This post covers how to get discounted tickets to the Tower of London, how to plan your visit, and what you’ll see on your tour.
Disclosure: While our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the full text.
TICKETS
This section will give you an overview of ticket types and ticket prices.
TIP: To get a discount of up to 50% on your tickets, check out the attraction discount passes below.
General Admission
This ticket includes access to all public spaces in the Tower of London, Yeoman Warder tours, children’s activities, and the Crown Jewels.
Peak Prices
These prices are only active from Friday - Sunday during the months of July and August.
- Adult (18-64): £29.90
- Child (5-15): £14.90
- Senior (65+): £24.00
- Youth (16-17) and Students: £24.00
- Family Saver (1 adult + 3 children): £52.20
- Family Saver (2 adults + 3 children): £82.10
- Click here to purchase tickets.
Off-Peak Prices
Off-peak hours are active any time from September - June.
- Adult (18-64): £28.90
- Child (5-15): £14.40
- Senior (65+): £23.20
- Youth (16-17) and Students: £23.20
- Family Saver (1 adult + 3 children): £50.50
- Family Saver (2 adults + 3 children): £79.40
- Click here to purchase tickets.
Audio Guide
- £4
13 TOWER OF LONDON DISCOUNTS
This section includes the various discounts available for Tower of London tickets.
1. Tourist Attraction Discount Passes
You can find Tower of London tickets on multiple discount passes.
If you want to read about attraction discount passes that can save you up to 50% of the retail price on select London activities, check out our full post.
Admission to the Tower of London is included on these passes:
In addition to covering the cost of this attraction, tourist passes can also be used to visit the following locations:
- Tower Bridge
- Windsor Castle
- Kensington Palace
- Westminster Abbey
- St. Paul's Cathedral
- Churchill War Rooms
- View From The Shard
- Hampton Court Palace
- And more!
Check out our detailed post on tourist attraction passes so you can save the most time and money on your trip to London.
All you have to do is scan your card and you’ll be allowed in ahead of everyone waiting in line for a ticket.
2. The TOOT Bus Combo Deal
If you're planning to take a hop-on-hop-off bus tour while visiting this city, you may want to consider combining that service with a trip to the Tower of London.
The TOOT Bus offers a deal which provides a discount on tickets for both activities when they are purchased at the same time.
While they imply that this is a 15% discount, the reality is that they charge a bit more for tickets to the Tower of London than what you'll pay at the gate, making the actual deal more like 10% off.
Even if it's not a full 15% off, this is still a great way to save a few pounds on both activities.
Learn more about this combo package or purchase your tickets.
3. 2 for 1 National Rail Discount
If you purchase and use a National Rail ticket on the same day you go sightseeing, it could give you a 2 for 1 deal at more than 150 London sites and attractions.
The Tower of London is one of the eligible locations. Check our full post for 2 for 1 discount details.
4. Historic Royal Palaces Members
Royal history buffs might want to get a Historic Royal Palaces membership.
One membership purchase allows you unlimited entry into all the major royal, historic palaces: Hampton Court, Kensington Palace, Hillsborough Castle, Kew Palace, Tower of London, and the Banqueting House.
It pays for itself within a few visits and includes a 10% discount in Palace shops, cafes, and restaurants.
Prices:
- Adult Membership: £59
- Joint (2 Adults) Membership: £89
- 1 Adult + 6 Children Family Membership: £82
- 2 Adults + 6 Children Family Membership: £116
TIP: If you already bought tickets for one of the palaces, you can upgrade to a full membership in person at the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Or Kensington Palace.
5. Senior Discount, Student Discount, Disabled Visitor Discount
Visitors 65 years old and up, full-time students with an ID, and disabled visitors receive the concession price of £19.30.
6. Military Discounts
Unfortunately, we could not find any military discounts for the Tower of London.
7. Family Saver Discounts
If you’re visiting the Tower of London as a family there are two versions of the family saver discount.
- Family Saver 1 includes 1 adult and up to 3 children for £50.50.
- Family Saver 2 includes 2 adults and up to 3 children for £79.40.
These are the off-peak prices.
8. Ceremony of the Keys
You can visit the Tower of London at night during the Ceremony of the Keys, but you must plan well in advance. Tickets are "free" but come with a booking fee of £10.00.
9. Coupon Sites
Check out discount sites such as Discount London and Groupon - they occasionally have great coupons for admission.
10. Off-Peak Pricing
If you avoid coming during peak ticket pricing seasons in July and August, you can easily save a few pounds on admission to the Tower of London.
11. Tower Hamlets Resident Discount
If you live within the borough of Tower Hamlets and you have an Idea Store card or library card, you can visit the Tower of London for only £1.
12. Group Discount
Visitors coming in groups of 6 or more are eligible for a much more affordably priced ticket. Here are the group ticket prices:
- Adults: £27.50
- Children: £13.80
- Seniors, Students, Youth: £21.90
13. AAA Discount
There have been AAA discounts offered in the past, and you might be able to take advantage of this deal now.
Make sure to check your account and see if they are offering a discount on tickets to the Tower of London.
PLAN YOUR VISIT
This section will help you plan your visit including how to get there, when to go, and how long you should expect to stay.
If you’re looking for discounted entry, check out the above section.
How to Get There
The Tower of London is located at St Katharine's & Wapping, London EC3N 4AB, UK.
It is right on the Thames River by Tower Bridge. We suggest using this Google link to get directions from your location.
Underground Stations:
- Tower Hill
- Monument
- London Bridge
Nearest Railway:
- London Bridge Station
- DLR Tower Gateway Station
Bus Routes:
- There are multiple nearby bus stops for routes 15, 42, 78, 100, and RV1.
Hop-On Hop-Off:
- Multiple hop-on-hop-off sightseeing bus routes stop right at the Tower of London and the surrounding areas.
Walking Tours:
- We see the outside of the Tower of London on our Old City of London tour.
- Avoid the lines with an early access Crown Jewels ticket complete with Tower of London guided tour.
- Visit the Tower of London on a London in a Day tour.
Be sure to check out our posts on navigating the London Underground and choosing which tube pass to buy.
Hours of Operation
Summer Hours (May 1st - October 31st)
- Tuesday - Saturday
- 9:00 – 17:30 (5:30 pm)
- Sunday/Monday
- 10:00 – 17:30 (5:30 pm) *last entry at 5 pm
Winter Hours (November 1st - February 28th)
- Tuesday - Saturday
- 9:00 – 16:30 (4:30 pm)
- Sunday/Monday
- 10:00 – 16:30 (4:30 pm) *last entry at 4 pm
NOTE: They are occasionally closed for events, so check the website before you arrive.
Best Times to Visit
The best time to visit is definitely during a weekday, but even then you should probably arrive early in the morning or later in the afternoon.
The largest crowds will generally start to thin out after 15:00 (3:00 pm) in the afternoon on weekdays.
Weekends, however, will be extremely busy at all hours, especially between May and September.
How long should you stay?
There are a lot of things to see and do here, and most visitors suggest giving yourself at least 3-4 hours to explore the area.
Considering that the crowds start to get really large at about 12:00 pm, an early morning trip really is your best option.
If you have to visit later, consider arriving at about 13:30 (1:30 pm) and staying until they close.
Prohibited Items
As with most historic landmarks, there are certain items that you will not be allowed to bring with you to the Tower of London. All visitors will be required to undergo a bag check before entering this site.
In addition to things like weapons, the following items are also prohibited:
- Tripods
- Selfie Sticks
- Large bags
If you need somewhere to store your luggage or other items, we know where you can store your bags while you're at the Tower of London.
Is photography permitted?
Although you are allowed to bring cameras and take photographs, there are a few locations at the Tower of London where no photography of any kind is allowed:
- The Jewel House
- The Martin Tower
- The Chapel of St. John (in the White Tower)
- Inside the Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula
You may also be prohibited from taking photographs of certain items. If you aren’t sure whether or not pictures are allowed in a specific area, please ask a staff member for more information.
Accessibility
Although the Tower of London is accessible for most visitors, it is important to note that certain areas of this landmark are paved with cobblestone.
Due to the bumpy texture of this surface, it is not ideal for wheelchairs, prams, or a buggy.
In particular, disabled visitors may have trouble seeing the Cradle Tower and the back of the Jewel House.
Buggy parks are provided next to the Salt Tower, the Middle Drawbridge, and the White Tower.
Baby changing areas can be found at the New Armouries Café, the brick toilets behind the Jewel House, and near the Salt Tower.
EXHIBITS AT THE TOWER OF LONDON
This section lists some of the exhibits, rooms, and points of interest within the Tower of London.
The Crown Jewels
Nestled onto crushed blue velvet and kept securely behind spotlessly clean glass, the Crown Jewels are proudly on display in the Jewel House at the Tower of London.
Once inside the Jewel House, guests will come face-to-face with some of the most famous gemstones in the world.
For more information, please read our blog post on visiting the Crown Jewels.
The White Tower
This is the oldest building in the Tower of London which holds a beautifully preserved 11th-century chapel.
The White Tower also displays the Line of Kings, an awe-inspiring exhibition of suits of armour and arms that have been on display for over 300 years.
If you’ve ever wondered what Henry VIII wore when he was jousting, you will get an up-close view here in the White Tower.
A Medieval Palace
Recreating amazing rooms such as the bed chamber of King Edward I, the Medieval Palace in the Tower shows visitors exactly how our historic Kings and Queens would have lived.
Mint Street
Commemorating the fact that the Royal Mint used to be based in the Tower of London (before being moved to Wales), the Mint Street exhibition highlights and details the history of the Royal Mint in the Tower.
The Coins and Kings experience gives visitors a hands-on experience, showcasing not just the history of Mint Street, but displaying many of the actual artifacts that have been produced here.
Tower Green
Arguably the most famous execution site in the world, Tower Green contains a beautiful memorial to all those who lost their lives within the walls of the Tower.
Two of Henry VIII’s wives, a 16-year-old ‘queen,’ and even Margaret Pole, the Countess of Salisbury who was an elderly woman at the time of her execution, are among the list of those commemorated.
The Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula
A Chapel Royal, in existence since the 12th century, St. Peter ad Vincula is the final resting place of those executed within the walls of the Tower. It is the designated place of worship for all of those who work (and live!) inside the Tower.
With memorials and statues designated to famous faces of the church's history, buried inside are two of Henry VIIIs wives, as well as two saints: Sir Thomas Moore and Bishop John Fisher.
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