The Tower of London is the most visited paid attraction in England, with over 3 million visitors annually. Adult tickets cost £34; children (5–15) £17; seniors/students/disabled visitors £27. Open Tuesday–Saturday from 9:00 am; Sunday and Monday from 10:00 am. Closing time: 5:30 pm (March–October) or 4:30 pm (November–February). Last entry one hour before closing. Closed 24–26 December and 1 January. The Crown Jewels, Yeoman Warder guided tours, and the White Tower are the essential highlights.
For nearly 1,000 years, the Tower of London has been one of the most significant buildings in England — royal palace, political prison, place of execution, royal mint, menagerie, and arsenal. The phrase “sent to the Tower” struck genuine terror through Tudor England: Anne Boleyn, Thomas More, Lady Jane Grey, and Walter Raleigh among those who entered through Traitors’ Gate and did not leave freely. Today the Tower is also the home of the Crown Jewels, the most tangible symbols of British monarchy — the St Edward’s Crown used at every coronation since 1661, the Imperial State Crown worn at the State Opening of Parliament, and the 530-carat First Star of Africa diamond in the Sovereign’s Sceptre.
Top Tickets
# Tower of London ticket
# Tower of London small group guided tour
# Tower of London, Westminster Abbey & Changing of the Guard
| Ticket Type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult (18–64 years) | £34 |
| Child (5–15 years) | £17 |
| Senior (65+ years) | £27 |
| Student (16–17 with ID) | £27 |
| Disabled visitors | £27 |
| Under 5 | Free |
What’s included: Access to all public areas — the Crown Jewels exhibition, the White Tower, the Medieval Palace, the Bloody Tower, battlements, Wall Walk, and all permanent exhibitions. Yeoman Warder guided tours are included (departing from the main entrance throughout the day; last tour at 2:30 pm).
Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Tower of London Early Access Tour (Small Group with Beefeater)
An 8:30 am early access tour before the general public enters. A Beefeater leads a small group for 75 minutes through the Crown Jewels (without queues) and the Tower’s highlights, followed by free exploration time.
Adult (15+): £72
Child (4–14): £67
Infant (under 4): Free
London City Tour with VIP Tower Access
A 4-hour tour combining Changing of the Guard, a Thames cruise, and VIP early entrance to the Tower with the Opening Ceremony. Beefeater guided.
Adult (15+): £105
Child (5–14): £95
London in a Day — Tower of London + Westminster Abbey + Changing of the Guard
A combo ticket covering three of London’s most significant sites in a single day.
Book This ComboThe centrepiece of any Tower visit — a collection of 23,578 gemstones set in 140 ceremonial objects, many still in active royal use. The queue for the Crown Jewels is longest between noon and 3 pm; arriving at opening or after 4 pm gives the most comfortable experience.
Key items: the St Edward’s Crown (used only at coronations), the Imperial State Crown (worn by the Sovereign at the State Opening of Parliament, set with the 317-carat Second Star of Africa), the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross (set with the 530-carat First Star of Africa — the largest clear-cut diamond in the world), the Sovereign’s Orb, and the Coronation Spoon (the oldest surviving piece of the regalia, dating from the 12th century).
Free guided tours led by the Tower’s resident Yeoman Warders — ex-military personnel who have served a minimum of 22 years before qualifying for the role. The tours are theatrical, funny, and packed with stories about the Tower’s residents, prisoners, and executions. Tours depart from the main entrance throughout the day; the last tour departs at 2:30 pm.
By royal decree, six ravens must be kept at the Tower at all times — legend holds that if they ever leave, both the Tower and the kingdom will fall. Charles II put the decree in place. Today seven ravens live at the Tower (six plus one spare), their wings partially clipped to prevent flight. The ravens respond only to the Ravenmaster and roam the Tower grounds freely. Visit South Lawn to see them.
The original Norman keep at the heart of the Tower complex, built by William the Conqueror between approximately 1075 and 1100 — one of the finest and largest Norman buildings in Europe. Inside is the historic Royal Armouries collection and the Line of Kings, the world’s longest-running visitor attraction (350 years old), displaying royal suits of armour on carved wooden horses.
Three towers — St Thomas’ Tower, the Wakefield Tower, and the Lanthorn Tower — forming the residential heart of the medieval Tower complex, built by Henry III and Edward I in the 13th century. The rooms have been furnished to evoke 13th-century royal life. Edward I’s throne room, bedroom, and great hall are recreated here.
Originally called the Garden Tower, renamed for the alleged murder of the two young Princes — 12-year-old Edward V and his brother Richard — in 1483, on the orders of their uncle Richard III. Their fate remains one of history’s most enduring mysteries. The tower also held Walter Raleigh, who wrote his History of the World during his imprisonment here.
The water gate through which prisoners accused of treason were brought into the Tower by boat from the Thames — Anne Boleyn, Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, Princess Elizabeth (later Elizabeth I) among them. The gate is named for the traitors who passed through it, not for any treacherous action on the part of the gate itself.
Tower Green — a quiet garden to the west of the White Tower — where ten people were executed privately within the Tower walls, including three queens: Anne Boleyn (1536), Catherine Howard (1542), and Lady Jane Grey (1554). The site is marked with a glass memorial sculpture by Brian Catling, surrounded by a bed of wildflowers.
A circuit walk along the outer defensive walls of the Tower, passing seven towers — Salt, Broad Arrow, Constable, Martin, Royal Beasts, Bowyer, and Flint — and providing elevated views over the Tower complex and the Thames.
Line of Kings — 350-year-old display of royal armour and arms in the White Tower
Royal Beasts — the history of the royal menagerie (polar bears, lions, leopards) that occupied the Tower for 600 years
Wellington’s Fortress — the Duke of Wellington as Constable of the Tower
Torture at the Tower — instruments and methods at the Wakefield Tower
Crowns Through History — the history of English royal crowns in Martin Tower
Prisoners — 900 years of prisoner history across Salt, Lower Bowyer, and Beauchamp towers
Coins and Kings — the Royal Mint’s 500 years in the Tower, including Isaac Newton’s role as Warden
| Day | Opening | Closing (Mar–Oct) | Closing (Nov–Feb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday – Saturday | 9:00 am | 5:30 pm | 4:30 pm |
| Sunday – Monday | 10:00 am | 5:30 pm | 4:30 pm |
Last entry: 1 hour before closing.
Last Yeoman Warder tour: 2:30 pm daily.
Closed: 24–26 December and 1 January.
A focused visit covering the Crown Jewels, the White Tower, and a Yeoman Warder tour takes approximately 2 hours. A thorough visit including the Medieval Palace, the Bloody Tower, the Wall Walk, and at least two or three of the permanent exhibitions takes a full 3 hours. Allow more time during peak season when the Crown Jewels queue can be 30–45 minutes.
Opening time (9:00 am Tue–Sat or 10:00 am Sun–Mon): The quietest and best time. See the Crown Jewels without queuing and watch the Tower’s Opening Ceremony (free, performed by the Yeoman Warders at opening).
Avoid 12 noon–3 pm: Peak time for Crown Jewels queues and group tours.
After 4 pm: Significantly quieter; allows a relaxed visit to the jewels and the White Tower before closing.
If you are interested in early-access Tower of London tours, we recommend:
# Early Access Tower of London & Tower Bridge Tour
# Early-Access Tour with Crown Jewel & Opening Ceremony
Address: St Katharine’s & Wapping, London EC3N 4AB
By Tube: Tower Hill station (District and Circle lines) — connected to the Tower via an underpass; approximately 2 minutes to the main entrance.
By Train: Take the c2c line to Fenchurch Street, then a 5-minute walk; or London Overground to London Bridge station and a 15-minute walk along the river.
By River Bus: Tower Pier is the Thames Clipper stop immediately adjacent to the Tower.
By Bus: Routes 15, 42, 78, and 100.
By Car: The Tower of London is in a car-free zone. No visitor parking. Limited paid parking near Tower Hill station.
Jewel House, The Ravens at South Lawn, Medieval Palace, White Tower, etc are some of must-see attractions at Tower of London.
Adult £34; child (5–15) £17; senior/student/disabled £27; under 5 free.
The Crown Jewels and the Yeoman Warder guided tours are cited most often. The White Tower’s armour collection and the Medieval Palace are also outstanding.
Yes — it is one of the most genuinely historic sites accessible anywhere in the world, with 1,000 years of British history concentrated in a single fortress. The combination of the Crown Jewels, the Beefeater tours, and the medieval architecture is unique.
At least 2 hours for the highlights; 3 hours for a thorough visit.
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