Tower of London Guide: Tickets, Tips, History & Tours

The Tower of London is the single most important historical building in England. In its 1,000-year history, it has been a royal palace, a prison, an execution site, an armoury, a zoo, and the home of the Crown Jewels. William the Conqueror began building it in 1066, and every monarch since has added to it. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited attractions in the country.

Adult tickets cost from £37 when booked online in advance (2026 prices). Children aged 5-15 are around £18, and under 5s go free. Family tickets offer modest savings. Booking online in advance saves you money compared to buying at the gate, and lets you choose a time slot to avoid the longest waits at the entrance.

The Crown Jewels are the highlight for most visitors. The collection includes 23,578 gemstones, the Imperial State Crown, the Sovereign's Orb, and the Sovereign's Sceptre (containing the largest clear-cut diamond in the world). You pass through the vault on a moving walkway, which keeps the line flowing. For the best experience, visit the Crown Jewels first thing in the morning when the Tower opens, or in the last hour before closing, when queues are shortest.

The Yeoman Warders (Beefeaters) give free guided tours throughout the day, included with your entry ticket. These 60-minute tours are entertaining, informative, and full of dark humour about executions, prisoners, and royal scandals. Tours depart from near the main entrance every 30 minutes. They are the best way to bring the Tower's history to life and are suitable for all ages.

The White Tower at the centre of the complex is the original fortress built by William the Conqueror. Inside, the Royal Armouries collection includes suits of armour worn by Henry VIII, swords, and weapons spanning centuries. The Medieval Palace shows how the Tower functioned as a royal residence, with reconstructed rooms showing how kings and queens lived here. The Chapel of St John the Evangelist, on the upper floor of the White Tower, is one of the finest surviving examples of Norman architecture.

Legend says that if the ravens ever leave the Tower, the kingdom will fall. Six ravens (plus a few spares) are kept at the Tower at all times. They are surprisingly large and are cared for by the Ravenmaster. You can often see them strutting around Tower Green or near the Wakefield Tower. They are well-fed and some have distinct personalities that the Beefeaters will tell you about on tour.

The Tower opens at 9am (10am on Sundays and Mondays). Arriving at opening time gives you the best chance of a shorter wait for the Crown Jewels. Weekdays are less crowded than weekends. Allow 2-3 hours for a thorough visit, or 3-4 hours if you want to see everything and take a Beefeater tour.

The nearest Tube station is Tower Hill (District and Circle lines). The Tower is also a short walk from London Bridge station. Tower Bridge is immediately next door and free to photograph from outside.

For more London landmarks, see our Westminster and Big Ben guide or our Royal London guide.