Tower of London Tours and Tickets

Yes, the Tower of London is worth visiting. With a long and complex history as a palace, fortress, and prison, it’s an excellent place to learn about London through the ages. Moreover, the tower is one of England’s most important buildings and home to the precious Crown Jewels.

Tours of the Tower of London typically take about one hour. Altogether set aside at least two hours for your Tower of London visit. That will give you additional time to explore parts of the tower on your own—and wait in the long line to peek at the Crown Jewels.

Admission tickets for the Tower of London grant entry to the Crown Jewels, White Tower, Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, Battlements, Medieval Palace, Bloody Tower, Torture at the Tower exhibition, Fusiliers Museum, and Royal Mint exhibition. Tours led by "Beefeaters," guards sharing stories from 1,000 years of history, are also included.

Don’t miss seeing the Crown Jewels—the wait is worth it. Other top highlights include the Beefeater guards, the armory and weapons collection in the White Tower, the Bloody Tower, Tower Green (the site of Anne Boleyn’s execution), and the views of Tower Bridge from the ramparts.

The best time to visit the Tower of London is mid-week early mornings, when lines are typically the shortest. Weekends, public holidays, and afternoons are busiest with tourists and school groups. Winters bring shorter lines but wet, dreary weather.

No, you can’t walk around the Tower of London for free. Visitors must purchase admission tickets or limit their trip to the tower’s far perimeter and bridge. While not required, booking tickets in advance will likely save you time and money.