Tower of London Tickets

The White Tower

William the Conqueror ordered the construction of the White Tower in 1078. This central stone keep gives the entire fortress its name. Inside the structure, the Line of Kings exhibition displays royal suits of armour, including pieces created for King Henry VIII. The exhibition also features weapons from the Royal Armouries collection. The building houses the Chapel of St John the Evangelist, which represents an example of early Norman church architecture.

Historically, the keep served as a royal residence, a prison, and a military storehouse. Today, visitors explore the four floors of the building, which contain a basement that once held prisoners and a collection of artillery pieces.

Yeoman Warders (Beefeaters)

The Tower's ceremonial guardians, the Yeoman Warders, known as Beefeaters, guard the Tower of London. King Henry VII formed the corps in 1485 to protect the monarch. Today, the warders conduct tours for visitors and maintain historical traditions.

To qualify for the corps, applicants must complete a minimum of 22 years of service in the British Armed Forces. They must achieve the rank of warrant officer and hold the Long Service and Good Conduct medal.

The warders live within the fortress walls with their families. Their duties include safeguarding the Crown Jewels and feeding the ravens. Every night, they perform the Ceremony of the Keys to lock the gates.

The ravens

A group of ravens resides at the Tower of London throughout the year. The Ravenmaster tends to the birds and manages their care. King Charles II decreed that six ravens must inhabit the fortress at all times.

Legend states that the British Kingdom and the fortress will fall if the ravens ever leave the grounds. To prevent their departure, the Ravenmaster trims the flight feathers of the birds. The birds consume a diet of meat and biscuits. They occupy quarters near the Wakefield Tower at night and roam the lawns during daylight hours.

The Medieval Palace

The Medieval Palace consists of three structures: St Thomas's Tower, the Lanthorn Tower, and the Wakefield Tower. King Henry III and King Edward I built this complex during the thirteenth century for their royal lodgings.

The Wakefield Tower served as Henry III's private chambers. Inside this tower, visitors view a council chamber and a chapel. Chronicles state that King Edward IV ordered the murder of King Henry VI in this chapel.

Today, the palace rooms display reconstructed furniture and tapestries to demonstrate how monarchs lived. From these towers, visitors walk onto the South Battlements to view the River Thames and Tower Bridge.

Photo: "Southeast View of the Wakefield Tower, Tower of London" by Doyle of London.

The Bloody Tower

The structure originally bore the name Garden Tower. Chronicles link the Bloody Tower to the disappearance of King Edward IV's two sons, Edward V and Richard, Duke of York, in 1483. Historians suspect that King Richard III ordered their imprisonment and murder within these walls.

Authorities used the tower as a prison for the explorer Sir Walter Raleigh. King James I confined Raleigh to this location for thirteen years starting in 1603. Raleigh lived in the upper rooms with his family and cultivated a garden outside the structure. During his captivity, he authored the book The History of the World. Today, the tower displays reconstructed rooms from Raleigh's confinement to educate visitors.

Photo: "North Face of the Bloody Tower at the Tower of London" by Doyle of London.

The battlements

The defensive walls of the Tower of London connect a series of medieval towers. Visitors walk along these battlements to view the fortress and the River Thames. Educational displays on the South, East, and North walls explain military history.

The exhibits detail how the fortress survived sieges and uprisings, including the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. Walking the battlements allows individuals to comprehend the scale of the castle grounds. The route passes through structures such as the Salt Tower and the Martin Tower, where soldiers stationed themselves to defend the outer perimeter.

Closing days and special dates

The Tower of London maintains a regular schedule throughout the year but enforces strict annual closures during the winter festive season. The entire historic landmark is completely closed to the public from December 24th to December 26th (Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day), as well as on January 1st (New Year’s Day).

Beyond these fixed holidays, the historic fortress may occasionally experience early closures or restricted route access due to state events, royal ceremonies, or essential maintenance. Furthermore, the public Tower Wharf area temporarily closes or alters its operations during spectacular royal gun salutes and rehearsals.

How to get there

To reach the Tower of London, located at London, EC3N 4AB, visitors can use various transport options:

Those traveling by Tube can arrive at Tower Hill station, located a five-minute walk away, or use the DLR at Tower Gateway. For rail commuters, Fenchurch Street and London Bridge stations are within walking distance.

Additionally, buses on routes 15, 42, 78, 100, and 343 stop outside the fortress. Passengers can also take a river boat to Tower Pier, while pedestrians can walk south from the City of London or cross Tower Bridge.

Entrances

The Tower of London features two primary entry points for its visitors: the West Gate and the Middle Drawbridge:

• The West Gate serves as the historic landmark's main entrance, situated directly opposite the main Tower Shop and the Welcome Centre. This busy location houses the main ticket kiosks, skip-the-line access lanes, and serves as the official starting point for the iconic Yeoman Warder guided tours.
• Alternatively, the Middle Drawbridge entrance is located on the south side facing the River Thames. While it is mostly designated for pre-booked groups, any individual visitor holding a valid admission ticket can enter through here, often experiencing much shorter queue lines.

Security screening is mandatory at both accessible gates.