Tower of London
Crown Jewels and 1,000 years of royal history, guarded by Yeoman Warders.
About
Why visit Tower of London
A thousand-year-old fortress on the Thames that has served as royal palace, mint, menagerie and prison for kings. Today the Yeoman Warders guard the Crown Jewels — including the 530-carat Cullinan I diamond — and tell the bloody tales of the scaffold on Tower Green.
- The Tower's official name is 'Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress'.
- It housed a royal menagerie including lions and a polar bear from the 1200s to 1835.
- Two of Henry VIII's six wives — Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard — were executed on Tower Green.
Not to miss
Highlights
The moments that define a visit to Tower of London.
Crown Jewels
The Cullinan I diamond and coronation regalia still in use today.
White Tower
William the Conqueror's 1078 keep — the oldest part of the fortress.
Yeoman Warder tours
Free 60-min tours led by resident 'Beefeaters' with famously dark humour.
The ravens
Six ravens on the green — legend says the kingdom falls if they leave.
Right for you?
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Local know-how
Visitor tips
Small things that turn a good visit into a great one.
Arrive at opening (usually 09:00) to see the Crown Jewels before queues form.
Join the first free Beefeater tour of the day — they leave every 30 min from the entrance.
Allow at least 3 hours; a full visit including the walls can take half a day.
Photography is allowed everywhere except inside the Jewel House.
Nearby
Combine with
Other guides within a short walk.
Tower Bridge
The Victorian bascule bridge with a glass floor 42 m above the Thames.
Open guideSt Paul's Cathedral
Christopher Wren's baroque masterpiece — climb 528 steps for the Whispering, Stone and Golden Galleries.
Open guideLondon Eye
135m Thames-side observation wheel with 360° views across Westminster and the City.
Open guideSee it with a guide
Tours & experiences
Curated picks across guided walks, skip-the-line entry and after-hours access.