The Tower of London entrance fee includes the Crown Jewels, Beefeater tours, the White Tower and the Bloody Tour. Nine centuries of history makes the ticket price worth it.
How much is the Tower of London entrance fee?
The first thing most travellers will think upon discovering the entrance fee for the Tower of London is: “Oof, that’s a lot of money.”
There’s no disguising it. The £35.80 Tower of London ticket price is expensive – especially when other London attractions such as the British Museum and Natural History Museum have free entry. But is the historic London attraction worth the cost?
Booking Tower of London tickets in advance
Before looking at the value for money of the Tower of London entrance fee, an important time-saving tip.
If you are going to pay for Tower of London tickets, do so online in advance. This means you can just show the ticket on your phone and walk through the gate of the greatest English castle rather than queue up with hundreds of other tourists at the gate.
Five great things to do in London
- 🚖 Take a private black cab tour around London’s highlights – with hotel pick-up.
- 🧙 Discover Harry Potter filming locations – and spots that inspired the books – on a wizarding walking tour.
- 🍴 Taste the best of British cuisine on a food tour through Borough Market.
- 🚲 Combine landmarks, pubs and street art – on a guided bike tour.
- ⛴️ Take a sightseeing cruise along the Thames from Westminster to Greenwich.
Why the Tower of London ticket price is worth the money
I think the £35.80 Tower of London ticket price is worth the money. This isn’t something I say about the ticket prices of all London attractions. I’d certainly advise against paying for the London Eye – even if you can get London Eye tickets at a discounted rate. I also think £25 is too much for entry to St Paul’s Cathedral.
But the Tower of London is a truly special place, wrapped in nine centuries of rich history. There are also so many aspects to the Tower that it should be treated as several attractions wrapped up into one.
What to see at the Tower of London
The first thing you should see at the Tower of London is the Crown Jewels. That’s not just so you can see the King’s coronation crown, but for all the lavish golden gowns and absurdly expensive tableware.
But the ticket price also gets you into the White Tower, the oldest part of the Tower of London. This has armoury displays – most notably the armoured horseback models in the Line of Kings – and plenty of information about the Tower’s various incarnations.
There’s also a surprisingly gripping section about England’s coins and currency in the former Royal Mint. The Bloody Tower, meanwhile, goes into the incarceration of Sir Walter Raleigh and the mysterious fate of the Princes in the Tower.
Free Tower of London tours
Also included within the Tower of London entrance fee are entertaining free tours led by one of the Yeoman Warders – better known as Beefeaters.
Then come the little bonuses, such as meeting the famous ravens, seeing the wire-frame sculptures of the animals that lived inside the Tower when it was a zoo and the glass memorial at the former execution site.
How long should you spend at the Tower of London?
This wealth of stories from different eras and different incarnations is what makes the Tower of London worth the ticket price. You should plan to spend at least half a day there, although even if you spend a full day you won’t cover everything.
Again, book those tickets in advance.
Things to do near the Tower of London
- Walk across Tower Bridge. Located next to the Tower of London, Tower Bridge offers views along the Thames and an optional visit to the glass-floored walkways and engine rooms.
- Visit St Katharine Docks. Just a short walk away, this former dock area has a marina, cafés and restaurants, and a quieter atmosphere than the main riverside.
- Explore the Thames Path. The riverside route near the Tower of London runs east towards Wapping and west towards London Bridge, with clear views of historic and modern landmarks.
- See HMS Belfast. Moored on the Thames near London Bridge, this Second World War warship is open to visitors and easy to combine with a Tower of London visit.
- Visit Borough Market. Around 1 mile away, Borough Market is one of London’s best-known food markets, offering street food, produce stalls and sit-down options.
More under-the-radar attractions worth knowing about include the Horniman Museum, Eltham Palace, Kenwood House and the Freud Museum.
Tower of London FAQs
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the Tower of London? | The Tower of London is a historic fortress on the north bank of the River Thames, known for its role as a royal palace, prison and home of the Crown Jewels. |
| Do I need to book Tower of London tickets in advance? | Booking tickets in advance is recommended, especially during busy periods, to secure entry and avoid queues. |
| How long does a visit to the Tower of London take? | Most visitors spend between 2 and 3 hours exploring the Tower of London, including the Crown Jewels and the White Tower. |
| Can you see the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London? | Yes. The Crown Jewels are one of the main highlights of the Tower of London and are included with standard admission. |
| Where is the Tower of London located? | The Tower of London is located in central London, next to Tower Bridge and close to the City of London. |
More London travel ideas
Other London travel stories on Planet Whitley include:
- Inside the Churchill War Rooms.
- How to get on the Harry Potter Studios Tour when tickets have sold out.
- The best weather for visiting Thorpe Park.
- Phrases with naval origins in Greenwich.
- What is the cheapest night of the week to stay in London?
- A guide to parking at Hampton Court Palace.
For a wide range of London tour and experience ideas, have a look over here.
Disclosure: There are affiliate links within this article. If you buy a product after clicking through on these links, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to yourself.
