Complete guide to visiting the Tower of London in 2026
The Tower of London at dusk with the Shard in the background.
When visiting the Tower of London, you’ll see much of what you came to London for: soldiers marching in red uniforms, 1,000-year-old buildings rich in history, and royal jewels.
Plus, the Tower of London is located right on the banks of the River Thames, close to other iconic sites such as Tower Bridge.
Our most recent visit to the Tower of London was last August, and despite being the height of tourist season, the site is so large that it didn’t feel as crowded as I expected.
Our previous visit was a few years ago, in January. While the weather was colder, the ability to just walk up and purchase tickets without battling crowds was refreshing.
Pro tip - always pre-purchase tickets for the Tower of London. We visited during the absolute quietest time of winter, but tickets sell out fast the rest of the year. We’ll discuss ticket options below.
Note - This blog post contains affiliate links. If we recommend a product, activity, or hotel, we might receive a small commission if you buy or book from these links. This is done at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we have personally used or have thoroughly researched.
History of the Tower of London
The Tower of London was built in the 1070s by William the Conqueror. William built the Tower as a symbol of his power and to protect against both foreign enemies and domestic rebellion.
At the time, the Tower was like nothing ever seen in England before, but subsequent monarchs expanded the fortress's footprint.
Throughout the years, kings and queens lived and died at the Tower of London. Henry VI was murdered at the Tower in 1471. The children of his great rival Edward IV, disappeared and are assumed to have been killed there too.
Anne Boleyn, the wife of Henry VIII, was killed at the Tower after being accused of adultery and treason.
For nearly 1,000 years, the Tower of London served as a prison. Anyone accused of being a threat to national security served time at the Tower.
Even as recently as World War 1, German spies were brought to the Tower and shot.
What to see at the Tower of London
The Crown Jewels
A member of the Royal Household Guards outside the Crown Jewels exhibit.
The Tower of London and its people have protected royal treasures for more than 700 years.
The building is “guarded” by Royal Household Guards, but the real security is the massive modern thick walls. You are basically walking into a giant bank safe.
Unfortunately, no photography is allowed inside the Crown Jewels exhibit.
The room is lit dramatically to reveal the true “bling” of the pieces.
You’ll stand on a moving sidewalk to view the most famous pieces. This is great since it allows you an up-close view, but only for a few seconds. You can always ride the sidewalk again.
The White Tower
The White Tower.
The White Tower was built by William the Conqueror in 1078. It is the oldest and most iconic building in the complex.
The thick, fortified walls, tall turrets, and winding staircases make the White Tower very safe from invading enemies.
My favorite part of the White Tower is the armour exhibit. The exhibit is called the Line of Kings because starting in the 17th century, the armour was displayed in one long line mounted on beautifully carved horses.
Today, it’s not one long line, but it’s still an impressive and professional display, and the armor on horses is still a hit.
There is also a large exhibit of canon and the Chapel of St John the Evangelist.
Walk the Tower's walls
You can climb up and walk the south, east, or north battlements. While walking these walls, you’ll not only get a great view of the Tower of London but also the London skyline.
The late afternoon sun shines on the exterior walls,
Torture at the Tower
We decided to skip this one. Located in the lower Wakefield Tower, the exhibition is not for the squeamish (this is why we skipped it). You’ll learn about the tools of torture and techniques once used on prisoners.
Part of the armour exhibit at the White Tower.
Fusiliers Museum & Royal Mint Exhibition
When leaving the Crown Jewels exhibit, you’ll see this large building on your left.
You’ll explore the Tower’s military history and its role in producing Britain’s coins until 1810.
The Ravens
The ravens of the Tower of London are a group of captive ravens.
Their presence is traditionally believed to protect the Crown and the Tower.
The exact origins of the ravens are unknown. Local legend puts the origin of the captive raven population at the time of King Charles II in 1660–1685, but the earliest known reference to ravens at the Tower is an illustration from 1883, nearly 200 years later.
The current resident birds are named Harris, Jubilee, Poppy, Edgar, Georgie, Chaos, Henry, and Poe.
Tickets and Tours
The available tours at the Tower of London can cause confusion between the options offered by the Tower’s website and tour operators like Get Your Guide or Viator.
Basic tickets
The Basic ticket gets you access to all parts of the Tower of London. You can add an audio guide (see below) or a Beefeater tour (see below).
This is the type of ticket Debbie and I purchased on our most recent trip, since we had previously visited the Tower and had a good idea of the history already.
Adult tickets are £35.80, with discounts for children, students, and seniors.
You can purchase them from the official website here, Get Your Guide, or Viator.
We would highly recommend Get Your Guide. The price for the basic ticket is the same as on the official site, and Get Your Guide has a fantastic app with great maps, etc…
We are Get Your Guide affiliates because we really use them on our trips. You can get your Basic ticket from Get Your Guide here.
A Beefeater leads a tour.
Yeoman Warder (aka the Beefeater Tour)
These tours are free, and anyone can join with no tickets needed. They leave every 45 minutes from the Bell Tower.
Tours do not enter any buildings but give you a great overview of the Tower and its history. The tour guides are dressed in uniform and are wonderful, engaging characters.
We took this tour years ago during our first visit to the Tower of London, and it was wonderful.
Note - at busy times, these tours can get very crowded since anyone can join.
The City of London (left) and the Tower of London (right).
Audio Tour
When you purchase your tickets from the official website, you can add on an audio tour for £5.00.
The audio units can be picked up from the Beefeater Shop, near the entrance. The tour goes into great detail on many of the Tower’s attractions.
Tour company options
In addition to basic entry tickets, tour operators provide a variety of enhanced tours.
Tower of London Tour with Crown Jewels & Beefeaters
15 Minute Meet and Greet with a Beefeater
In-depth guided tour of the Tower of London
Time to explore on your own
Purchase from Get Your Guide here
View of the Tower of London from atop the nearby Sky Garden.
Tower of London: Early Access with Crown Jewels & Beefeaters
Attend the century-old Opening Ceremony at the Tower of London
In-depth guided tour with Traitor’s Gate, Bloody Tower
Meet with a Beefeater
Avoid Big Crowds thanks to Early Access to the Crown Jewels
Purchase from Get Your Guide here
How to get to the Tower of London
View from the Tower Hill Underground Station.
The Underground
The Tower of London is a 5-minute walk from Tower Hill Underground station. The station is served by two very useful lines - the District and Circle lines.
Riverboat
Perhaps the most fun way to arrive at the Tower of London is the ferries at Tower Pier. Debbie and I took the Uber Boat many times; it’s a lot of fun.
Bus
Bus routes 15, 42, 78, 100, 343 leave you close to the Tower of London. Just use your credit card to tap on the bus. Try to get that front seat upstairs for a great view.
What to do near the Tower of London
View out a window at the White Tower.
It’s important to remember that the Tower of London is wonderful but exhausting. You’ll be looking for a place to take a break after your visit.
We’ve enjoyed multiple visits to restaurants at the nearby St. Katharine Docks. Two restaurants that stand out are French brasserie Côte and Bravas Tapas, overlooking the boats at the Docks.
Just outside the walls of the Tower of London is the iconic Tower Bridge. We’d highly recommend a walk across the bridge.
We’ve written extensively about Tower Bridge; here are a few blog posts:
Visiting London’s Tower Bridge
A photo walk along the River Thames in London
I hope this guide gives you helpful information about visiting the Tower of London. Have a great trip!
This post was researched and written by John of the Empty Nest Explorers. You can learn more about the Empty Nest Explorers here.
Some well-reviewed London tours:
Note - This blog post contains affiliate links. If we recommend a product, activity, or hotel, we might receive a small commission if you buy or book from these links. This is done at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we have personally used or have thoroughly researched.
Other London blog posts you might like:
When visiting the Tower of London, you’ll see much of what you came to London for: soldiers marching in red uniforms, 1,000-year-old buildings rich in history, and royal jewels.
Plus, the Tower of London is located right on the banks of the River Thames, close to other iconic sites such as Tower Bridge.