Plan your visit
Everything you need to plan a visit — the 2026 opening hours, ticket prices, what one ticket covers, how to get there, and how to see the Crown Jewels without the queue.
The Tower of London is one of the most visited castles in the world, and a little planning turns a good visit into a great one. This guide covers the practical questions first-time visitors ask most: how much a ticket costs, what it includes, when the Tower is open, how to reach it, and how to see the Crown Jewels before the crowds. For the tours themselves — guided, early-access, Beefeater and private — see the tours and tickets on the home page.
A standard adult ticket is £37, and it covers everything on-site. There is no longer a family ticket, so children pay the child rate. Booking online is the same price as the gate but lets you skip the ticket-office queue. Prices below are the official Historic Royal Palaces rates for 2026.
| Adult | £37.00 |
| Child (5–15) | £18.50 |
| Child under 5 | Free |
| Concession (student, 60+, disabled) | £29.50 (carer free) |
| Guided tours (this site) | From about $50 per person |
A ticket includes an optional 10% donation to Historic Royal Palaces, the charity that cares for the Tower — you can decline it at checkout. Members of Historic Royal Palaces enter free; an annual membership starts from £65 and pays for itself in about two visits.
If you are happy to explore on your own, the standard day ticket is the best value and includes a free Beefeater tour. Pay more only for something specific: an early-access tour to beat the Crown Jewels queue, or a VIP Beefeater tour for a private meet and greet. The maths is simple: the day ticket is around $50, guided upgrades add $50 to $300, and what you are buying with the extra is time saved or personal access — not different sights.
One ticket covers the whole site. You do not pay separately for the Crown Jewels or any exhibition once you are inside.
These are the current summer hours. The Tower opens an hour later on Mondays, and last admission is an hour before closing. Winter hours are shorter, and the Tower closes on a few dates over Christmas and New Year.
| Monday | 10:00 – 17:30 |
| Tuesday – Sunday | 09:00 – 17:30 |
| Last admission | 16:30 |
| Last Beefeater tour | 15:15 |
| Closed | 24–26 December and 1 January |
The Crown Jewels queue is the one thing worth planning around. It builds through the late morning and is longest from about 11:00 to 14:00 in summer. Two things help. First, arrive at opening and walk straight to the Jewel House before anything else — the first 30 minutes of the day are the quietest. Second, if you are visiting in peak season and want certainty, book an early-access tour that takes you in before the public. Afternoons after 15:00 are also calmer, as the tour groups thin out. Allow two to three hours for a full visit, or closer to four with children.
The Tower sits on the north bank of the Thames at EC3N 4AB, and it is easy to reach by public transport. There is no visitor car park, so arriving by tube, train or river is far simpler than driving.
Access varies across the site because much of it is medieval. The grounds and the Crown Jewels are largely accessible, and step-free routes, accessible toilets and manual wheelchairs (to borrow) are available. The White Tower and some historic buildings have stairs and uneven stone that limit or prevent step-free access. Many guided tours cross cobbles and inclines, so if mobility is a concern, check the accessibility notes on the specific tour before booking, or plan a self-guided visit around the accessible route.
Inside the walls you will find cafes and kiosks, gift shops, toilets, baby-changing facilities and a cloakroom. The New Armouries Café is the main sit-down option, and there are places to grab a coffee or ice cream around the grounds. You are welcome to bring your own food and eat in the grounds. Just outside, St Katharine Docks and the area around Tower Bridge have plenty more.
The Tower makes an easy half-day that pairs well with the neighbourhood. Tower Bridge is a two-minute walk and can be climbed for its glass walkway and engine rooms. St Katharine Docks, the HMS Belfast and the South Bank are all close, and a river cruise from Tower Pier is a relaxed way to see the skyline. For the full history of the site, see our history of the Tower, and for the questions visitors ask most, the Tower of London FAQs.
Ready to plan? Compare tickets, guided tours and early-access options — all with free cancellation.
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