Prison, Fortress, Royal Palace and home of Crown Jewels
This page will explore what you can expect to see at the Tower of London. It will also provide details about opening hours and ticket prices.
Additionally, we discuss ideas for combining your Tower of London day out with other top London attractions, along with information on Tower Bridge, a popular attraction in its own right and just next door.
For a really special day out we also offer a fantastic, expertly guided historical London day trip: Crown Jewels of London with Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral & River Cruise.
Save money on Tower of London tickets
With a Big City Saver pass – combine with tickets to Madame Tussauds and the London Eye for a fantastic money-saving package to some of London’s top attractions.
Tower of London – what you will see
The main attractions include the Crown Jewels and the fascinating history linked to the Tower’s function as a prison for significant historical figures, often leading to public executions.
The Crown Jewels
The White Tower houses the Tower’s greatest attraction, the Crown Jewels. To see the Jewels, it’s best to arrive early since there are usually long queues.
Be aware, even with a skip-the-line ticket, you’ll still need to wait in line like everyone else.
Exhibition
To mark the coronation of King Charles III in 2023, they created an exhibition based around the Crown Jewels. Here you will see some of the world’s most precious jewels set into swords, robes, and of course crowns.
Experience an up-close look at the crown that King Charles donned during his coronation in 2023. The Jewel House has been revamped for the first time in more than ten years, showcasing an even richer narrative about the history and importance of the Crown Jewels.
The iconic white Tower
Almost 1,000 years old, and instantly recognisable, the White Tower is probably the most famous castle keep in the world – and consequently, they have designated it as a World Heritage Site. Constructed to inspire wonder among the people of London and to discourage foreign attackers.
Within the towers walls lies the world’s oldest visitor attraction, The Line of Kings, showcasing the stunning tournament armour of young Henry VIII alongside the ornate armours of Charles I and James II, all displayed on horseback.
Yeoman Warder – “Beefeater” Tours
The famous ‘Beefeaters’ in their famous dress uniforms are so distinctive; however, their official role as wardens of the Crown Jewels is often overlooked. Furthermore, their tours are an attraction in their own right, much fun and enjoyed by everyone who takes one of them.
Some of the stories they reveal may not be suitable for younger ears – tales of intrigue, imprisonment, execution, torture and much more.
Royal Beasts
For many years, people knew the Tower of London as a place of exotic and wild animals – creatures fit for Royalty.
In this exhibition, you’ll find sculptures of lions, baboons, an elephant, and more. Plus, explore the intriguing story of how they arrived at the Tower and what happened to them in a captivating display within the Brick Tower.
The Tower’s Mint
The Tower of London was home to the Royal Mint for over 500 years. Moreover, here you can learn about the vast history of the Mint and discover the people and stories behind the Royal Mint at the Tower of London through hands-on displays and installations.
Tower Green with execution scaffolding
Many of the rest of the main attractions associate legendary figures imprisoned and/or executed here with the Tower’s history. Moreover, the Tower Green which is at the heart of the Tower has the scaffolding where some private executions and hangings took place.
Three of them included queens of England: Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, wives of Henry VIII, and Lady Jane Grey – condemned on the orders of her cousin Mary I.
Traitor’s Gate
The gate that leads directly to the river is referred to as ‘Traitors’ Gate’ due to the many prisoners accused of treason who are believed to have passed through it.
The Bloody Tower
This is the location where the authorities kept several of the Tower’s most notable prisoners. It could have been the final residence of the ‘Princes in the Tower’ prior to their enigmatic vanishing in the 15th century. Today, it is decorated to resemble how it might have appeared during Sir Walter Raleigh’s 13 years of imprisonment.
For more information visit the Tower of London official website
Tower Bridge
Next to the Tower of London is the iconic Tower Bridge, a great family-friendly attraction in its own right.
You can choose to purchase tickets to go inside, or check out our blog on the Best free way to experience Tower Bridge.
Tower of London – opening times and location
Most visitors spend in the region of 2-3 hours inside the Tower of London.
Opening times
From June 01 to September 18
Daily: 9:00am to 17:30pm
From September 19 to October 3
Daily:
Mondays and Sundays: 10:00am to 17:30pm
Tuesday – Saturday: 9:00am to 17:30pm
Location
The Tower of London can be found in the historic City of London, which is the old walled area that now serves as a bustling business district.
Situated alongside the River Thames, this iconic structure was once a key part of the city’s defences against threats arriving by water. Right next to it is Tower Bridge, another famous landmark.
Furthermore, if you take a stroll in the area, you’ll also come across popular attractions like The Monument and The Shard, all within easy walking distance.
Nearest Underground station
Tower Hill Underground Station, serving the District and Circle Lines, is located right across from the Tower of London. Additionally, Tower Hill DLR Station and Fenchurch Street Railway Station are just a short distance away from this historic landmark.
Hop-on, hop-off buses & river services
All of London’s hop on, hop off sightseeing buses cross Tower Bridge and stop in front of the Tower of London.
Tower Pier is on the river immediately in front of the Tower of London. Here you can locate river services, especially routes to the London Eye and Westminster.
Additionally, Hop on Hop Off sightseeing buses can include these river routes in their tickets.
Worth knowing about the Tower of London and Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is an operational bridge that can lift its bascules five or six times daily during the summer. However, the schedule can be unpredictable, and there may be stretches where it doesn’t open for several days.
For the exact opening times and days, be sure to check the official Tower Bridge website. Additionally, visit our blog on the best way to experience Tower Bridge.
Be aware, the primary queues you’ll encounter are not for entering the Tower of London itself, but rather for getting to the Crown Jewels once you’re inside.
Tower of London – tickets
Tickets are priced for adults age 16 – 64 years. Concessions are available for children, full-time students, seniors and people with a disability.
What does your Tower of London ticket include?
Your ticket includes access to the Tower and the Crown Jewels display, Yeoman Warder guided tour, The White Tower, Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, Battlements, Medieval Palace and Bloody Tower.
In addition you also get access to the following exhibitions: Coins and Kings and Line of Kings, Torture at the Tower exhibition, Fusiliers Museum and Royal Mint exhibition.
Tower of London with Fish & Chips at Poppies
How about combining your visit to the Tower of London with a meal at Poppies, one of the finest Fish & Chip shops in London. Poppies features a menu that includes hand-cut chips and a diverse selection of sustainably sourced fresh fish.
Audio guides at Tower of London
Audio guides are available for a fee in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean and Chinese (Mandarin).
Buying tickets from third parties and on the day tickets
Third parties also sell tickets at prices either matched or below the on-line price from the official website.
You can purchase walk-up tickets from on the day from the ticket office on Tower Hill, but pre-booking your tickets in advance is recommended to save yourself queuing time.
Fast track tickets
There are no fast-track tickets for the Tower of London, but purchasing in advance does streamline the whole process, allowing you to download a voucher onto your phone ahead of arrival and simply scanning it at the gate, instead of printing the tickets off.
Ticket timeslots
Your ticket is valid for entry at any time from opening to last admission time, except during school holidays and during events, when half-hourly timeslots apply.
Group ticket savings for 15 or more people
Groups of 15 people or more can save on ticket prices. Walk-up group visits are welcome.
If you do not have a pre-booked timed admission slot, you may have to wait until availability allows for your group to enter.
Combine Tower of London with a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus ticket
Golden Tours is one of the three main hop-on, hop off sightseeing bus companies in London. A great package is to combine the Tower of London with a hop on bus tour, saving you pounds on purchasing separately.
Hop on tours are excellent for your first day in London, quickly getting you up to speed and orientated with the layout of London and your guide pointing out sights and destinations you might have not previously considered visiting.
From your hop-on bus tour see sites such as St Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, as well as, of course, Buckingham Palace, as well as many more iconic London scenes.
Cruise from Westminster to St Katharine’s Pier, and soak in panoramic views of the capital’s most iconic landmarks for a sightseeing experience like no other!
All this on top of entry to the UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the Tower of London.