What's on
From the 700-year-old Ceremony of the Keys to gun salutes and seasonal Tudor programming — what's happening at the Tower of London, and what your ticket includes.
Much of what happens at the Tower is included with a standard ticket — the Yeoman Warder tours, the daily ceremonies and the seasonal exhibitions. A few things, like the atmospheric Ceremony of the Keys, need a separate booking. Dates and times are set by Historic Royal Palaces and change through the year, so check the official site close to your visit. Here is what to look out for in 2026.
The Tower has been locked every single night for around 700 years, in a short, atmospheric ceremony led by the Chief Yeoman Warder. It is not included in a day ticket and needs its own booking — the reliable way to attend is an after-hours tour, which includes guaranteed access.
Free with every admission ticket, these lively guided walks are led by the Tower's own Yeoman Warders and are the best introduction to the site. The last tour usually leaves around 15:15. On gun-salute days the 13:00 tour is replaced and resumes at 13:30.
On royal anniversaries and state occasions, gun salutes are fired at 13:00, usually 62 rounds. The Wharf closes for set-up beforehand, and the salute is a dramatic thing to catch if your visit lines up with one. Check the Historic Royal Palaces gun-salute calendar for dates.
Volunteer-led sessions where you can get up close to historic objects — mail armour, coins and archaeological finds — and handle a piece of the Tower's past. Included with admission, subject to volunteer availability.
Over the summer the Tower returns to the Tudor period in the lead-up to Anne Boleyn's coronation, with costumed performances and family activities around the grounds. Included in your admission ticket.
Queen Anne Boleyn returns to the Tower for the summer school holidays as preparations get under way for her long-awaited Coronation Day. A lively, family-friendly strand of the Tudor programming, included with admission.
An unmissable summer experience where the Tower's historic menagerie is brought to life through puppetry, music and dance — a nod to the Royal Beasts once kept here. Included with admission.
Most events are included in the price of admission, so a standard day ticket already covers the Yeoman Warder tours, the gun salutes, object handling and the seasonal programming. The main exception is the Ceremony of the Keys, which is a separate evening ticket — the surest way in is the after-hours tour. For opening hours, prices and directions, see the visitor guide; for the questions visitors ask most, the FAQs.
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