Tower of London

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Built in 1078 by William the Conqueror, the Tower of London has been at the heart of the city for over 900 years. It’s been a palace, a fortress, a military garrison, a prison, and today it’s home to the Crown Jewels, which are carefully guarded by the Beefeaters. With over 2.5 million visitors a year, the Tower of London is a must-see site for all people visiting the capital of the UK, and you can save time and money when you book your trip in advance.

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5 Tips for Visiting the Tower of London

Beefeater | Photo: Flickr, chrisinphilly5448 - CC BY 2.0

You can stay inside the Tower of London for as long as you like on the day of your visit, but it’s recommended that you definitely plan at least 3 hours for your visit. With so much to see and do, you might need to take a break for lunch or tea, but watch out: your ticket is only valid for one entry to the grounds so if you leave you’ll need a second ticket to enter again.

Jewel Tower | Photo: Flickr, City.and.Color - CC BY 2.0

Make sure to visit the Crown Jewels - they’re literally the gem in the crown of the Tower of London! With 140 objects containing a total of more than 23,000 precious and semi-precious stones, and officially priceless, the jewels are kept under armed guard in the Jewel Tower. To avoid overcrowding, visitors are required to stand on a moving walkway which will take you past the exhibits at a slow walking pace.

There’s no fast track entry, as long as you have your ticket you’ll skip the ticket line, but there may be queues inside, especially for the Crown Jewels. Aim to visit at opening time to avoid the crowds.

Download the Time Explorers app (available on iOS and Android) for fun digital missions the whole family will enjoy! Choose from 3 missions and follow the instructions to save the day.

During the summer months, you can enjoy your lunch in the castle moat! Just bring a picnic and enjoy the sunshine while you take a break from exploring the Tower. Alternatively, there are 4 different restaurants and cafes either within the castle grounds or just outside them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Tower of London so important?

The Tower of London is one of the oldest and most historically significant buildings standing in London today. The White Tower (which the rest of the building is named after) was built by William the Conqueror in 1078 and in its 900-year history has been a fortress, a prison, a palace, and a site of some of the most famous executions in English history. Whether you’re interested in the Normans, the Tudors (especially the deaths of the Princes in the Tower, Anne Boleyn, or Lady Jane Grey), the English Civil War, or World War I and II (when spies were imprisoned at interrogated at the Tower), there’s something to discover at the Tower of London. The Tower has also been a site attracting tourists for centuries, although today it no longer houses a menagerie - the last animals were taken to ZSL London Zoo in 1835.

What’s included in the ticket price?

Tickets for the Tower of London include entry to see the Crown Jewels and all public areas and exhibitions within the White Tower, Bloody Tower, and battlements. Tickets also include any children’s activities and trails, plus the opportunity to join a tour with a Yeoman Warder. The Yeoman Warder tours begin every 30 minutes from 10 am (from Tuesday to Saturday) or 10.30 am (Sunday and Monday), and leave from the main entrance. Tours take 1 hour, and in poor weather conditions or due to events in the Tower, certain areas of the castle may not be included.

Who are the Yeoman Warders?

The Yeoman Warders, also known as the Beefeaters, have formed the Royal Bodyguard since at least 1509, but they’ve been in existence since at least the reign of Edward IV (1461-1483 CE). To be a Yeoman Warder you have to have served in the armed forces for at least 22 years, have reached at least the rank of warrant officer, and have been awarded medals for long service and good conduct. Their uniform is one of London’s iconic images, and their tours tend to be as full of dry, British humor as they are with information.

What’s the deal with the ravens?

The ravens at the Tower of London are famous! Their antics have been documented since at least the 16th century when the tower’s ravens were silent at the execution of Anne Boleyn, and there have been captive ravens at the Tower since at least 1883. Today there are 7 ravens who are carefully looked after by the Ravenmaster, and they’ve been known to live as long as 40 years. Their wings are clipped on one side to make sure they can’t fly long distances because if the ravens ever leave the Tower, according to legend, ‘the Crown will fall and Britain with it’. Guests are asked not to feed the ravens - they get plenty of treats from the Ravenmaster and might bite if visitors get too close to them.

What’s the Ceremony of the Keys?

The Ceremony of the Keys is the nightly ritual of locking up the Tower of London. Every night for over 700 years the Chief Yeoman Warder walks to the Traitor’s Gate, keys and candle lantern in hand, locks the gates, and returns to the tower where he is quizzed by the sentry. Once the Chief Yeoman Warder is readmitted the ‘Duty Drummer’ plays The Last Post before the keys are returned to the Queen’s House and the Guard is dismissed. Groups of 40 to 50 visitors are allowed to watch the ceremony each evening at 9.30 pm sharp, but the free tickets sell out 12-18 months in advance so you have to be really sharp to get any!

Is the Tower of London haunted?

Visitors and night employees at the Tower of London have reported several sightings of ghosts at the Tower of London, though cases are few and far between. Famous faces people claim to have seen include Anne Boleyn in the Church of St Peter ad Vincula (where she’s buried), and in the White Tower - she’s usually seen carrying her own head under her arm. Plus there’s Henry VI, Lady Jane Grey (who was queen for 9 days), Margaret Pole (executed by Henry VIII, and made a Catholic saint in 1886), and a bear.

General Information

Opening Hours:

From Tuesday to Saturday the Tower is open from 9 am, and from Sunday to Monday the tower is open from 10 am. In summer (from March to October) the castle closes at 5.30 pm with the last admission at 5 pm, and in winter (from November to February) the castle closes at 4.30 pm with final entry to the grounds at 4 pm. The tower is open every day except December 24, 25, and 26, and on January 1. The last Yeoman Warder tour is at 2.30 pm in winter and at 3.30 pm in summer.

Tickets:

Tickets on the day cost £27.50 for adults, £21.50 for concessions, and £13.10 for children aged between 5 and 15. Concession prices apply to those aged over 60, full-time students, and disabled visitors. A discount is also available for those who hold a valid military ID card (MoD Form 90). Children under the age of 5 can enter free of charge. Audio guides can be rented for a charge of £4 or more. Local residents of Tower Hamlets can visit for £1 as long as they show their Tower Hamlets library card or an Idea Store card.

Address:

Tower of London
London, EC3N 4AB

How to get there:

The closest London Underground station is Tower Hill (Circle and District lines), and alternative stations include Aldgate (Circle and Metropolitan lines), Aldgate East (District and Hammersmith & City lines), Tower Gateway (DLR services), Monument (District and Circle lines), and London Bridge (Jubilee and Northern lines). The nearest train stations are Fenchurch Street station (5 minutes walk away) and London Bridge (15 minutes walk). The tower is also served by bus numbers 15. 42. 78, 100, and RV1, and can be accessed via riverboat services to Tower Pier. There is no on-site parking facility, but disabled parking is available at Tower Hill Coach and Car Park, which is a 2-minute walk away.

Security:

All bags will be subject to a security check before you enter the castle grounds. There are no locker or cloakroom facilities at the Tower, please make alternative arrangements for large bags. Backpacks are permitted, please keep them with you at all times.

Accessibility:

A complete guide to the accessibility of the Tower of London is available for download from the castle’s website. Rooms and areas are rated based on their difficulty to access, with rank 1 having ramped entrances and displays all on one level, rank 2 having some steps, uneven surfaces, or displays on a number of levels, and rank 3 having many steps, spiral staircases, or small doorways. This guide may be helpful for planning your route through the exhibits in more detail. Wheelchairs are available to borrow from the Welcome Center on a first come, first served basis. A large print access guide and magnifying sheets are also available to borrow from the Welcome Center. For Deaf visitors, tours in British Sign Language are regularly available. The guide will be wearing a high visibility vest with ‘BSL interpreter’ written on the back. Descriptive tours of the Crown Jewels and White Tower are available for blind and visually impaired visitors, guests are asked to contact Visitor Services before their visit to check the available times and book their slot. The audio guides provided are free of charge to visually impaired visitors and include a tour specifically designed for blind and partially sighted visitors. The audio guides also have an induction loop facility. All recognized service dogs (including assistance dogs in training) are welcome inside the Tower as long as they are wearing their designed jack or lead slip. Owners should also bring their dog’s identification book (or international equivalent) with them when they visit.

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