Tower of London Tours

Tower of London featuring heritage elements
One of the world’s most well-preserved medieval castles, this historic building is known for its fascinating and gruesome history.

The Tower of London is among Britain’s top tourist attractions. Although it’s mainly known as a place of imprisonment and execution, this remarkable building has also served as palace, mint, archive, armory, barracks and royal menagerie over the years. See the legendary crown jewels and learn about the tower’s often brutal history.

Be sure to check out the central White Tower, the oldest part of the complex and its most eye-catching building. The White Tower was built by William the Conqueror beginning in 1078. Inside you’ll find the Armories, with an excellent collection of arms and armor. Look for Henry VIII's large suit of armor, as well as various historic swords, morning stars and halberds.

On the far side of the White Tower, find the Bloody Tower. This tower takes its name from the famous murders of the uncrowned boy king, Edward V, and his brother Richard, who were imprisoned here by their uncle, Richard of Gloucester, after the death of their father. The boys were never seen again and Gloucester was crowned Richard III. Don’t miss the displays dedicated to some of the Tower’s other famous prisoners, including a reconstruction of Sir Walter Raleigh’s study.

The highlights of the tour are the iconic Crown Jewels, consisting of stunning crowns, glittering orbs and staffs housed in the Waterloo Barracks. This collection features the ceremonial objects of the British monarchy, some of which date as far back as the 12th century. Look for the magnificent Imperial State Crown, which is decorated with more than 3,000 jewels, including the fourth-largest diamond in the world. You’ll also see the platinum crown of the late Queen Mother, adorned with the 105-carat Indian Koh-i-Noor (Mountain of Light) diamond, which is said to bring luck to women.

The Tower of London is open daily, with hours varying by day. There is an admission fee. Free guided tours leave regularly from the bridge near the main entrance. To get to the tower, take the Tube to Tower Hill Station.  

Browse tours and tickets to explore Tower of London

Reviews of Tower of London

4.6
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
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4 - Good
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5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Mar 24, 2020

Be sure to take the free tour with the beefeaters, They are excellent!

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler
Mar 17, 2020

Go early-lines were crazy. We didn't end up waiting to go in.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler
Feb 2, 2020

If you want to go in and visit, be prepared to spend $40 USD per adult to get in. There are some packages for families/groups, but for a group of 2, it is quite expensive to get in. Also, I would allocate at least 2 hours to view it. I only had about 1.

5/5 - Excellent

Rod
Jan 6, 2020

This was in our top 2-3 things accomplished while in London

5/5 - Excellent

David
Dec 4, 2019

It's an inexpensive 30 minute tube ride when you take the Circle Line from High Street Kensington station to Tower Hill station. If you enjoyed the Crown Jewels and want to learn a bit more about the actual jewelry, don't miss the Martin Tower next door.

5/5 - Excellent

PartyOf3
Nov 17, 2019

I booked this ahead of time, including the River Thames 24 hour cruise, but didn't make it to the cruise - would consider the month of travel next time (very cold and rainy) when we went there

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