Wanderyn
Tower of London
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
poi · GB

Tower of London

Getting around: On the north bank of the Thames, directly served by Tower Hill underground station.
Hours: Typically open Tuesday-Saturday 9am-5:30pm and Sunday-Monday 10am-5:30pm (shorter, 9am/10am-4:30pm, in winter), with last entry an hour before closing.

The Tower of London is a nearly thousand-year-old fortress founded by William the Conqueror in 1078, which has served over the centuries as a royal residence, armoury, treasury, and infamous prison, holding prisoners including Anne Boleyn (executed within its walls) and, briefly, a young Elizabeth I before she became queen. It now holds the Crown Jewels, viewed via a moving walkway to manage crowds around the display, along with the White Tower's arms and armour collection and the resident ravens, whose presence is tied to a longstanding (though likely embellished) legend that the kingdom will fall if they ever leave.

Beefeater (Yeoman Warder) tours, included with admission and running throughout the day, are genuinely worth taking, delivered with dark humour and covering the site's execution history, prisoners, and legends in more depth than a self-guided walk would surface. The sheer density of history layered into a fairly compact site, murders, executions, royal ceremony, and one of the world's most valuable jewel collections all in one place, makes it one of London's most substantial single-site visits.

Budget at least 3 hours to properly see the Crown Jewels, White Tower, and join a Beefeater tour; book tickets online in advance as it's consistently one of London's busiest paid attractions.

Tower of London FAQs

Are the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London real?

Yes, the Crown Jewels on display are the genuine working regalia of the British monarchy, used in actual coronations and state ceremonies, not replicas.

What is the legend of the ravens at the Tower of London?

A longstanding legend holds that the kingdom will fall if the ravens ever leave the Tower; whether historically accurate or a later embellishment, the Tower still keeps a resident flock with their wings carefully maintained.

Should I do a Beefeater tour at the Tower of London?

Yes, it's included with admission and widely considered one of the best free guided tours in London, covering the Tower's history, executions, and legends with dark humour.

How long does a visit to the Tower of London take?

At least 3 hours to see the Crown Jewels, White Tower, and join a Beefeater tour.

Who was imprisoned at the Tower of London?

Notable prisoners include Anne Boleyn, who was executed within its walls, and a young Elizabeth I, who was briefly held there before becoming queen, among many others across its history as a state prison.

Your travel graph
Ready to plan Tower of London?Planning a trip soon? Add it to build an itinerary.

Reviews/Comments

No comments yet — be the first.