Getting Tower of London tickets is easier than you can imagine. I have been to the Tower of London more times than I can remember – it’s one of my favorite historical sites in the city, and being a Tudor’s history geek you can appreciate how interesting this place is to me.
The Tower of London is one of the most popular attractions in the British capital. When my dad visited at the time I lived in London, I had no doubt he’d be wowed by the sight of the impressive building, and by the Crown Jewels inside.
Such popularity, however, means that the lines to get inside are actually long – which is ok if this is the only place you want to visit in town; but not quite so if you only have 2 or 3 days in London.
If you have limited time in London, you really should get Tower of London tickets in advance. There are plenty of options for tickets that help you save time at the ticket counter, with or without a tour attached.
Whatever your needs, interests and even budget, I will help you plan your visit and make the most of it. I will explain everything you should know before visiting the Tower of London, including where to buy Tower of London tickets.
Are you going to London soon? Make sure to book your visit to the Tower of London in advance. Here are the best options:
I will now explain where to buy Tower of London tickets in a bit more detail.
Where To Buy Tower Of London Tickets
Tower of London tickets official website
This is the Tower of London tickets official website. This is where to buy Tower of London tickets if all you want is a plain tickets, no frills attached.
These are the prices of tickets bought via the official website – all prices are in British Pounds (GBP):
ADULTS – £34.80 GBP
CHILDREN BETWEEN 7 AND 17 – £17.40 GBP
SENIOR (65+) – £27.70 GBP
STUDENTS ABOVE 18 YEARS OLD – £27.70 GBP
DISABLED VISITORS – £27.70 GBP
Children up to 4 years old can visit for free.
Audioguides cost £5 (concessions £4).
You may wonder “how far in advance can I book tower of London tickets?” The official website allows you to book tickets up to 3 months ahead of your visit.
When purchasing a ticket to the Tower of London, whether in person or at the door, you will also be asked to make a donation to the Historic Royal Palaces charity. This donation is between £2 and £4 GBP, depending on what ticket you are getting. In my experience, it is automatically added to the final ticket price, unless you state you don’t want to donate.
All tickets include the Crown Jewels exhibit, and access to all areas such as the White Tower, Bloody Tower and Battlements.
To buy your ticket, you will have to select a day and a time slot – the page will show you which days have availability, and the various time slots available.
Once you pick a time slot you’ll have to select the number of tickets you wish to purchase, and will then be taken to another page where you will be prompted to purchase add-ons such as a guide book or an audioguide.
After that, you’ll be taken to a new page where you will have to write your name, phone number, email address and full address. Finally, once you agree to the term and conditions, you’ll be asked to pay.
You will then receive an email with your tickets, which you have to print. Alternatively, you can download a PDF version of the ticket on your smartphone and this will be scanned upon entering.
As per the official website, changes to the date and/or entry time of can be made – though you will have to pay a re-booking fee, and must give at least 24-hours notice.
Tickets can’t be refunded or transferred. When getting tickets on the official website.
Third-party booking sites
This is where to buy Tower of London tickets if you want a more straightforward and easy to use site. My recommended third-party booking sites are GetYourGuide or Tiqets. Tickets here aren’t necessarily more expensive – they usually cost just the same.
Getting tickets on third-party booking sites is super easy.
Pick the day and time-slot of your visit, the number of tickets you want to purchase, pay and you will get the tickets in your mail. You can also download an app that will let you have the vouchers all in one place (and that you can access offline) and you even get a reminder via email that your activity is coming up.
The bonus? You can cancel your tickets and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance.
You can get Tower of London and Crown Jewels exhibition ticket on GetYourGuide.
You can also get Tower of London tickets Tiqets.
Make sure to read my post A Completely Honest GetYourGuide Review for more information on this and other third-party booking sites.
Tower of London tours
A place of historical relevance such as the Tower of London actually deserves an in depth visit with a guide that can share important information about the building and what went on inside.
Tower of London tours are obviously more expensive than just the plain admission ticket, but if the guide is a knowledgeable one, your experience will be much better. Besides, guides usually know which path to follow to avoid the crowds and in the end you will never feel overwhelmed by the presence of other people.
Tower of London guided tours will normally include tickets and last between 1.5 and 3 hours, depending on which option you pick.
I have been on several Tower of London tours in my many visits to the city, and have some recommendations.
My favorite tour is this Tower of London early access tour with opening ceremony – This tour sold on Take Walks is offered twice a week and starts at 8:30 am. It lasts 3 hours. It’s a great way of experiencing the attraction with lesser crowds since you get to walk in before the actual opening time.
There’s also this Tower of London group tour with a Beefeater – This is one of the most interesting ways of experiencing the Tower of London, as the tour is led by one of the guardians. They are the ones that know all the secrets!
Finally, you could opt for this Tower of London and Tower Bridge VIP early access – This is another excellent option that also includes the Tower Bridge exhibit.
Guided tours of London
Joining a guided tour that also goes to the Tower of London is a great solution if you only have a day in London and want something completely hassle free.
Tours of London take you to a variety of attractions (obviously including the Tower of London) and are usually great value for money for travelers that have a short amount of time in the city.
This London in a day: Tower, Westminster and Changing of the Guard sold on Take Walks takes you to the most popular landmarks in town. It is great value for money as it lasts 8 full hours. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes as you will be walking a lot!
London City Pass
Another way of visiting the Tower of London is with a London City Pass.
City passes are great solutions if you are spending a few days in the city, as they allow you to save a bit on attractions. However, once you get the pass you still have to book the time-slot for each attraction separately.
If this is something you want to consider, you will be happy to know that the various London Passes available online include the Tower of London among the attractions you can visit.
My recommended options are:
London Explorer Pass – You can pick up to 7 attractions and end up saving up to 35%. The list of included attractions is wider than that in most London city passes.
London Pass – Perhaps the most comprehensive option, you get access to up to 85 attractions in the course of 10 days so this is perfect if you are staying in the city a bit longer.
Practical Guide To The Tower Of London
Tower of London prices and free visits
Tower of London tickets official website lists tickets at the following prices – all prices are listed in GBP:
ADULTS – £34.80 GBP
CHILDREN BETWEEN 7 AND 17 – £17.40 GBP
SENIOR (65+) – £27.70 GBP
STUDENTS ABOVE 18 YEARS OLD – £27.70 GBP
DISABLED VISITORS – £27.70 GBP
Children up to 4 years old can visit for free.
Audioguides cost £5 (concessions £4).
When purchasing a ticket, whether in person or at the door, you will be asked to make a donation to the Historic Royal Palaces charity. This donation is between £2 and £4 GBP.
In my experience, this is automatically added to the final price of your ticket so make sure to state you don’t want to make a donation (unless you actually want to).
Modifications to the reservation and refunds
Tickets bought on the official site can’t be cancelled or refunded. Modifications are allowed, pending payment of a fee.
Tickets bought on third-party booking sites have a more flexible cancellation policy that allows you to cancel up to 24 hours before your visit.
Do you need to book Tower of London in advance?
When people ask me “do you need to book Tower of London in advance?” or “can you buy Tower of London tickets on the day?” I always say the best thing to do is to show up with an already purchased ticket.
To be clear: You don’t have to get tickets to the Tower of London in advance. There is a ticket office on the site where you can get them.
But considering the limitations on the number of people that are allowed to visit daily and that this is one of the most popular attractions in London, you really should book tickets in advance or be prepared to wait in line at the ticket counter.
What to do if Tower of London tickets are sold out
Needless to say, the Tower of London tickets official website is the first to sell out. If you can’t get them tickets there, head to the one of the third-party bookings sites I have mentioned.
Since they usually buy tickets in advance and in bulk, there often is something available and you may also be able count on their flexible cancellation policy and the fact that someone may have cancelled almost last minute.
You can get your Tower of London ticket on GetYourGuide or also on Tiqets.
One thing you may want to keep in mind is that you will stand better chances of getting tickets if you opt for a last minute guided tour.
For example, you could consider this early access Tower of London tour that lasts 75 minutes and has a very flexible cancellation policy.
Tower of London hours
The site is open every day, except for 1 January and on 24, 25 and 26 December.
Tower of London hours vary depending on the day. You should consult the Tower of London official site to learn about the Tower of London hours on your intended day of visit.
Best time to visit Tower of London to avoid the crowds
Some people will tell you that the best time to visit the Tower of London to avoid the crowds is as soon as it opens to the public. Others will tell you to visit in the late afternoon.
I can’t make predictions, really, but in doubt – knowing I am not an early bird – I’d recommend going in the late afternoon when crowds start to fade off.
Is The Tower Of London Worth Visiting?
If you ask me “is the Tower of London worth visiting?” my answer will always be yes!
Perhaps sharing a bit of history and interesting facts will help you decide why you really need to visit the Tower of London during your trip to London.
Built in the 11th century upon wishes of William the Conqueror and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Tower of London has served many purposes throughout history. Initially a royal palace, it was used as an armory, a treasury, a menagerie and as the Royal Mint.
Processions for coronations of kings and queens of England used to start here.
The Tower of London however became famous for being a prison – the one where notable people such as Anne Boleyn or Guy Fawkes were held and eventually executed. Anne Boleyn, wife of Henry VIII, was beheaded at the Tower of London on 19 May 1536. Guy Fawkes was executed on 31 January 1606.
Executions at the Tower of London took place all the way until WWII – the last took place in 1941, when Josef Jakobs, a German spy was executed.
Inside the Tower of London you can admire the Crown Jewels. My favorite piece there is the Cullinan I, the biggest diamond on earth which is embedded in the royal scepter.
Other spots you should not miss include the Beauchamp and Salt Towers, where you can spot prisoners’ graffiti; the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula, near the famous execution site and where the remains and heads of three queens (including Anne Boleyn) and two saints are located.
You should also see the Norman Chapel of St John’s, in the White Tower wall.
The Tower of London is actually bigger than you may imagine, with several buildings and exhibits and it may take you up to 4 hours to visit.
Other Useful Information
How to get to the Tower of London
The easiest way to get to the Tower of London is by subway (called underground in England, and often referred to as “the tube” in London).
The nearest tube station to the Tower of London is Tower Hill, which you can reach via District and Circle lines. Once you get out of the station, you just have to follow the signs to the Tower.
Another way of getting there is by hop-on hop-off bus. This is a fun way of exploring the city and hitting all the main attractions.
Security checks
You will have to go through a security check when visiting the Tower of London. Don’t bring any prohibited items with you as this will slow down the security checks.
Items you can’t carry when visiting the Tower of London include weapons (that also includes pocket knives); pepper spray; anything bulky.
The official Tower of London website also suggests that fireworks are prohibited – but I’d doubt you go around with that in your bag.
Toilets and other facilities at the Tower of London
Inside the Tower of London you will find toilets, baby changing facilities, WiFi access, 3 kiosks that serve quick bites, and a souvenir shop.
Accessibility
The Tower of London is accessible to wheelchair users and people with disabilities with a dedicated entrance, dedicated paths, facilities and even wheelchair hire.
Luggage storage
There is no cloakroom and no luggage storage facilities at the Tower of London – make sure to only carry whatever is strictly necessary for your visit and leave any bulky items in your room.
Other nearby attractions
The closest nearby attraction is the Tower Bridge, which is quite a sight. You can even go inside and visit the exhibit and walk the glass walkway for incredible views.
Make sure to also cross the bridge and go on a walk along the South Bank of the Thames River for beautiful views of the Tower of London.
Just 10 minutes away from the Tower of London, you will find the Sky Garden, one of London hidden gems and a great place to get impressive views of the city.
Further Readings
If you are planning a trip to London, make sure to read my other posts:
- 15 Amazing Day Trips From Paris
- How To See London In 2 Days
- 15 Great Day Trips From London
- 5 Easy Ways Of Getting London Dungeon Tickets
- 7 Easy Ways Of Getting London Eye Tickets
- How To Get Madame Tussauds London Tickets And Skip The Lines
- The 20 Best Museums In London
- A Guide To Visiting Hampton Court Palace
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