Tower of London Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Tower of London, even from the outside. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• High-Speed Thames River Speedboat in London

• Ghost, Ghouls and Gallows Tour: Guided Tour with Boat Ride

• Westminster to Greenwich Sightseeing Thames Cruise in London

• The Premier Classic London: Private 4-Hour Tour in a Black Cab

• London Eye River Cruise

Tickets for the Tower of London start at £35.80 for adults and £28.50 for students over 18 (with valid ID), seniors over 65, and visitors with disabilities. Tickets for visitors ages 5–17 start at £17.90, while children under 5 get in free. Purchase tickets online in advance or on the day at the ticket office.

Yes, the Tower of London is worth visiting—it's been a landmark in the capital for nearly 1,000 years, is home to Britain's crown jewels, and few structures around the world boast such a history, including time as a prison, fortress, castle, and treasury. If you book a guided tour, your guide will walk and talk you through its many past lives, while pointing out hidden facets and architectural features that may be missed on most self-guided visits.

Per one customer who booked the VIP Early Access Opening Ceremony Tower of London & River Cruise, "Excellent tour. The guide was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the Tower of London, including the various people who lived and died there. Having early access to see the Crown Jewels was wonderful. I highly recommend this tour."

Tours of the Tower of London typically take about one hour. Altogether set aside at least two hours for your Tower of London visit. That will give you additional time to explore parts of the tower on your own—and wait in the long line to peek at the Crown Jewels.

Tower of London tours visit the most popular parts of the tower, such as the Crown Jewels, White Tower, Bloody Tower, and other sites. They also typically grant access to the Torture at the Tower and Royal Mint exhibitions. Your admission ticket covers the famous "Beefeaters" tour.

Don’t miss seeing the Crown Jewels—the wait is worth it. You also don’t want to miss the Beefeater guards and the armory and weapons collection in the White Tower. See the site of Anne Boleyn’s execution at Tower Green and catch views of Tower Bridge from the ramparts.

The best time to visit the Tower of London is mid-week early mornings, when lines are typically the shortest. Weekends, public holidays, and afternoons are busiest with tourists and school groups. Winters bring shorter lines but wet, dreary weather.

No, you can’t walk around the Tower of London for free. Visitors must purchase admission tickets or limit their trip to the tower’s far perimeter and bridge. While not required, booking tickets in advance will likely save you time and money.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting the Tower of London. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in London:

• Buckingham Palace

• Stonehenge

• Westminster Abbey

• Houses of Parliament & Big Ben

• London Eye

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in London.