Among the glass and steel buildings of modern London stands a castle that has watched over the city for nearly 1000 years. Heavy stone walls enclose a turreted keep that looks like a fairy tale. But for those who were imprisoned in the dreary rooms of the Tower of London, there was no happy ending.
The Tower of London is a royal castle that became one of the most infamous prisons in the world. Today, it’s one of the great historical sites of London. When you visit, you’ll get a chance to admire the Crown Jewels, explore the castle, and hear stories of people who lived and died at the Tower.
Overview of the Tower of London
The Tower of London started as a castle built by William the Conqueror in the late 11th century, and it was the place where English kings and queens lived for almost 500 years. William built a 90 ft. stone keep known as the White Tower as a multi-purpose home and military fortress. Later rulers beefed up the Tower’s defenses with a series of stone walls, more towers, and even a moat.
Fast forward to the 1500s and the time of Henry VIII. Dreary old castles were out, and fancy new palaces were in. Henry moved out of the Tower, but he still had a use for it as a high-security prison. Two of Henry’s six wives were imprisoned and executed there: Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. As the Tower saw more political prisoners and a few more high-profile executions, its dark reputation grew over time.
Today, the Tower of London is maintained mostly as a museum. It’s a window into England’s past and also the very secure home of the British Crown Jewels.
Highlights of the Tower of London
You could easily spend a full day at the Tower of London, but I’ll focus on a half-day worth of “must see” highlights for busy travelers. Try and spend some time wandering the castle walls and exploring the rest of the Tower if you have time!
The Crown Jewels
Your first priority when visiting the Tower of London should be seeing the Crown Jewels. It’s not that they’re necessarily the best part, but the Crown Jewels tend to develop a long line to get in. The first part of your visit includes a multimedia exhibit that hypes up all the royal pomp and circumstance while you wait. (Or you can go early to avoid the line–see below!)
The Crown Jewels themselves are truly the stuff of legends. Crowns studded with hundreds of gems glitter like stars, while golden orbs and scepters radiate with mystical auras of power. Some of the individual gemstones are so impressive they have their own names, like the massive Cullinan Diamond. It’s the largest colorless cut diamond in the world, sitting atop the Sovereign’s Scepter.
Yeoman Warder Tour
Joining one of the Yeoman Warder tours is a classic experience you don’t want to miss. The Yeoman Warders were established in 1485 as the royal guards of the Tower. Nicknamed the “Beefeaters” for reasons lost to history, the Yeoman Warders still wear their traditional uniforms. Today their mission is to safeguard the Tower and guide visitors around.
Yeoman Warder tours depart every 45 minutes from just inside the entrance gate. You’ll gather with a large group in the former moat and hear stories from the Tower’s dark past. As you make your way inside, your Yeoman Warder guide will point out some of the most famous areas like the Bloody Tower and the execution site on the Tower Green. The Yeoman Warders are experts—they’re all active duty soldiers who live in residences within the Tower.
The White Tower
The White Tower was William the Conqueror’s original castle built in the 1070s-1080s. After invading England, defeating King Harold, and crowing himself king, William needed a mighty castle to secure his rule. At a height of 90 ft., the White Tower would have dominated the skies of medieval London. Nowadays it’s also home to a museum of arms and armor, so you’ll get two historical sights in one when you visit.
The Royal Armouries collection includes an assortment of armor and weapons from different eras. There are a few suits of armor made for English kings, and some sets of equestrian armor. My favorite pieces were the experimental firearms, like Henry VII’s odd gun/spiked mace that looks straight out of a video game.
You’ll also get to see White Tower’s medieval features from the massive fireplace to the garderobes (ye olde low-tech toilets). The architectural highlight is the Chapel of St. John, a Romanesque church built into the keep. With rows of round arches and simple stone decoration, it’s a space right out the 11th century.
The Bloody Tower and the Beauchamp Tower
Over the years, the kings and queens of England ordered many high-profile political prisoners to be locked within the Tower of London. This will be a bit of a historical tangent, but there are two places you should visit to learn about this dimension of the Tower.
First up: the ominously named Bloody Tower. This tower got its “bloody” reputation because two young sons of King Edward IV were thought to be imprisoned there before mysteriously disappearing in 1483. Rumors spread that their uncle had them killed so he could assume the royal throne (as Richard III).
The Bloody Tower is also associated with nobleman and explorer Sir Walter Raleigh. Raleigh was favored by Queen Elizabeth I, but he was locked in the Tower after secretly marrying one of the queen’s ladies-in-waiting (awkward…). Though he was released, Raleigh eventually found himself imprisoned again in the Bloody Tower for allegedly plotting against Elizabeth’s successor, James I. Nowadays you can see a recreation of Raleigh’s surprisingly comfy study there.
The Beauchamp Tower (pronounced “Beech-am”) was similarly used as a prison and an interrogation chamber. This tower is named after one of its first prisoners, Thomas Beauchamp, 12th Earl of Warwick. Other high-profile prisoners found themselves in the Beauchamp Tower throughout its history, and some left intricate graffiti carved into the walls that you can still see today.
The Ravens
The Tower of London is famous for its resident ravens. These large crow-like birds are native to England, but no one’s exactly sure how they ended up living at the Tower. Adding to the mystery, there’s an old legend that says “if the ravens ever leave the Tower of London, the kingdom will fall.” King Charles II apparently took this superstition seriously and ordered that ravens be kept at the Tower. There’s actually an official Ravenmaster among the Yeoman Warders who cares for the birds. What a cool job, right?
You’ll see the ravens hanging out around the central areas of the Tower. Make sure to stop by their enclosures on the south side of the Tower Green too.
Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula
The Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula is mostly famous as the place where the individuals executed at the Tower were laid to rest in unmarked graves. The chapel was under renovations during my visit, but it should reopen in fall 2025.
Looking for more places to visit? Check out my blog post on the best things to do in London.
Planning Your Visit to the Tower
Tickets
If you’re planning to visit the Tower of London, it’s best to buy timed tickets in advance. Tickets are unlikely to sell out, but you never know. Ideally I suggest going first thing in the morning, which is 9:00 am on most days. The Tower opens at 10:00 am on Sundays and Mondays, except for some busy summer weekends when it opens at 9:00 am. Check the schedule!
Adult tickets to the Tower of London are £36 GBP. Children and students can get discounted tickets.
Touring the Tower
When visiting the Tower of London, your first priority should be to visit the Crown Jewels before there’s too much of a line. If you can’t make it there early, you can also try saving the Crown Jewels for the end of your day.
After seeing the Crown Jewels, I recommend trying to catch the next Yeoman Warder tour near the entrance. It’s the perfect introduction to the Tower. From there, you can prioritize seeing what interests you. My default recommendation if you have limited time would be: 1) visit the White Tower, 2) check out the Bloody Tower and the Beauchamp Tower, and 3) visit the ravens on your way out.
The free map is a handy reference, but I would skip the audio guide and book. There are helpful signs in most places that you can read based on your interest level.
If you happen to be visiting before November 2025, you’ll also see an art installation called The Tower Remembers. Thousands of ceramic poppies commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Getting to the Tower of London
The Tower of London is on the eastern edge of the City of London. It’s easy to reach via the Tower Hill Tube station. The #15 bus route also stops right outside. Tower Bridge is located next to the Tower of London, so you can walk across from if you happen to be on the South Bank. You can also take a bus from the south–I think it’s the 42 and 78 routes.
Tips for Visiting the Tower
- Beat the crowds – The Tower of London has been one of the most popular attractions in London for like 200 years. Expect a good turnout. Peak crowds are during the summer high season, on weekends, and during the middle of the day. Getting there early is always a good plan.
- Refuel at the cafes – You don’t want to run out of energy trying to see everything at the Tower of London. Plan on stopping by one of the two cafes inside the Tower to refuel. The New Armouries Cafe is a large cafeteria-style eatery with a good selection of hot meals, snacks, and beverages. You can also try the Ravens Cafe, an outdoor cafe with mostly snacks and drinks.
- Choose your favorite gift shop – The Tower of London has several gift shops including one at the end of the White Tower, one by the ravens, and one by the Crown Jewels. Each one focuses on items related to their respective themes, though there’s a lot of overlap too. You can also find an official gift shop outside the Tower by the main entrance.
