The Tower of London is a formidable piece of London history. Built as a palace as well as a fortress and prison, the Tower has been the home of many notorious Londoners, and even royalty.
Today, a thousand years after it was built by William the Conqueror, the Tower of London is a unique piece of history and the London landscape.
As a royal palace, it is home to many ceremonies, such as the Ceremony of the Keys. The Crown Jewels are also on display here. Also see our London Travel Guide.
Be sure to see our reviews of Stonehenge Tours, Thames River Cruises and Windsor Castle Tours.
Best Tower of London Tours
| The Tower of London - Small Group Tour with a Local Expert | VIP Tower of London and Crown Jewels Tour with Private Beefeater Meet & Greet | Private Tour of The Tower of London | |
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| Location: | Sundial at the Tower Hill, London EC3N 2LY | 3 Tower Place, London EC3R 5BT | 2b Tower Hill, London EC3N 4EE |
| Start: | 10:00 AM, 2:00 PM | 8:45 AM, 9:45 AM | 9:00 AM, 10:15 AM, 2:00 PM |
| Duration: | 2 to 3 hours | 3 hours | 3 hours |
| Includes: | Tower of London tickets, expert guided tour | Timed access, no waiting, private audience with a Beefeater, entry to Tower of London & Crown jewels | Professional guide, minimized queuing, private tour, optional upgrade of afternoon tea |
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Tower of London Tours For 2026
- Exclusive Access to Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral
- London in One Day Sightseeing Tour Including Tower of London
- Early-Access Tower of London Tour
- Royal London Walking Tour
- Best of London Including Tower of London
Best Tower of London Tour Reviews
1. The Tower of London – Small Group Tour with a Local Expert
- Departure Point: Sundial at the Tower Hill, London EC3N 2LY
- Departure Time: 10:00 AM, 2:00 PM
- Duration: 2 to 3 hours
- Includes: Tower of London tickets, expert guided tour
London is filled to the brim with incredible cultural and historical experiences, but there’s one that you truly can’t miss: seeing the Tower of London.
This quintessentially British experience is lead by an expert local guide who’ll not only show you the most iconic sights, but some fascinating hidden gems, as well. If that sounds interesting, look no further than the Tower of London – Small Group Tour with a Local Expert excursion.
Lasting anywhere from 2 to 3 hours, it’s perfect for busier schedules while never skimping on the details. Meet your guide, James, at the Sundial right outside the exit from Tower Hill Underground Station and head straight to the tower grounds to stroll around and explore.
James is absolutely fantastic, and does an excellent job of bringing centuries of history to life with passion and in-depth knowledge.
There’s no way you’d get to experience the Tower of London on your own like you would with James, who boasts an impressive 20+ years of experience. With this kind of insider’s perspective, the visit turns into an immersive historical journey with intimate knowledge of its rich past.
From its origins as a royal palace to its infamous role in the English Civil War, you’ll see the White Tower, the Crown Jewels, and many more famed locations.
What makes it even better, is that the tour includes all necessary tickets, personalized attention, and some coffee and tea to sip on as you cruise around!
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
2. VIP Tower of London and Crown Jewels Tour with Private Beefeater Meet & Greet
- Departure Point: 3 Tower Place, London EC3R 5BT
- Departure Time: 8:45 AM, 9:45 AM
- Duration: 3 hours
- Includes: Early AM timed access tickets, no waiting at ticket office, private audience with a Beefeater, admission to Tower of London including the world-famous Crown jewels, entry to Raven House of the Tower of London, visit Tower Green – the execution site of 3 English queens, entry to White Tower & Armory
Discover the timeless draw of England’s famed Tower of London with a tour that perfectly balances historical depth and a bit of exclusive, behind-the-scenes access that most visitors don’t receive.
This carefully-curated experience lets you bypass the masses of crowds and lines outside and head right into one of the country’s most iconic landmarks, seamlessly.
The VIP Tower of London and Crown Jewels Tour with Private Beefeater Meet & Greet adds a unique touch that was one of the highlights of my trip!
Start off with a visit to the imposing White Tower filled with tales of kinds and armory, before heading on to the Tower Green, where you’ll hear about stories of royal intrigue and brutal executions that took place over centuries.
Seeing the Crown Jewels is really special, showing off raw regal opulence that’ll captivate anybody. The meeting with a Beefeater was also something iconic, offering a firsthand glimpse into the traditions and duties of these famed employees.
We were actually able to ask them questions and listen to plenty of their own anecdotes, which basically no one gets to do! They were surprisingly friendly, and one of them even told us some spooky stories about paranormal experiences they’d had at the tower!
Our guide made it even more enthralling with his excellent storytelling and vast knowledge that he shared in an engaging way. Our time flew by on this tour!
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
Other Experiences You May Enjoy:
3. Private Tour of The Tower of London
- Departure Point: 2b Tower Hill, London EC3N 4EE
- Departure Time: 9:00 AM, 10:15 AM, 2:00 PM
- Duration: 3 hours
- Includes: Professional guide, minimized queuing, private tour, optional upgrade of afternoon tea
I kind of regret it now, but the first time I went to London I completely avoided the Tower of London, even though it was one of my greatest interests. I had a feeling it would be absolute chaos with all of the queuing and crowds, but had I known about tours like this one, it wouldn’t have been an issue.
The Private Tour of The Tower of London avoids all of that, with a professional guide there to lead you past the waiting so you can get into the landmark without any delays.
I liked that we had the option of choosing either a morning or afternoon tour start time, which was easier to fit into our schedules. I always like doing tours in the morning, though both of the tour options offer these perks. You can also opt to upgrade to afternoon tea for the later tour as well, though I’m not a fan of tea, so we didn’t do it.
Once we got inside the tower, we met the ravens and had the chance to see iconic items like the Crown Jewels, as well as explore the famed White Tower, and see incredible views of the Tower Bridge! In fact, I’d go out on a limb and say that the tower offers the best views of the Tower Bridge in all of London!
The stories our guide told us about the White Tower were certainly chilling, though there were plenty of interesting events that took place here, as well. We learned that this oldest part of the fortress was once filled with armor that belonged to kings Henry VIII, Charles I, and other notorious kings.
If you have kids in your group, I highly recommend checking out the interactive exhibition which they seem to love!
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. VIP Early Access: Opening Ceremony Tower of London & Bridge Entry
- Departure Point: Tower Hill London EC3N 4DJ, UK
- Departure Time: 8:15 AM, 9:15 AM
- Duration: 3 hours
- Includes: Enter Tower of London before the public, witness 700-year-old opening ceremony, meet the Chief Beefeater for a private welcome to the Tower of London & Opening Ceremony, entrance tickets included to the Tower Bridge Engine Rooms
Next up, is the VIP Early Access: Opening Ceremony Tower of London & Bridge Entry tour. This is a magical tour experience that very few get to go on, and the title says it all!
This isn’t your standard tour of the tower – it’s an opportunity to see it before the crowds arrive – even witness the Tower of London opening ceremony!
I’d say that the fact that you receive early access to see the Crown Jewels is worth the tour, alone. The Crown Jewels are practically always surrounding by swarms of people, so being able to have them essentially to yourself is priceless.
However, seeing the entire tower without other crowds walking around just really gives you a whole new perspective on the structure and the history that’s taken place within its walls.
This tour had one of the best guides around, offering us plenty of time to explore the grounds at our leisure, while offering up all kinds of cool recommendations.
Regaling us with fascinating historical accounts, I learned so much more than what you would find on a regular tour. Not to mention, he was very fun to listen to, and did a great job of engaging even the young kids in our group.
Perhaps the only thing I didn’t absolutely love about this tour was the fact that at one point, they brought our group together along with 2 others. This made it a bit difficult to hear the Beefeaters at one point, but aside from that, it was a phenomenal experience.
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. Best of London Including Tower of London
- Departure Point: Victoria Coach Station, London
- Departure Time: 7:15 AM
- Duration: 9 hours
- Includes: Tower of London tour, guided coach tour of the city, St. Paul’s Cathedral guided tour, stop at Westminster Abbey, sightseeing cruise on the River Thames, free time for lunch, two optional upgrades
If you’re looking for the best Tower of London tour, this may just be the one for you. This is a full-day tour that will take you on a guided, air-conditioned coach tour around the city of London. You’ll start by heading to St. Paul’s Cathedral for a guided tour.
On your way to Buckingham Place to watch the changing of the guard ceremony, you’ll make a stop at Westminster Abbey. This is a perfect time to take pictures in front of the most extraordinary examples of Gothic architecture in this area.
After watching the changing of the guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace, there will be time for lunch. It’s at your own expense and there are many eateries in the area.
Then, you’ll head to the Tower of London. You’ll be guided by Traitor’s Gate and the torture exhibit before viewing the Crown Jewels.
Hop on a river cruise to see many famous London sites from the water. Your guide will tell you about the history of many of these places. When you step off the boat, your comprehensive tour of London is over, but you can choose to upgrade.
One upgrade includes a ride on the London Eye for breathtaking views of London and the perfect opportunity for photos. The other is a cream tea experience at Harrod’s restaurant. It includes a glass of sparkling wine along with scones and clotted cream.
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
A Guide to Visiting the Tower of London
The Tower of London is a stone fortress on the Thames that has been a castle, a palace, a prison, and an execution ground for nearly a thousand years. People have been beheaded where you will be standing.
It is also one of the most crowded and expensive attractions in the city, and most visitors do it wrong. Here is how to see it properly, what to skip, and how not to get fleeced on the ticket.
Is the Tower of London Worth It
Yes, once, if you plan it. You get the Crown Jewels, a Norman keep older than almost anything around it, and a guided tour from a Beefeater that is one of the best things you can do in London.
The catch is the price and the crowds. An adult ticket runs around £35, the Crown Jewels line can swallow an hour at midday, and in August it is a slow river of people.
It is worth it for first timers, history people, and anyone traveling with kids who like knights and gore. If you have seen a dozen European castles and hate queues, you can skip it and not lose sleep.
This is a half day, not a quick stop. Give it three hours minimum, more if you read every placard.
When to Go
Get there for opening and you beat most of the pain. The Tower opens at 9 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday and Monday, and the first hour is the calmest it will be all day.
Go straight to the Crown Jewels first, before anything else. By late morning that line is long and slow, and at opening you can walk right up to the glass.
Weekdays beat weekends, and term time beats school holidays. Summer and the Christmas break are the worst, and the quietest I have ever found it was a wet Tuesday in February.
Winter hours are shorter, usually closing at 4:30 p.m. with last entry around 3. Check the day you are going, because the Tower also closes December 24 to 26 and January 1.
What to Actually See
The Crown Jewels
This is the headline, and it earns it. The Imperial State Crown, the Sovereign’s Sceptre set with one of the largest cut diamonds on earth, and a vault of gold plate that still gets used for real coronations.
You ride a slow moving walkway past the big pieces, which keeps the crowd flowing and stops anyone hogging the view. See it first thing, because this is the one part of the Tower where the queue can cost you a full hour.
The Beefeater Tour and Everything Else
The Yeoman Warders, the Beefeaters in the dark Tudor coats, run free guided tours included with your ticket, and they are the best thing here. Each one is a former soldier with at least 22 years of service, they live inside the walls, and they tell the gory history better than any audio guide or paid guide ever will.
Tours leave every half hour or so from just inside the entrance and run about an hour. Catch one early or note the times when you arrive, because the last tour goes well before closing.
After that, walk the rest on your own. The White Tower holds Henry VIII’s armour, Tower Green marks where Anne Boleyn and two other queens lost their heads, and the ravens stalk the lawns under a legend that the kingdom falls if they ever leave.
Tickets and How Not to Get Ripped Off
This is where people waste money. The Tower is run by Historic Royal Palaces, a charity, and the cheapest tickets come straight from their site at hrp.org.uk, usually a few pounds less than buying on the door.
The free Beefeater tour matters here. Plenty of third party sellers will charge you extra for a guided tour, but the guide they bring cannot take you anywhere the free Yeoman Warder tour does not, so you are paying for a guide who is worse than the one you already get.
Be careful with anything labeled “skip the line.” Everyone clears the same bag check and enters on a timed slot, so there is no secret fast lane, only timed tickets that you can buy direct for less.
Here is how the ticket options actually shake out.
- Direct from Historic Royal Palaces. Cheapest, around £35 for an adult and a bit less booked ahead. The right choice for most people.
- Third party sites like GetYourGuide or Viator. Fine if you want a packaged private guide or a combo, but check the price against the direct rate first, because the markup is often real.
- The London Pass. Worth it only if you are hitting several big paid sights in a few days. For the Tower alone it is not.
- HRP membership. About the price of two adult tickets for a year, and it covers Hampton Court and Kensington Palace too. A good deal if you are doing more than one of their palaces.
One free thing worth knowing. The Ceremony of the Keys, the nightly locking up ritual at 9:53 p.m. that has run for centuries, is free but books out months ahead on the HRP site.
Getting There and Where to Eat
Take the Tube. Tower Hill on the Circle and District lines is a five minute walk, and the DLR at Tower Gateway is close too.
Do not drive. There is no parking and you will sit in traffic and pay the congestion charge for the privilege.
If the weather is good, the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers down the river to Tower Pier is a better arrival than any train. It drops you right at the walls.
One thing trips up half the tourists who come. The Tower of London is the castle, and Tower Bridge is the famous blue and white drawbridge next to it, a separate attraction with a separate ticket, so do not turn up at one expecting the other.
Skip the food inside, which is overpriced and forgettable. St Katharine Docks right next door has decent pubs, and Borough Market, a short ride away, is where you want to eat in this part of London.
What It Costs and How to Plan
Budget around £35 for an adult, roughly £17 to £18 for a child, and free for the little ones, with family tickets that soften the total. Prices creep up most years, so check the current rate before you go.
Book a timed entry slot in advance, especially in summer. You can still buy on the day, but you risk a later slot and a longer wait at the Jewels.
Wear real shoes. The grounds are cobbled, the White Tower has steep narrow spiral stairs that are not for anyone with bad knees, and you will be on your feet for hours.
Plan three hours at the very least, and half a day if you want the Beefeater tour, the Jewels, and the White Tower without rushing. That pacing is the difference between enjoying the place and resenting the crowds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Beefeater tour really free, and is it worth it?
Yes and yes. The Yeoman Warder tour is included with every ticket, it runs about an hour, and it is the single best thing you can do inside the walls.
Do not pay a third party for a separate guided tour expecting more. The Beefeaters are former soldiers who live there and tell it better than anyone you can hire.
What is the difference between the Tower of London and Tower Bridge?
They are two different places that sit next to each other. The Tower of London is the thousand year old castle with the Crown Jewels, and Tower Bridge is the Victorian drawbridge over the river with the two towers people photograph.
Each has its own ticket. A surprising number of visitors book one and mean the other.
When is the best time to go to avoid crowds?
A weekday morning, right at opening, outside school holidays. Go straight to the Crown Jewels first while the line is short.
Winter is quieter than summer across the board. A weekday in January will feel like a different attraction than a Saturday in August.
Should I buy a skip the line ticket or a third party tour?
Usually no. Everyone goes through the same security and enters on a timed slot, so there is no real fast lane, just timed tickets you can buy direct for less.
Buy a third party tour only if you specifically want a private guide or a combo deal. Otherwise book direct from Historic Royal Palaces and take the free Beefeater tour.
How long do I need at the Tower?
Three hours is the floor. Half a day is better and lets you do the Jewels, a Beefeater tour, and the White Tower without speed walking.
If you only have ninety minutes, do the Crown Jewels and one Beefeater tour and call it. You will have seen the best of it.
Is it worth it with kids?
Yes, this is one of the better London sights for children. Armour, ravens, a thousand years of grisly stories, and Beefeaters who know how to hold a crowd of nine year olds.
Strollers are hard on the cobbles and impossible on the White Tower stairs. Bring a carrier for little ones and budget for the child tickets.
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The Tower of London and Crown Jewels Easy Access Tour is our Editors Choice for the best Tower of London tour
