The Tower of London is the riverside fortress that William the Conqueror began after 1066: a royal palace, prison and treasury for nearly a thousand years, and still the home of the Crown Jewels, the ravens and the Yeoman Warders, or “Beefeaters”. From 1 October 2026 an adult ticket costs £38 (£41.80 with a donation) and children aged 5 to 15 pay £19; under-5s go free. A Yeoman Warder tour is included. In October it opens 9:00–17:30 Tuesday to Saturday and 10:00–17:30 on Sunday and Monday, with last entry at 16:30. Book ahead, head for the Crown Jewels first and allow two to three hours.
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Tickets and tours for Tower of London
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Why the Tower of London matters
The great keep at its heart, the White Tower, was begun around 1075–79 and probably finished by 1100, which makes it one of the best-preserved 11th-century buildings in Europe. Henry III and Edward I wrapped it in the curtain walls and towers you walk along today and built a comfortable medieval palace by the river. Over the centuries the Tower was also the Royal Mint for more than 500 years, a royal zoo and, above all, a state prison. Ten people were beheaded on Tower Green, among them three queens: Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Lady Jane Grey. The Tower is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is cared for by the charity Historic Royal Palaces.
What you’ll see
- The Crown Jewels: the coronation regalia in the Jewel House, still used by the monarch. A moving walkway carries you past the crowns, with a raised platform behind it for a longer look.
- The White Tower: the Norman keep with the Line of Kings, displays of royal armour and life-size wooden horses shown to visitors for more than 300 years, and the Chapel of St John the Evangelist.
- Yeoman Warder tours: the Warders are retired senior soldiers with at least 22 years’ service, and their tours, full of grisly stories, are included in your ticket. The last one leaves at 15:15.
- The ravens: legend says the kingdom and the Tower will fall if they ever leave. Look for them on the lawns near the White Tower; don’t feed them.
- Walls, prisons and the river gate: the Medieval Palace and Wall Walk, the Bloody Tower, Traitors’ Gate, the prisoners’ graffiti in the Beauchamp Tower, Torture at the Tower and the Royal Mint story in Coins and Kings.
Some rooms and routes are closed or partly closed while conservation work goes on, so check the Tower’s notices before you go.
Tickets and how to visit
Prices and hours from Historic Royal Palaces, as of October 2026:
- Prices from 1 October 2026 (without / with donation): adults 18–64 £38 / £41.80; seniors 65+, full-time students and disabled visitors £30.30 / £33.40; ages 5–15 and 16–17 £19 / £21; under-5s free without a ticket; a disabled visitor’s carer goes free. Children under 16 must be with an adult. Historic Royal Palaces members enter free.
- Booking: book online in advance or buy on the day at the ticket office. Booking ahead is the safer choice at weekends and in school holidays. Audio guides can be added when you buy.
- Hours: until 31 October, 9:00–17:30 Tuesday to Saturday and 10:00–17:30 Sunday and Monday, last entry 16:30. Winter hours from November are shorter, closing at 16:30 in past winters, so check the official calendar. Buildings inside close before the site does.
- No re-entry: for security reasons you can’t come back in once you have left.
- Bags and security: bags are searched at the entrance, and there is no left-luggage service, so travel light.
How long to allow and when to go
Allow two to three hours. Queues for the Jewel House are longest from about midday to 15:00, so go there first at opening time, then join a Yeoman Warder tour. The Tower itself says the site is quieter in the afternoon, so a visit from about 14:00, with the Crown Jewels last, also works well. On royal gun salute days the Wharf outside closes and the 13:00 Warder tour is cancelled.
Accessibility
The Tower is a medieval fortress with spiral staircases, cobbles, uneven ground and low doorways, so wheelchair access is limited. The Jewel House has level access and a platform lift, and a lift links the White Tower’s ground floor with the basement shop. A free wheelchair can be borrowed on a first-come, first-served basis. Many rooms, including the Jewel House, have low lighting. Tower Hill station has step-free access to the street, and the Tower Hill car and coach park has Blue Badge bays.
Getting there
Tower Hill station (District and Circle lines) is about five minutes’ walk away. Tower Gateway on the DLR is close by, Fenchurch Street and London Bridge stations are 10 to 15 minutes on foot, and buses 15, 42, 78, 100, 343 and RV1 stop nearby. Uber Boat river services from Westminster and the London Eye stop at Tower Pier, right by the entrance.
Combine it with
Tower Bridge is a few hundred metres away. St Paul’s Cathedral is about 1.7 km west, and Borough Market lies across London Bridge. Take a boat trip from Tower Pier upriver to Westminster Abbey, or spend another day at the free British Museum. For more ideas, see our London travel guide and our city sightseeing guide.
Tower of London FAQ
How much does it cost to visit the Tower of London?
From 1 October 2026, £38 for an adult without a donation (£41.80 with one), £19 for ages 5–15 and £30.30 for seniors and students. Under-5s go free. The Crown Jewels and a Yeoman Warder tour are included.
How long do you need at the Tower of London?
Two to three hours for the Crown Jewels, the White Tower, a Yeoman Warder tour and the walls. Keen history fans can easily spend half a day.
What is the best time to see the Crown Jewels?
At opening time, before the Jewel House queue builds; it is longest from about midday to 15:00. Late afternoon, after 15:00, is the other good window.
Are the Yeoman Warder tours included?
Yes, they are included in a standard ticket, subject to availability. The last tour of the day starts at 15:15, and the 13:00 tour is cancelled on gun salute days.
What time is last entry at the Tower of London?
16:30 in October 2026, with closing at 17:30. Winter hours from November are shorter, so check the official calendar.
Is the Tower of London wheelchair accessible?
Partly. The Jewel House has level access and a platform lift, but much of the site has steps, cobbles and spiral stairs. A free wheelchair can be borrowed on arrival.