To beat the queues at the Tower of London, there’s one section you should go to straight away.
What to see inside the Tower of London
The Tower of London is one of the British capital’s best attractions – and it’s great for families. Entry tickets may be expensive, but there is so much history packed inside. There are also several different sections within the Tower, each essentially an attraction in its own right.
After all, the Tower of London has been a palace, a prison, a zoo, an observatory and so much more over the years.
Tower of London attractions
Top attractions within the Tower of London include:
- The White Tower, with plenty of gruesome weapons and the Line of Kings (grandiose armoured statues of former kings on horseback).
- The Mint, where England’s coins were made for hundreds of years.
- The Bloody Tower, where Sir Walter Raleigh was imprisoned and two princes went missing.
- Tower Green, where the infamous ravens tend to hang out.
Where to see the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London
However, the headline attraction within the Tower of London tends to be the Crown Jewels. These are the precious crowns, sceptres, lavish gowns and jewel-encrusted tableware belonging to the British Royal Family.
These are displayed under armed guard in the Jewel House.
Queues for the Jewel House
The Jewel House is also the part of the Tower of London that tends to get the biggest queues. Come on the busiest days and you can be standing in line for an hour or so to see King Charles III’s coronation crown and what happened to the enormous Cullinan Diamond.
This is why the Jewel House should be the part of the Tower of London you should visit first.
Why visit the Jewel House first?
Most visitors to the Tower of London buy their ticket, head in past the security gates, then get lured in by the free tours conducted by the Yeoman Warders. Better known as Beefeaters, these decorated military veterans lead tours around the Tower, with enormous groups of tourists in tow.
It’s worth doing the tour – there are plenty of interesting details, and they’re entertaining. Just don’t do it as soon as you arrive at the Tower.
The smart tactic is to go straight to the Jewel House, avoiding the queues that develop later on, then tackle the White Tower – where the second longest queues form.
After that, by all means go for the free Yeoman Warder tour – the numbers in the tour group will likely be smaller, too.
Visiting the Tower of London
Tickets for the Tower of London are best booked in advance – especially during the peak summer period. You can also visit with early access as part of a wider London tour, which includes the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and a cruise along the River Thames.
More London travel
- The cheeky way to get cheaper London Eye tickets.
- Inside the Churchill War Rooms.
- How to get free entry to St Paul’s Cathedral.
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