Under-5s go free. Ages 5–17 pay £18.50; seniors, students and disabled visitors £29.50; a disabled visitor’s carer goes free. Official sales: hrp.org.uk.
Explore the Tower of London
What’s inside the walls, and which tickets get you there.
👆 Tap a part to explore
Simplified plan, north at the top, not to scale.
You picked
Crown Jewels
The royal regalia in the Jewel House, shown at the Tower since 1661.
The collection holds 23,578 gemstones, including the Imperial State Crown, St Edward's Crown (used at the moment of crowning) and the Koh-i-Noor in the Queen Mother's crown. hrp.org.uk
The two largest stones cut from the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond, found in 1905, are in the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross and the Imperial State Crown. hrp.org.uk
The official page says to allow one hour. Photography is not allowed in the Jewel House. hrp.org.uk
The jewels are in the Waterloo Barracks, with moving walkways past the regalia. londontravelgeek.co.uk
👍 Best forAnyone visiting the Tower plus another royal palace, or the Tower twice, within a year.
👎 Skip ifYou will visit only the Tower, once.
Full details and sources
Price
Individual £65.00 by Direct Debit (£75.00 standard). Joint (two adults) £105.00 (£115.00). Family 1 (one adult + up to six children 5-15) £80.00 (£90.00). Family 2 (two adults + children) £125.00 (£135.00). Paying by card adds £10. Prices valid until 28 February 2027. hrp.org.uk
Includes
Unlimited entry for a year to the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace and Hillsborough Castle, plus 10% off Kew Gardens, shops, cafés and the Tower River Tour. You can put same-day ticket costs towards membership within two weeks. hrp.org.uk
Booking
Members do not need to pre-book general admission at the Tower; show your membership card (ID may be needed). hrp.org.uk
Time
Same as admission: at least three hours per visit. hrp.org.uk
Why Reality is 75
Lives up to its fame 4/5. The same full Tower visit as a ticket, with no slot to book. hrp.org.uk
Value for money 4/5. At £65 by Direct Debit it costs less than two adult Tower tickets (£74), and adds Hampton Court and Kensington Palace. hrp.org.uk
Can’t get it elsewhere 4/5. Members can also book a members-only Ceremony of the Keys (£10, limited to once per member per year). hrp.org.uk
Easy to do 4/5. No pre-booking for the Tower; you still go through the bag check. hrp.org.uk
👍 Best forPlanners who can book on release day and want a rare night-time ritual.
👎 Skip ifYour dates are fixed close to arrival, since sold-out nights have no waiting list.
Full details and sources
Price
Pay what you choose from £10.00 to £50.00. The suggested price is £30.00. hrp.org.uk
Includes
Escorted entry at 21:30 to watch the nightly locking-up of the Tower, an exchange between a sentry and a Yeoman Warder. It ends at 22:05, then you are escorted out. It does not include daytime admission. No toilets or refreshments, and no photography at any point. hrp.org.uk
Booking
Released at 13:00 on the first working day of each month for the next month (moved to Monday if that day is a Friday). Up to 6 tickets per applicant. Sells out quickly; no waiting list, but cancelled tickets are re-released. Arrive at the West Gate by 21:25; late arrivals are refused. The named booker must attend. No groups or tour-operator bookings. hrp.org.uk
Lives up to its fame 4/5. London Travel Planning's author has done it twice and says the Yeoman Warder's talk before the ceremony is what makes it worth it. londontravelplanning.com
Value for money 4/5. From £10 for a 35-minute private-feeling ceremony; even the suggested £30 is below daytime admission. hrp.org.uk
Can’t get it elsewhere 5/5. The official site says the ceremony has taken place every night for at least 700 years. It is the main way for the public to be inside the Tower at night. hrp.org.uk
Easy to do 2/5. Tickets go on sale once a month and sell out fast, with no waiting list, a 21:25 arrival cut-off and no refunds or changes. hrp.org.uk
3
Tower of London admission
£37–£40.70Worth it if…69 Reality⏱ Timed entry, stay until closing (~3 h+)
👍 Best forFirst-time visitors who want the Crown Jewels and a Yeoman Warder tour in one visit.
👎 Skip ifYou have less than three hours or cannot manage stairs and cobbles, since much of the site beyond the Jewel House involves steps.
Full details and sources
Price
Adult (18-64) £37.00, or £40.70 with the optional donation. Child 5-15 and young person 16-17 £18.50 (£20.40). Senior 65+, full-time student 18+ and disabled concession £29.50 (£32.50). Under-5s and carers free. Groups of 15+ £34.10. No family ticket is listed, and no separate on-the-day price is shown. hrp.org.uk
Includes
Crown Jewels, Yeoman Warder tour, the ravens, White Tower (Line of Kings, Armoury in Action, St John's Chapel), Medieval Palace, battlements, Tower Green, Bloody Tower, Torture at the Tower and the outside areas. The audio guide (from £4.00) and the guidebook (£4.99) cost extra. hrp.org.uk
Booking
Timed tickets online, or buy at the ticket office on the day. Arrive within 30 minutes of your slot. The official site advises booking ahead in holidays. hrp.org.uk
Time
At least three hours, depending on queues. hrp.org.uk
Why Reality is 69
Lives up to its fame 4/5. Rick Steves calls them "the most dazzling crown jewels in Europe" and the Beefeater tour "entertaining" (his written notes say "witty"). ricksteves.com
Value for money 3/5. £37.00 is high for London, but it covers a free guided Yeoman Warder tour, the Crown Jewels and a 3-hour-plus visit. hrp.org.uk
Can’t get it elsewhere 5/5. The Crown Jewels have been kept and shown here since 1661, and this is where they are on public display. hrp.org.uk
Easy to do 3/5. You can walk up and buy on the day, but everyone queues for a bag check with no fast track, and the Jewel House adds its own queue. hrp.org.uk
4
Tower of London + Official River Tour (joint ticket)
£55.50–£60.50Worth it if…59 Reality⏱ Tower until closing + river trip
👍 Best forVisitors who already want a Thames boat trip and like one booking for both.
👎 Skip ifYou want to save money, since buying the two separately costs the same.
Full details and sources
Price
Adult £55.50 off-peak, £60.50 peak. Young person 16-17 £36.50 / £37.00. Child 5-15 £32.50 / £36.50. Child 3-4 £14.00 / £18.00. Under-3s free. Senior and student £48.00 / £53.00. Off-peak = term-time weekdays; peak = weekends and school holidays. The adult joint price equals Tower admission (£37.00) plus the River Tour alone (£18.50 / £23.50), so there is no saving. hrp.org.uk
Includes
Standard Tower admission plus the 40-minute Official River Tour on the Thames, a circular trip from Tower Bridge Quay. Historic Royal Palaces members are told to buy the River Tour-only ticket. hrp.org.uk
Booking
Sold on the official tickets page; you pick dates at checkout to see peak or off-peak pricing. hrp.org.uk
Time
At least three hours for the Tower, plus the 40-minute circular River Tour. hrp.org.uk
Why Reality is 59
Lives up to its fame 4/5. Same Tower visit as standard admission, plus a river trip from next door. hrp.org.uk
Value for money 3/5. No discount: the joint adult price is exactly the two separate prices added together. hrp.org.uk
Can’t get it elsewhere 3/5. The Tower part is unique; Thames boat trips are sold by many operators. hrp.org.uk
Easy to do 3/5. One booking, and the boat leaves from Tower Bridge Quay beside the Tower. Tower queues still apply. hrp.org.uk
👍 Best forRaven fans and families with keen kids who want early entry as a bonus.
👎 Skip ifYou just want to see the ravens, which roam the grounds on a standard ticket.
Full details and sources
Price
Adult £90.00. Child 5+ and young person 16-17 £50.00. Concession £70.00. Under-5s free. hrp.org.uk
Includes
A 45-minute talk at the ravens' enclosures by a Yeoman Warder from the Ravenmaster's team, plus early entry skipping the admission queue, first place in line for the Crown Jewels, and Tower admission. hrp.org.uk
Booking
Advance booking required. Wednesdays and Fridays; arrive 08:00 at Middle Drawbridge for an 08:15 start. Latecomers are not admitted to the talk and get no refund, but can still visit the Tower. Ravens may not be released if there is an avian flu risk. The page gives no end date, so check your date is offered. hrp.org.uk
Time
45 minutes for the talk, then the normal visit. hrp.org.uk
Why Reality is 49
Lives up to its fame 3/5. A close-up talk on the ravens with early entry; the page warns the birds may stay in if there is a bird flu risk. hrp.org.uk
Value for money 2/5. £53 more than standard admission for a 45-minute talk. hrp.org.uk
Can’t get it elsewhere 4/5. Led by the team that looks after the Tower's ravens, which only this ticket offers. hrp.org.uk
Easy to do 3/5. Bookable ahead, but only two mornings a week with an 08:00 arrival. hrp.org.uk
6
Guided and early-access tours (resellers)
£72–£105Skip it49 Reality⏱ Morning, ~1-3 h guided
Depends on the option
~ Crown Jewels~ White Tower~ Yeoman Warder tour~ Palace & walls~ Ceremony of the Keys~ Tower Bridge
👍 Best forVisitors with one morning who want the Crown Jewels before the crowds and someone else to plan it.
👎 Skip ifYou can arrive at opening on a standard ticket and join a free Yeoman Warder tour.
Full details and sources
Price
The Better Vacation (June 2026) lists an early-access small-group tour with a Beefeater at £72 adult (£67 child) and a 4-hour London tour with VIP Tower access at £105 adult. US-dollar prices we were shown: The Tour Guy on GetYourGuide from about $121, Golden Tours from $140. thebettervacation.com
Includes
Varies. The Tour Guy's pre-opening tour (from about $121) includes the Opening Ceremony, first entry to the Crown Jewels and an all-day ticket, but its host does not join you inside; you explore with an audio app. getyourguide.com
Booking
Bookable in advance; Golden Tours says its tour runs daily and refunds in full up to 24 hours before. Its version meets at 08:15 for an 08:30 start and adds a one-way Thames cruise pass. goldentours.com
Time
Golden Tours' complete tour runs about 3 hours (08:30-11:30); shorter pre-opening tours list a 1-hour guided part plus the rest of the day on your own. goldentours.com
Why Reality is 49
Lives up to its fame 3/5. The early start and first look at the Crown Jewels are real, but some tours leave you alone inside with an app. getyourguide.com
Value for money 2/5. Roughly double the £37 official ticket, and the Yeoman Warder tour is free with admission anyway. thebettervacation.com
Can’t get it elsewhere 3/5. The Opening Ceremony is otherwise only open to the public on the official summer experience (10 August-3 September in 2026); the rest you can do on a standard ticket. hrp.org.uk
Easy to do 4/5. Easy to book with free cancellation, and the early start skips the worst queues. getyourguide.com
7
The London Pass by Go City
£99–£179Skip it48 Reality⏱ Pass days 1-10; Tower until closing
👍 Best forFast-paced sightseers doing six or more paid attractions in two or three days.
👎 Skip ifThe Tower is one of only a few paid sights on your trip.
Full details and sources
Price
Adult All-Inclusive: 1 day £99, 2 days £149, 3 days £179; child 1 day £79 (London Travel Geek, checked 22 September 2026). Independent Travel Cats listed £99 / £139 / £169 for 1-3 days in April 2026. Explorer: 2 choices £64, 3 choices £89. londontravelgeek.co.uk
Includes
The Tower of London and the Tower Bridge Exhibition are both included, along with many other sights. Tower Bridge needs a pass reservation; the Tower currently does not. plantriplondon.com
Booking
The official Tower FAQ says London Pass holders are admitted on the next available timeslot. Independent Travel Cats says the pass speeds up the ticket line but not security. hrp.org.uk
Time
Same Tower visit: at least three hours. hrp.org.uk
Why Reality is 48
Lives up to its fame 4/5. You get the same Tower visit as a standard ticket. hrp.org.uk
Value for money 2/5. London Travel Geek worked out that for the Tower plus the usual big five over two days the pass loses £7, and only wins once you add a sixth paid sight. londontravelgeek.co.uk
Can’t get it elsewhere 2/5. Nothing extra at the Tower; any saving comes from other attractions. londontravelgeek.co.uk
Easy to do 3/5. No need to buy a Tower ticket, but you may wait for the next free slot and still queue for security. hrp.org.uk
The rules that catch people out
🎟️Booking5
Standard tickets are timed. You can arrive within 30 minutes of your slot (for example 10:00-10:29). Entry before or after your slot is not guaranteed. hrp.org.uk
A ticket is good for one entry only. There is no re-entry, but you can stay until closing. hrp.org.uk
The official tickets page shows one price for online and ticket-office sales. It lists no higher on-the-day price. It advises booking online in advance at busy times such as holidays. hrp.org.uk
Ceremony of the Keys tickets cost what you choose between £10 and £50 (suggested £30). They are released at 13:00 on the first working day of each month for the following month, up to 6 per applicant, non-refundable and non-changeable, with no waiting list. hrp.org.uk
People on Universal Credit and some other benefits can get £1 tickets, booked online in advance; they are non-refundable and cannot be changed. Tower Hamlets residents pay £1 on the day with proof of address. hrp.org.uk
🕘On the day9
Allow at least three hours, depending on queues. hrp.org.uk
Every visitor goes through a bag check. There is no fast-track entry, so expect to queue. hrp.org.uk
There is no left luggage. Suitcases, rolling luggage and large bags are not allowed in. The official site points to Stasher for storage nearby. No bag size limit is published. hrp.org.uk
Buggies are not allowed in the White Tower. Leave them in the buggy parks at the White Tower entrance (under the wooden stairs) or at Middle Drawbridge. Cobbles make some areas hard with a stroller. hrp.org.uk
No photography in the Jewel House or the Martin Tower. Non-flash personal photos are fine in most other areas. Tripods and selfie sticks are banned. hrp.org.uk
Yeoman Warder tours are included and cannot be booked. They run every 30 minutes from near the main entrance: first tour 10:00 Tuesday-Saturday and 10:30 Sunday-Monday. They may be changed or cancelled in bad weather or big crowds. hrp.org.uk
The Yeoman Warder tour route includes a flight of 21 steps and cobbled, uneven paths. hrp.org.uk
On gun-salute days (13:00) the 13:00 Yeoman Warder tour is cancelled and tours resume at 13:30. hrp.org.uk
The official opening-times page says the Tower is quieter after midday. hrp.org.uk
💷Prices, refunds and reduced fares4
Most prices have an optional 10% donation version (adult £37.00, or £40.70 with the donation); the group rate has none. UK taxpayers who tick Gift Aid let Historic Royal Palaces claim an extra 25% at no cost to them. hrp.org.uk
Under-5s go free and need no ticket. Children 5-15 and young people 16-17 pay £18.50. Seniors 65+, full-time students 18+ and disabled visitors pay £29.50. Students must show a valid student card; 16-17s may be asked for ID. hrp.org.uk
A disabled visitor's carer or companion goes free. Only one carer ticket can be added per online booking; more can be arranged by email or on the day. hrp.org.uk
Refunds are not given. Date changes cost an amendment fee and must be made by phone (0333 320 6000, Monday to Friday 09:00-14:00) at least 3 working days before the new date. hrp.org.uk
♿Access and hours3
The White Tower has a lift to the basement gallery and shop only. There is no lift to the upper floors. hrp.org.uk
The Jewel House and Crown Jewels are fully accessible. Elsewhere the official access page warns of many steps, difficult stairs and passageways, and cobbled roads. A few wheelchairs can be borrowed at the Welcome Centre. hrp.org.uk
Hours seen on the official opening-times page for a week in June 2026: 09:00-17:30 Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00-17:30 Sunday and Monday. London Travel Geek recorded 09:00-17:30 with last entry 16:30 on 19 September 2026. The official site publishes hours date by date, so check your date. hrp.org.uk
Resellers, tours and touts
⚠️Before you buy from anyone else8
Go City's London Pass includes the Tower. London Travel Geek (September 2026) found the 2-day pass (£149) loses £7 against paying for the Tower, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's, London Eye and Tower Bridge separately, and calls the 1-day pass (£99) the worst value. londontravelgeek.co.uk
Go City's Explorer Pass (2 choices £64) only pays if each pick costs more than £32; London Travel Geek says the Tower (£37) is one of the few that does. londontravelgeek.co.uk
There is no official Tower + Tower Bridge ticket. Headout sells a combo from $68.91 (8% off its $74.90 list price) with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. evanevans.headout.com
AttractionTickets.com lists a Tower + Tower Bridge ticket but showed it as unavailable, with no price, and its page contradicts itself on refunds. attractiontickets.com
The Better Vacation (June 2026) lists an early-access small-group Beefeater tour at £72 adult (£67 child), against £37.00 for official admission. thebettervacation.com
The Tour Guy's pre-opening tour on GetYourGuide (from $121) includes the Opening Ceremony, first entry to the Crown Jewels and an all-day ticket, but the host stays outside and you use an audio app inside. getyourguide.com
Historic Royal Palaces membership (£65 by Direct Debit, individual) costs less than two adult Tower tickets and adds Hampton Court and Kensington Palace. Same-day adult, concession or young person tickets can be put towards it within two weeks. hrp.org.uk
Free Tours by Foot lists the Tower of London in the National Rail Days Out Guide 2-for-1 offer (page updated January 2025). You need a valid National Rail ticket; Oyster and contactless do not count. freetoursbyfoot.com
Questions people ask
Is the Tower of London worth it?
For most first-timers, yes, if you give it three hours or more. Rick Steves rates the Crown Jewels and the Beefeater tour highly, and the official site says to allow at least three hours. At £37.00 it is one of London's pricier tickets, so skip it if you only have an hour. ricksteves.com
How long do you need?
The official site says at least three hours, depending on queues. hrp.org.uk
Is the Beefeater tour included?
Yes. Yeoman Warder tours are included in admission and run every 30 minutes from near the main entrance. You cannot book them; just join one. hrp.org.uk
Are the Crown Jewels worth the queue?
Rick Steves calls them "the most dazzling crown jewels in Europe". Free Tours by Foot (2025) says to expect at least 15-30 minutes in line and suggests seeing them right at opening, between 9 and 10am. ricksteves.com
What is the best time to go?
Free Tours by Foot says weekday mornings are less crowded than weekends and suggests arriving at opening. The official opening-times page says it is quieter after midday. Book ahead in school holidays. hrp.org.uk
Is it cheaper online than on the day?
No. The official tickets page shows one price whether you book online or at the ticket office. Booking ahead secures your slot. The higher figure you may see (£40.70 adult) includes an optional 10% donation. hrp.org.uk
How do I get Ceremony of the Keys tickets?
Only from the official site. They go on sale at 13:00 on the first working day of each month for the following month, cost £10-£50 (suggested £30), and sell out fast. There is no waiting list, but cancelled tickets are re-released. hrp.org.uk
Is the London Pass worth it for the Tower?
Only if you do many paid sights. The Tower is included, but London Travel Geek found the pass usually loses money for the big five over two days. londontravelgeek.co.uk
Can I bring a suitcase or a pram?
No suitcases, rolling bags or large bags, and there is no left luggage. Buggies are allowed in the grounds but not in the White Tower; use the buggy parks. hrp.org.uk
What we couldn’t confirm18 details
The older official page hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/visit/tickets-and-prices/ loads but shows 2025 text with no prices and says to allow 'at least two hours'. Prices here come from the current /visit/tickets/ page (checked 25 October 2026), which gives no 'valid from' date and no separate on-the-day price. London Travel Geek gives the same £37.00 adult price (19 September 2026). hrp.org.uk
2027 Tower admission prices are not published on the pages we could open. Membership prices are stated as valid until 28 February 2027. hrp.org.uk
Winter 2026-27 hours, last admission and 24-26 December / 1 January closures could not be confirmed on the official site; the pages we reached showed only June and July 2026 weeks. Free Tours by Foot (updated February 2025) gave winter hours of 09:00-16:30 Tuesday-Saturday and 10:00-16:30 Sunday-Monday, last entry 16:00. freetoursbyfoot.com
Last entry differs on the official opening-times pages: one week (July 2026) shows last entry at 16:30, another (June 2026) shows the last timeslot at 15:30. The same page also says to allow two to three hours, against 'at least three' elsewhere. hrp.org.uk
Last Yeoman Warder tour: the official tour page says 15:30, but the opening-times page shows 15:15 for the weeks listed. AttractionTickets.com says 14:30 in winter. hrp.org.uk
£1 benefit tickets: the £1 ticket page says up to six per household; the main tickets page says up to four. hrp.org.uk
Carer tickets: the accessibility page says carer tickets are only available on the day; the tickets page says one can be added online per booking. hrp.org.uk
Ceremony of the Keys release time: the official page says 13:00; London Travel Planning (October 2026) says 4pm. londontravelplanning.com
No official bag size limit is published. AttractionTickets.com quotes a maximum of 45 x 35 x 20 cm. attractiontickets.com
London Pass prices disagree between sources: 2 days £149 / 3 days £179 (London Travel Geek, September 2026) vs £139 / £169 (Independent Travel Cats, April 2026). Check Go City's checkout price. independenttravelcats.com
Reseller tour prices were shown to us in US dollars and may display differently in other countries. The Better Vacation's £34 adult admission figure (June 2026) is below the official £37.00, so its tour prices may also be out of date. thebettervacation.com
The official Special Opening Ceremony Experience (adult £62.00, 50 places a day) ran only 10 August-3 September 2026 and is not bookable now. No 2027 dates were published, so it is not listed as a ticket here. hrp.org.uk
Whether the 2-for-1 Days Out offer still applies to the Tower in late 2026 was not confirmed on an official or current page. freetoursbyfoot.com
The official booking shop's own URL could not be confirmed; book from the official tickets page. hrp.org.uk
Tower Bridge's own page showed adult entry at £16.00 only until 31 March 2026; the current official price was not confirmed. London Travel Geek (September 2026) uses £18.00, and Greater Anglia's 2-for-1 listing shows £18.00. towerbridge.org.uk
Keys Club talk (adults only, £20.00, concessions £16.00, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:00) is a paid add-on; admission is not included. hrp.org.uk
The official opening-times page (summer 2026) listed Armoury in Action in the White Tower as 'closed until further notice', though the what's-included page still lists it. hrp.org.uk
Reseller tours: the GetYourGuide Tour Guy page both lists a 'guided tour inside' and says the host will not join you inside. Walks (Viator) and Devour Tours prices could not be checked and were removed. getyourguide.com
