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Tower of London

Tower of London tickets and tours

United Kingdom

Things to do in Tower of London

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There are many amazing historical stories and fascinating features of the Tower of London, but one of the most colorful has to be the men you see standing around in the bizarre red costumes. They’re officially named Yeoman Warders, but all of England knows them as ‘Beefeaters’.

Today, these men (and women) offer guided tours and interesting anecdotes about the Tower’s history, but they have a much longer history. Once a royal bodyguard (since 1509), they enjoyed a powerful position and the right to eat as much beef as they wanted from the king's table. Back then, they were known for fighting and drunkenness, and would have killed any unexpected visitor.

The modern Yeoman Warders are not just tour guides, however. Each one of them has served at least 22 years in the armed forces in places such as the Falkland Islands, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. They can answer your questions and are happy to have their photographs taken with you.

Opening hours

1 November-28 February:

  • Tuesday-Saturday: 9.00am-4.30pm
  • Sunday-Monday: 10.00am-4.30pm
  • Last admission is at 4.00pm

1 March-31 October:

  • Tuesday-Saturday: 9.00am-5.30pm
  • Sunday-Monday: 10.00am-5.30pm
  • Last admission is at 5.00pm

About the Tower of London

Only since the Victorian era has the Tower been a tourist attraction. Throughout its earlier history it has been a royal residence, a castle, an armory, a treasury for the Crown Jewels and a notorious prison.

French King William the Conqueror started construction in the eleventh century using stone from Caen in France. Successive kings added more fortifications, accommodation and even a private zoo with lions. One of the most infamous events of this early history came in 1483 when Richard Duke of Gloucester put his two young sons in the tower ‘for their own protection’. Nobody ever saw them again . . . and Richard suddenly became king. Hmm.

During the Tudor period, the tower became a center of torture and imprisonment. This was partly due to Henry VIII’s break from the Catholic Church and the large number of people who didn’t agree with it. Famous prisoners included politician Sir Thomas More and Henry’s own wife Anne Boleyn (whose crime was not to have a male child).

In 1605, the tower welcomed Guy Fawkes, an early terrorist who tried to blow up the Parliament. Nor was he the only traitor. During WWII, spies were also imprisoned and executed here. German Josef Jakobs was the last to be executed in 1941.

Today, there’s a story about the ravens who live at the tower. It’s said that if they ever leave, the Tower and England itself will fall. Be nice to them . . .

Address

The Tower of London, Tower Hill, London, EC3N 4AB

Getting there:

By underground:

  • District or Circle lines to Tower Hill station (then five-minute walk)

By train:

  • The nearest stations are Fenchurch Street or London Bridge (then follow signs)

By bicycle:

  • Find cycle racks on the Wharf opposite the Perkin Reveller restaurant and stands (three) next to the shop at the tower. (Do not attach bicycles to railings.)

By Docklands Light Railway (DLR):

  • Take to Tower Gateway Station (then follow signs)

By bus:

  • Routes 15, 42, 78, 100, RV1 and sightseeing buses

By riverboat:

  • From Charing Cross, Westminster and Greenwich to Tower Pier

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Tower of London and private audience with Beefeater guard
Attractions & guided tours

Tower of London and private audience with Beefeater guard

Book your Tower of London private tour with a Beefeater to get early access to the Jewel House and discover one of the country's most iconic landmarks.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Best of Royal London Guided Tour With Tower of London and Westminster
Walking tours

Best of Royal London Guided Tour With Tower of London and Westminster

Book this Royal London tour now and skip the general access lines to the Tower of London. Enjoy a cruise up the Thames and a Westminster walking tour.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

London city tour hop-on hop-off bus
Top seller
Activities

London city tour hop-on hop-off bus

Book your London city hop-on-hop-off bus tour. Hop aboard the double-decker open-top bus and enjoy the best views of the city!

free cancellation
Available in:

en, it, fr, es, ar, +5  de, pt, ru, ja, zh

The London Pass® by Go City
Attractions & guided tours

The London Pass® by Go City

Explore London with The London Pass® and gain free entry to over 90 top attractions, fast track access, a free guidebook and special offers.

free cancellation
Instant Confirmation
Old City of London guided walking tour
Activities

Old City of London guided walking tour

Book this tour of the Old City now to discover the secrets of London's most historic district and visit iconic sites on a guided walk through history.

free cancellation
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en 

Old City of London guided walking tour
Activities

Old City of London guided walking tour

Book this tour of the Old City now to discover the secrets of London's most historic district and visit iconic sites on a guided walk through history.

Duration up to 2 hours 30 minutes
Available in:

en 

Instant Confirmation
London self-guided audio tour
Activities

London self-guided audio tour

Book this self-guided tour of London now to explore the city at your pace using an app with over 130 points of interest, sights and walking tours.

Validity Flexible
Available in:

en, it, fr, es, de, +1  zh

Instant Confirmation
World audio guide with TravelMate app
Attractions & guided tours

World audio guide with TravelMate app

Make the most of your time in 33 cities around the world with this TravelMate app on your smartphone. Listen to detailed audio commentaries in your language.

Flexible
Available in:

en, it, fr, es, de, +2  ru, zh

Instant Confirmation
London top sights guided walking tour
Activities

London top sights guided walking tour

Book this 5-hour walking tour of London! Discover the history, culture, and legends of London and see more than 30 top sights!

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Evening River Thames bike tour with beer tasting
Activities

Evening River Thames bike tour with beer tasting

Book a small-group evening bike tour along the River Thames. Cycle through London taking in the iconic sites and enjoy a tasting of English beer.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Tower of London and Tower Bridge private half-day guided tour
Attractions & guided tours

Tower of London and Tower Bridge private half-day guided tour

Explore two of the most recognizable icons in London on a private guided tour. Discover the royal history of the UK at the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, with tickets included.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Tower of London and the heart of Westminster private half-day tour
Activities

Tower of London and the heart of Westminster private half-day tour

Explore Royal London on a private half-day tour of the most landmarks including the Tower of London and the Crown Jewels, Westminster, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

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Tower of London

Tower of London

London

United Kingdom

Reviews Tower of London

5/5
Peter, Oct 03, 2015
5/5
Marcela, Jan 21, 2015

“Mis amigas y yo quedamos muy complacidas con este tour y recibimos informaciones muy interesantes sobre estas atracciones de la ciudad”

4/5
GDPR Expired data, Jan 21, 2015

“Esta excursión fue muy positiva e interesante”

4/5
Robert, Jan 21, 2015

“I love London and this tour is the perfect way to explore the city”

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