Planning a visit to the Tower of London? Below are answers to the questions we hear most often, grouped into booking and tours, tickets and admission, visiting practically, and the Tower itself. For opening hours, prices and directions in full, see the visitor guide; to compare guided, early-access and Beefeater options, see the tours and tickets.
Booking & Tours
A standard ticket gets you into the Tower to explore on your own, and it includes a free Yeoman Warder (Beefeater) group tour that runs every 30 minutes. A paid guided tour adds a dedicated guide, a smaller group, and often skip-the-line or early access — you are paying for personal attention and time saved, not for different sights. If you like exploring independently, the ticket is enough; if you want depth or to beat the crowds, book a tour.
Yes. Several operators run private Tower of London tours where only your party joins the guide, with the pace and focus shaped around your group. Private tours suit families with children, mixed-age groups and special occasions. They cost more per person than a shared tour but include admission and a Blue Badge or expert guide to yourselves.
Yes. The Tower is open almost every day of the year, and tours run through all seasons, closing only on 24–26 December and 1 January. Winter is quieter and the Crown Jewels queue is shorter, though opening hours are a little earlier in the afternoon. Book ahead in summer and over school holidays, when demand is highest.
Usually not. Most Tower of London tours meet you at or near the Tower rather than at your hotel, and transport is rarely included. Check the meeting point on the specific tour before you book. The Tower is a short walk from Tower Hill Underground station, so getting there under your own steam is straightforward.
Guided tours start at a fixed time and cannot usually wait, so arrive at least 15 minutes early at the stated meeting point. If you miss the start, the operator may not be able to refund or reschedule, because tickets to timed sites are booked in advance. If you simply have a standard day ticket, you can arrive any time within opening hours.
Tickets & Admission
Yes. The Tower offers a concession rate of £29.50 for students, visitors aged 60 and over, and disabled visitors, and a carer accompanying a disabled visitor goes free. Children aged 5–15 pay £18.50 and under-5s are free. Bring valid ID for concession tickets.
The Tower of London is included on the London Pass and similar city sightseeing passes, which can be good value if you are visiting several paid attractions. Terms and entry arrangements vary by pass, so check with the pass provider before you travel. If you are only visiting the Tower, a direct ticket or tour is simpler.
Most tickets and tours are issued as mobile tickets you show on your phone, so there is no need to print anything. You will receive confirmation by email when you book. Save it offline in case signal is patchy near the entrance.
Historic Royal Palaces is a self-funding charity, and it asks for an optional 10% donation on top of the admission price to support its conservation work. It is genuinely optional — you can decline it at checkout and pay the standard price. If you are a UK taxpayer, ticking Gift Aid lets the charity claim more at no extra cost to you.
No. Unlike some national museums, the Tower of London charges admission year-round and does not have free-entry days. The only way to enter free is as a member of Historic Royal Palaces, whose annual membership pays for itself in about two visits and also covers five other royal palaces.
Visiting Practically
The nearest Underground station is Tower Hill, on the Circle and District lines, about five minutes' walk away. Tower Gateway DLR and the river boats at Tower Pier are also close, and several bus routes stop nearby. There is no visitor car park, so public transport or the river is the easiest way to arrive.
There is no visitor car park at the Tower of London. A few paid car parks sit nearby, but central London traffic and congestion charges make driving the least convenient option. Arriving by tube, train or river is faster and simpler.
You can bring a pushchair around most of the grounds, but strollers are not allowed inside the White Tower and some historic buildings, where there are stairs and narrow spaces. Baby-changing facilities are available on-site. If you are visiting with a baby, plan to fold or park the pushchair for the White Tower.
There are cafes and kiosks inside the walls, including the New Armouries Café for a sit-down meal, plus coffee and ice-cream stops around the grounds. You are also welcome to bring your own food and eat in the grounds. Just outside, St Katharine Docks and the Tower Bridge area have many more places to eat.
You can take photographs across most of the site, including the grounds, the White Tower and Tower Green. Photography is not permitted inside the Jewel House, however, so you cannot photograph the Crown Jewels themselves. Tripods and commercial photography need prior permission.
The Tower Itself
The White Tower is the great Norman keep at the centre of the fortress, begun by William the Conqueror around 1078. It gave the whole castle its name and is one of the most complete 11th-century keeps in the world. Inside are the Royal Armouries, the Line of Kings and the Norman Chapel of St John.
At least six ravens are kept at the Tower at all times, and usually there are seven or more so there is a spare. Legend says that if the ravens ever leave, the Tower and the kingdom will fall, so they are cared for by a dedicated Ravenmaster. You can usually spot them on the lawns near the White Tower.
The Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula, inside the walls, holds the remains of several people executed at the Tower — including the queens Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, and Lady Jane Grey. It remains a working chapel today. You can visit it as part of a Yeoman Warder tour.
The Princes in the Tower were the young sons of Edward IV — Edward V and his brother Richard — who were lodged in the Tower in 1483 and then disappeared. Their fate has never been proven, and the mystery is one of the most debated in English history. The Bloody Tower is traditionally linked to their story.
The Tower has a long tradition of ghost stories — the most famous being Anne Boleyn, said to walk near the chapel where she is buried. Whether you believe them or not, they are part of the Tower's atmosphere, especially after dark. There are no dedicated ghost tours in the current line-up, but the after-hours tour is the most atmospheric way to experience the empty, floodlit grounds.
Still deciding? Compare every Tower of London ticket and tour, all with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.