TOWER OF LONDON ULTIMATE GUIDE

Open: Sun - Mon: 10:00AM to 5:30PM

Tue - Sat: 9:00AM to 5:30PM

Time Needed: 4 hours

Price: £34.80

Nestled between the artsy neighbourhoods of Shoreditch and Whitechapel and London’s commercial district, the infamously historic Tower of London may seem slightly out of place. But once you take a step inside The Tower’s main entrance, you can’t help but feel as if you’ve been transported back in time.

The Tower of London complex has been a popular London attraction since the Elizabethan ages, and over 2.4 million people visit the Tower each year to learn more about its grim (yet fascinating) history riddled with tales of imprisonment, execution, murder and scandal. You can visit on your own, but it's always a good idea to join a free walking tour and have a professional guide tell you all the details.

The Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror during the 11th century, and was originally supposed to be a royal residence. As the years went on, however, the Tower was eventually used as a prison during the Tudor reign, and some of the many famous individuals who were once imprisoned here include Elizabeth I, Edward V and his younger brother (also known as the Princes in the Tower), Anne Boleyn, and many, many more.

Tower of London Highlights

With a museum of medieval armoury, The Crown Jewels, and even the ghost of Anne Boleyn, there’s no telling what you’ll come across during your visit to the Tower of London.

The Tower of London is essentially a complex of 21 different towers which cover 18 acres, and there are several different sections and buildings which are included in your admission ticket.

Some of the many highlights include The White Tower (the oldest building in the Tower of London complex), The Museum of Medieval Armour (the oldest national museum in Britain), and The Crown Jewels (where you can see the Coronation Spoon, the Sovereign’s Sceptre, The Crown of the Queen Mother and much more).

Other popular areas include The Tower Green (once the location of executions and beheadings), St. John’s Chapel, The Fusilier Museum (which houses George V’s uniform, 12 Victoria Cross Medals and much more), and the Medieval Palace, which contains a re-creation of Prince Edward’s bedchamber and other rare objects which date back to the time of the Princes in the Tower.

Special Tips

If you plan on visiting the Tower of London more than once, you may want to sign up for the Tower of London's annual membership. which costs between £55 and £65 for adults, or anywhere from £90 to £120 for joint and family memberships. With the Tower of London membership you can avoid all the long queues, get free and unlimited access to all the six Historic Royal Palaces in London, and even a 10% discount at selected restaurants, shops and cafés near the palaces.

Getting There

Address: London EC3N 4AB, United Kingdom.

By Tube: The nearest station is Tower Hill, which is a five-minute walk away.

By Train: The nearest stations are London Bridge or Fenchurch Street.

By Bus: You can get to the Tower of London via routes 15, 42 ,78, 100, RV1.

By car: The nearest car park is on Lower Thames Street (which is a two-minute walk away from the main entrance). Parking is within the Congestion Charging Zone so you may want to bring some extra change with you for your visit.

By sightseeing bus tour: All buses stop at the Tower of London during their routes.

Visiting The Tower of London

Recommended visiting time for the Tower of London can last as long as four hours, so make sure you bring comfortable walking shoes (especially if you plan on climbing up and down the many stairs inside the different towers).

If you can, try and catch one of the Yeoman Warder tours (which are led by actors dressed up in historic “Beefeater” costumes) and listen as the actors entertain visitors with historic tales of imprisonment, execution and torture inside the Tower of London. The tours start every 30 minutes near the main entrance (with the last tour at 3:30 p.m. in the summer or 2:30 p.m. in the winter), and last for about one hour.

A variety of tours at the Tower of London have availability that varies from week to week. These include the Highlights Tour for a quick overview, Imprisonment and Execution for stories of famous prisoners, The Medieval Palace for a glimpse into royal life, The Crown Jewels to explore the history of the treasures, The Tower’s Beginnings to learn about its Norman origins, Life at the Tower to hear from Yeoman Warders, the Family Tour with ghostly guides for a fun exploration, and Alternative Tales from the Tower featuring contemporary stories and poetry by young people.

If you’re not interested in walking around the entire complex, you can always purchase an audio guide with headphones for £5 so you can listen to some fascinating stories about the history of The Tower of London during your visit.

Inside the Tower there are cafes and restaurants, as well as a kiosk if you need any refreshments. There are also plenty of places to sit down and have a picnic if you want to save some money as well.

Ticket prices and Opening hours

The ticket prices for the Tower of London are as follows:

• £34.80 for adults (age 18-64)
• £17.40 for children (age 5-17)
• £27.70 for seniors, students and persons with disability
• £1 for Universal credit and Pension credit holders
• Free for members, children under the age of 5 and carers

There are also cheaper rates for groups of 15 or more people. It is highly recommended you buy your tickets online in advance beforehand.

Opening times vary depending on when you visit:

During the winter (November to February), the Tower of London is open from:

• 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Tuesday to Saturday
• 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday and Monday (with last admission at 4:00 p.m.)

During the summer, the Tower is open from:

• 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday
• 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday and Monday (with last admission at 5:00 p.m.)

Keep in mind that all of the internal buildings close 30 minutes before the last admission.

Are you planning a visit to the Tower of London? You might want to check out some of the many free tours in London departing daily.