The Tower of London is a secure fortress, royal palace, and infamous prison in the heart of London. Tickets to this attraction allow you to explore this iconic castle and world heritage site, so you can find out everything there is to know about its history.

If you are interested in the history of the tower, the best place to find out about it is by venturing inside its large stone walls to hear and read all about it. You can easily spend the whole day soaking up the vast history of the Tower of London.

What to expect from our article

0.1 Where is the Tower of London?
0.2 What Are the Opening Hours for the Tower of London?
0.3 How Much Are Tickets to the Tower of London?
0.4 Can You Buy Food At the Tower of London?
0.5 What Can You See at the Tower of London?
0.6 Places to Stay Near the Tower of London
0.7 Our Visit to the Tower of London

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Where is the Tower of London?

The Tower of London can be found in central London on the north bank of the River Thames. The address is: Tower of London, London, EC3N 4AB. It is within walking distance of many main line tube stations, and you can even get there by river boat.

What Are the Opening Hours for the Tower of London?

The opening hours for the Tower of London can vary throughout different times of the year. From the 1st of March to the 1st of April, the tower is open daily between 10am and 5.30pm on Mondays and Sundays. From Tuesday to Saturday, the tower is open between 9am and 5.30pm.

The last admission to this attraction is at 4.30pm and the last Yeoman Warder guided tour is at 3.30pm.

How Much Are Tickets to the Tower of London?

Tickets to the Tower of London cost £29.90 for adults and £14.90 for children. If you are a Historic Royal Palaces member, you can enter the tower for free. The full ticket prices are as follows:

Historic Royal Palaces Membership: Free entry (Memberships from £62 a year)

Adult (18-64) – £29.90

Child (5-15) – £14.90

Concession (16-18 or 65+) – £24.00

Family Saver (1 adult and up to 3 children) – £52.20

Family Saver (2 Adults and up to 3 children) – £82.10

All children must be accompanied by an adult. Full time students and disabled visitors are also entitled to a concession ticket at the reduced price of £24.00. You can either pre-book your tickets online or purchase them on the day from the ticket office on Tower Hill.

Your admission ticket will provide entry to:

The Crown Jewels
The White Tower
Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula
Battlements
Mediaeval Palace
Bloody Tower
Torture at the Tower exhibition
Fusiliers Museum
Royal Mint exhibition

You can visit the tower with your ticket at any time between opening and last admission times, unless it is during the school holidays, when hourly time slots will apply.

Can You Buy Food At the Tower of London?

Yes, you can buy food, drinks, and snacks at the Tower of London.There are lots of different food options in the cafes, depending on what you fancy. The two seated areas that you can go to are the New Armouries Cafe and the Raven’s Cafe.

If you want to grab a quick snack on the go, then the Ravens Cafe is the place to be. Alternatively, if you want to sit down and relax and choose from a selection of hot food, drinks, and snacks, then you should go to the New Armouries Cafe.

What Can You See at the Tower of London?

There are so many things to see at the Tower of London that you will be completely spoiled for choice. It’s definitely worth checking out what’s on offer at this attraction before you visit, as there are so many amazing exhibits to see, and you can plan your trip to make sure you get to see them all. Below are just some of the fascinating things to see at the tower.

Yeoman Warder Tours

The first thing on your list should definitely be the Yeoman Warder tour. When you first enter the grounds, you can wait near the main entrance for the next tour. This tour is included with your ticket, and they run every half an hour from 10am until 3.30pm. The tour is the perfect way to start your visit at the Tower of London.

The Yeoman Warder, also known by their nickname ‘Beefeater’, will take you on a tour of the grounds and share interesting stories from the 1000 years of history at the tower. You will be entertained by tales of imprisonment, execution, torture, and more on your journey as you learn about the iconic history of this fortress, palace, and prison.

This is the perfect opportunity to discover exactly how William the Conqueror built the White Tower, and you can even hear stories about the prisoners that made their way into the tower through Traitor’s Gate. The tour is exciting, educational, and funny, and you won’t be disappointed.

The Crown Jewels

The Tower of London is home to a world-famous collection of 23,578 gemstones, including items that are still used in royal ceremonies today. You can witness the powerful symbols of the British Monarchy for yourself and discover the religious and cultural significance of them in our history. Prepare to be captivated by the stunning diamonds and precious jewels that are on display here.

Fortress

The fortress highlights the impenetrable defences of the tower, and provides a good idea of what it would have been like to be part of the mediaeval garrison that defended the tower. You can even take a peek through the gate and imagine what it must have been like to be a soldier working in this space.

The White Tower

The White Tower is the most famous castle keep in Britain, and possibly even the world. It was built to keep the residents of London in check as a display of power and authority, which was also intended to deter foreign invaders.

Torture at the Tower Exhibition

The Lower Wakefield Tower houses an exhibition that aims to show you the ghastly methods of torture that would have been used at the Tower of London. It’s even complete with replicas of some of these torture instruments, like the rack or the scavenger’s daughter. Find out for yourself what methods would have been used to inflict unimaginable levels of pain in the 1500s and 1600s.

Battlements

The stone battlements form the outer walls of the tower, and they have protected royalty since the mid-13th century. You can walk along the battlements and explore the various different roles that the Tower of London has played throughout its long history, all the way from Mediaeval times up until the 20th century.

Royal Beasts

For 600 years, wild and exotic creatures were held at the Tower of London. Today, you can explore the stories of the many animals that were kept there, from lions and tigers to alligators and bears. You can even learn about the polar bear that was kept on a long chain so it could fish in the River Thames. There are lots of surprising stories to be learned about the Royal Menagerie and the 60 different species that called it their home.

Places to Stay Near the Tower of London

If you want to soak up everything that London has to offer, you should book a hotel and extend your trip. This way, you can visit more attractions and experience some of London’s best locations and experiences.

Premier Inn London City Aldgate Hotel

The best of what London has to offer will be right on your doorstep if you choose to stay at the London City Aldgate Premier Inn hotel. It’s in a convenient central location that is close to several nearby transport links, and you will be just a stone’s throw away from the Tower of London and the River Thames.

Point A Hotel London Liverpool Street

The Point A Hotel London prides itself on being in an excellent location while offering great value. They will provide you with everything you might need throughout your stay, and they are committed to providing clean and comfortable rooms for their guests.

Canopy By Hilton London City

Canopy is a hotel by Hilton that is conveniently located in the heart of London. This is an impressive new hotel that offers a vibrant location, filled with some of London’s most iconic landmarks. The Tower of London is just five minutes away from the hotel.

Our Visit to the Tower of London

We were so surprised at the size of the Tower of London. It’s name doesn’t do it justice. There is so much more than just a tower here, and you can easily spend the entire day exploring the grounds and the different exhibitions and buildings there. We started our visit with the Yeoman Warders tour, which you absolutely have to do if you go. It was really informative, but also hilarious. They really do their best to make the tour as entertaining as possible.

The Tower of London is much bigger than we expected, and there are so many different exhibitions and historic buildings there to explore. If you are going to make the trip, then you should definitely set aside the entire day for your visit. I can’t rate this place highly enough. We both thoroughly enjoyed learning about the long history of the Tower, and I would definitely go back and do it all again in the future.

It’s also worth mentioning that we stopped in the Armouries Cafe for lunch and ordered some soup, two pieces of cake, and two hot drinks. It came to around £20, and while this is expensive, it was quite reasonable in comparison to other places we visited throughout our stay. The cake slices were also really generous, and they were so tasty! They even had gluten free cake, which was honestly the nicest cake I have ever tried.