceremony of the Keys last year (excellent choice, the kiddoes will love it - warn the young one that there will be sudden loud noises and lots of fun) and we chose the Wagamama. Half empty or fewer but the quality was still there. Even though it is dead around there you will still have plenty of traffic - there is always traffic - and take care crossing the road.

Enjoy

Oh my gosh, so many wonderful suggestions! Thanks to everything for your ideas! And of course, I totally forgot that hours might change on Sundays. Duh!

Gerry, thanks for the suggestions! The only thing is that Eataly is a bit farther north so we'd have to head up there, then back down again, which would add a lot of time to the walk. I'd rather find something along the way or relatively close. But it looks good, and I will add it to my list for potentially another time!

Rebecca, I didn't even realize that Leadenhall Market was so close. Unfortunately, it looks like most of those places are closed on Sundays, or close early. But good to know for when we do go there, as it is on our agenda because of the HP thing. Thank you!

Helen, thanks for the tip about Brewdog—very good to know! And I will check out Pizza Express. The kids do like pizza. :-)

Stuart: That's very good to know about the pubs on Sunday evening. That's one thing I was thinking about, which is why I posted this question. Thank you!

Plectrude: That's a great idea, although it's a bit farther than I was hoping for. We certainly don't mind walking a distance but since it will be evening, I'd like to get as close to the Tower as possible so that we can just relax and eat and then make our way there. But thank you very much! Good to know for future reference.

Claudia: Thanks! I will check it out.

Golden Girl: Thanks so much for the ideas! I do like the Wagamama idea, and Haz might work, too. We all love Mediterranean food. And thanks for the tip about checking hours. Yes, I will do that. :-)

geepepper: Ha, I love the name and that would have been a good idea. I'll add it to my list, though, as we could possibly go another time. Thanks!

Cat, that's a possibility. It's not too much extra time to walk over the bridge, and the kids would enjoy it, I think; especially at night with all the lights. There are some good choices there, including another Mediterranean place called Tower Bridge Kitchen just over the bridge that looks interesting. It would add a bit more to the walk but it is doable. Thank you!

Golden Girl: So many great ideas—I'm spoiled for choice! All three of those look great! And I do like the idea of it being so close. I hate rushing to get somewhere and I want to get to the Tower a little early (although I know we'll just be sitting and waiting). :-)

Nigel: Good morning to you, too! It's nice here as well, although the warmer temps are causing the snow to melt. Thanks for the info on the Wagamama! The kids might enjoy that, as they do like Japanese cuisine. And I will let my granddaughter know about the noises, but she'll be fine. She plays soccer/football and is capable of screaming up a storm herself. :-) Thank you!

Btw if you haven’t eaten at either Pizza Express or Wagamama before, they’re two absolute standbys in the UK: sort of classy middle class chains, I guess?

The pizzas are thin and made fresh, and honestly it’s such a go-to place for families.

Wagamama is kind of Japanese influenced rather than actual Japanese - good for ramen and noodles, and probably their most popular meal is the chicken katsu curry.

Anyway, a lot of hungry British families breathe a sigh of relief when one looms into sight as they’re very reliable.

Here’s another vote for Wagamama. We took our oldest granddaughter to the one in Bath when she was 8 years old. She said their children’s noodle bowl with lots of vegetables was her best kids menu meal ever. In years of taking university students to Europe in the early 2000s they would vote for Wagamama as their #1 choice in London. (They were hungry, on a budget and liked the vibe ;)

Golden Girl and Mona, thanks for that! I think they would both love Wagamama, and that would be a nice place before the Tower ceremony. I'd be afraid one of us would get pizza sauce on our clothes, lol! Good to know other kids enjoy it! My grandson loves ramen noodles, but would definitely enjoy the chicken katsu curry, I'm sure! I really like this idea—thanks! I'm also tabling the idea of eating at Pizza Express on another day, as I'm curious to try it, and I'm sure they would love it!

a couple of Wagamama idiosyncrasies.

The tables are long and can be shared, and often are when busy. Condiments and silverware are in caddys along the centre of the tables. In said caddy will be a turned wood what looks like a salt shaker with a larger hole. Beware Will Robinson!! It is a dry powder chilli shaker -- I love it be aware.

Carol loves the Chicken or veggie Katsu Curry, my fav pretty much anywhere is the Pad Thai which is done well there. Not completely authentic but excellent. The chilli shaker gets used by me. The peanuts can be on the side if requested.

Once you get used to the place you order by number, there is a small number next to each description. The order is taken on a handheld tablet and putting in the numbers is faster for the staff and they feed back. And it makes it look like you know what you're doing. I've been doing it for 15 years or so.

The green tea is free and bottomless, and good. It comes in a funky handleless cup.

Yum.

Eataly is a bit farther north

Ah in my mind it's not far at all from the front door of Sky Garden. I was just picturing what I might do for eats if I was coming out of there (that isn't Greggs). There's quite a bit of choice on Bishopsgate and Liverpool Street, and most are more likely to be open on a Sunday around there than further into the city. I'd definitely concur with everyone else who has suggested aiming to hit Wagamama at Tower Hill though. It's on your way and Wagamama is definitely one of the best restaurant chains in London.

I'm getting very excited about Wagamama now! I can't believe I haven't been to one, as I love places like that. Nigel, I do love a good Pad Thai, so that might be for me! And thanks for letting me know how to order, as I like to look like I know what I'm doing. Plus I can impress my grandkids at the same time! :-)

Gerry, it's probably not as far away as I'm picturing it. But I do think Wagamama fits the bill perfectly, so good to know you concur!

I think it's good advice in general to check the weekend opening hours of anywhere you may want to eat or drink in The City of London. Lots of places will have limited hours, as a couple of contributors have already noted. "Deadsville" as Nigel put it. Many places are organised just to serve those working there Monday to Friday.

Mardee, this doesn't answer your question, but I thought you had mentioned being in London the end of March.

Just wanted to give you a heads-up that Sunday, March 30 is Mother's Day. If you're planning a restaurant meal like a Sunday roast, book soon. I started looking for a table for 1 in Hampstead a few weeks ago and several of the better restaurants were already full.

Gerry, very good point. I've been trying to, and I use Wanderlog, which also lets me know the hours and days of closure.

Jeanm, Yes, I did want to do a Sunday roast meal with them, and that Sunday is the only Sunday we're in town, so I'd better start looking and booking now. Thanks for the reminder!

I don't want to take this thread down a wrong path, but technically in the UK it is Mothering Sunday as opposed to Mother's Day- yes in much normal useage it has been shortened to Mother's Day.
It is held when it is due to religious reasons (read up on it if interested) as Laetare Sunday (or Refreshment Sunday) from the Latin text of the Gospel reading of the Day.
In former times it was a great homecoming day, originally about returning to one's mother Church (or Baptism Church), as opposed to the modern interpretation. The modern form is said to date back to servants (mainly girls) being allowed a weekend off to go home in mid Lent- and is still in Church use a day of relaxation from the rigours of Lent, and the Lenten fast (hence Refreshment Sunday).
It is also known as Rose Sunday because the colour of Church Vestments is relaxed from a harsh Red to a more subtle Rose.
One food to try to hunt down for the day (maybe a task for the grandchildren) is Simnel Cake- very much associated with the day.

I don't want to take this thread down a wrong path, but technically in the UK it is Mothering Sunday as opposed to Mother's Day- yes in much normal useage it has been shortened to Mother's Day.

Every year I hunt for a card for my mother that says Mothering Sunday because she’s a great believer in the “correct name” and it means a lot to her. I currently have a stash of three in case I don’t find any more.

That’s a good point about Mother’s Day (or Mothering Sunday). It’s actually the busiest day of the whole year for restaurant bookings, mainly at lunch. I have had mine booked for several weeks.

Tracking this thread for ideas for my picky eater niece (thanks!) but also wanted to point out that March 30 is the time change in London back to daylight saving so you'll have one hour less for that Sunday roast :(

Mardee, if you find many of the pubs serving Sunday Roast already booked up for Mothering Day, remember that some of the larger hotels have a restaurant offering a Sunday Roast.
You may find a booking at one of those.

Hey, Stuart, Golden Girl, Helen, CL and Rebeccca, thanks for the information on Mothering Sunday and for the reminder about the time change!

I made a reservation yesterday for Sunday Roast at The Ivy Victoria, which is close to our hotel, and I think the kids would enjoy it. I was going to make one at the Jugged Hare (a Fuller's pub) but they wanted £30 to book, so I opted for The Ivy. Our booking is for 12:30, which will be nice.

In fact, given that we will have a Mothering Day Sunday Roast, plus the sunset viewing at the Sky Garden, dinner at Wagamamas after that, and then the Ceremony of the Keys, I'm thinking we might call it a lazy day otherwise. Sleep in a bit, have a light breakfast and maybe just hangout at Hyde Park or walk around the area and enjoy the day. Nothing too major. My grandson will be VERY happy to have a lie in!

I think all of you will enjoy a lie in! It is really nice to have a more relaxing day and let the weather and your whims dictate your direction.

You will love the Ceremony of the Keys! You sound like you have really been on the ball with your reservations, I know that sells out fast. Just a reminder, there are no bathroom facilities available there, so plan accordingly.

The aforementioned Minories Pub is part of the City of London Community Toilet Scheme, so just walk in and use without having to purchase anything, On a Sunday night I believe that's the closest- or Fenchurch Street station.
On a weekday there are several other nearby Community Toilets.
Tower Hill public toilets close at 5pm on a Sunday unless you have a RADAR key for the less able- which I'm not sure an overseas visitor can easily get.