The Beefeaters of the Tower of London
Thirty-two Yeoman Warders and one Chief Warder live inside these walls. Who they are, how you become one, and the tour of theirs that costs nothing.
Who they are, and what the title says
In full: the Yeomen Warders of His Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, and Members of the Sovereign’s Body Guard of the Yeoman Guard Extraordinary. In principle they are the palace guard, responsible for any prisoners and for safeguarding the regalia. In practice they are the people who explain the place to two and a half million visitors a year.
They are not the Yeomen of the Guard
A separate corps, the monarch’s personal bodyguard, who share the nickname and are frequently confused with them. The Warders belong to the Tower.
The departures built around time with one of them are compared on tower of london family tour.
Twenty-two years, and a medal
Every Warder is retired from the British Armed Forces. The requirements are specific: a former warrant officer, at least 22 years’ service, and the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. The garrison is 32 Warders, down from 37, plus a Chief Warder. They and their families live inside the fortress.
Where the name came from
Nobody is certain, and several derivations have been proposed. The earliest connection to the Royal Household is Cosimo III de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, writing after a visit to the Court in 1669. The word was already common 17th-century slang for the English generally.
What they do now
They stand watch over the regalia in the Jewel House, take part in ceremonies, and they have conducted guided tours since the Victorian era. The ceremonial duties are real rather than decorative: it is a Warder who unlocks the gates each morning and the Chief Warder who locks them each night at the Ceremony of the Keys.
The Ravenmaster
One Warder holds the appointment of Ravenmaster, heading a team of assistants who look after the birds every day. It is the best-known of the specialist roles and the one most visitors ask about. The ravens have their own page.
The tour that costs nothing
This is the single most useful thing to know before you book anything. A Yeoman Warder tour is included with every admission ticket. Departures leave the moat every 30 minutes, are signposted as you come in, and last about an hour. If a guided hour with a Warder is what you wanted, the price of a ticket already buys it.
| The included Warder tour | A paid Beefeater departure | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Nothing beyond admission | $87 to $220 per person |
| Booking | Turn up at the moat | Reserved slot and time |
| Group | Whoever gathers | Capped, from six to twenty-five |
| Time with a Warder | About an hour, shared | Often 15 minutes, arranged for your group |
| Before public opening | No | On four of the departures |
| Inside the Jewel House | No — guiding is not permitted there | No, for the same reason |
What the free tour gives you against what a paid departure adds, from the listings’ own inclusions.
So when is a paid tour worth it?
When you want a booked slot rather than a queue, when you want the history set up before you go through the gate, or when you want to be inside before the public. Not, on the evidence of the listings themselves, because it is the only way to hear a Warder. It is not. Saying so is the point of this page.
The departures built around time with a Warder are compared on the Beefeater tours page, and every option on Tower of London Tours.