What To See At The Tower Of London

When you are planning a family trip to London you must put a Tower of London visit on your list of things to do.  For centuries, families have lived and worked in this famous fortress — Royal families, guards, servants, even prisoners.  The Tower of London is a must see.   Wondering what to see at the Tower of London?  Let these Tower of London tips be your guide as you step back in time to the thirteenth century.  As you enter the Tower, be sure to find a Yeoman and join one of the famous tours where Yeoman Warders (popularly known as ‘Beefeaters’) will entertain you with tales of intrigue, imprisonment, execution and torture.

london family travel

WHAT TO SEE AT THE TOWER OF LONDON

This Medieval fortress is a draw for tourists and locals alike.  There are so many things to see and do at the Tower of London that many locals have memberships to the Tower.  So, what can you see at the Tower of London?  Here are a few of my favorite things, and the best part is, they are all included with the very modest cost of admission.

what to see at the tower of london

When you first enter the Tower of London, be sure to find one of the Beefeaters at the Tower of London and jump in on one of the Yeoman Warder Tours.   The Yeoman Warders will entertain you with tales of intrigue, imprisonment, execution, torture and much more.  The ‘Beefeaters’, as they are nicknamed, have long been symbols of London and Britain. It is thought their nickname is derived from their position in the Royal Bodyguard, which permitted them to eat as much beef as they wanted from the king’s table.   Yeoman Warders have formed the Royal Bodyguard since at least 1509. Their origins stretch back as far as the reign of Edward IV (1461-83).  A tour is included in your price of admission and is a great way to get an overview of everything that happened at the Tower of London over the years.  These men wandering the grounds and leading the tours are actual retired armed forces personnel who served their country for a term of at least 22 years. Be sure to snap a picture with these honorable, real life guards.

The tours begin every 30 minutes near the entrance of the Tower and last about 60 minutes. The first tour is from 10:00 (Tuesday to Saturday) and from 10:30 (Sunday and Monday), the final tour of the day begins at 3:30 (summer) or 2:30 (winter).

tower of london tours with the beefeaters

 

tower of london visit

Other things to see at the Tower of London:

— Explore the Fortress : Discover what it was like to be part of the medieval garrison defending the Tower as you stand beside life-size metalwork soldiers and their weapons on the wall walks.  Peer through the gate and imagine what it was like to be a medieval soldier working in this cramped but beautiful space.

— White Tower Tour : Built by William the Conqueror, discover the oldest medieval building at the Tower of London.  Take a closer look at the beautiful architecture of the Chapel of St John, hear how Simon Sudbury became the first man to ‘lose his head’ on Tower Hill and learn about some of the clever features of the White Tower that made it one of the most feared prisons in the kingdom.

–Wicked Women Live Performance : Elizabeth Barton, the Holy Maid of Kent and Alice Wolfe, accused of Piracy, have been imprisoned at the Tower during King Henry the VIII’s reign in 1533. If convicted, they face execution.  Watch the performance and listen to their stories and decide whether and how you could help them to escape.

–Visit the Royal Mint and the Tower : Explore the story of the Mint between c1279 and 1812, when it was based at the Tower of London, in Coins and Kings: The Royal Mint at the Tower.

tower of london travel

family travel London

— See the Crown Jewels : This magnificent world-famous collection of 23,578 gemstones boasts items that are still used in royal ceremonies today.  The Tower of London might best be known by visitors as the place to see the Crown Jewels to the British Monarchy.  This beautiful display of gold, diamonds and every precious treasure that have been passed through the scores of royal family members that have ruled the British Monarchy is truly breathtaking.  Visit the Crown Jewels and discover the importance of the Crown Jewels to the British Monarchy, the role of the Tower in protecting these treasures and the long and fascinating tradition of coronations in England.  Entrance to the Yeoman tours and Crown Jewels exhibition are included in your Tower of London admission ticket.

–Bloody Tower : Like any good fortress there was a prison and tales of all kinds of prisoners that were held within.  Explore the most infamous prison at the Tower of London and learn about the intriguing stories that inspired the name ‘Bloody Tower’.

–Digital Interactive Missions : These are a great way for families to have fun and learn more about the history of the Tower of London.  Meet characters from history, explore all around you, do challenges and win badges!

Throughout the year there are various festivals and performances on the Tower grounds.  Before your visit, be sure to check out the website to see what’s happening when you are in town.

 

the tower of london

the tower of london

Admission tickets to the Tower of London are £22.70 per adult and £17.70 for children 15 and under if you purchase tickets at the gate.  There is a slight discount for ordering tickets in advance of your visit to the Tower, which, considering the exchange rate and the number of tickets you need, could be a rather large savings.

the tower of london

The Tower of London offers some of the best views of the Tower Bridge in the city too!  There are several great hotels in the area with easy access to both the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge.

Apex City of London Hotel

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London -Tower of London

The Tower

the tower bridge London

tower bridge London

TOWER OF LONDON TIPS

If you plan to visit The Tower of London and any other royal palaces while you are visiting (including Kensington Palace, Hampton Court Palace and Kew Palace among others) I suggest that you check out the annual membership to the Historic Royal Palaces offers.  For just £105.00, 2 adults and up to 6 children have unlimited access to all of the Historic Royal Palaces for a year.  This pass comes with other benefits as well, including discounts at shops and restaurants, like afternoon tea at the Orangery.  That discount alone will practically pay for the annual pass!  A London Pass might be another great option for your family. Be sure to check around and see what best fits your needs.  There are so many things to do in London with a family, and many of them are included as part of this pass.

I hope you are excited to visit now that you know what to see at the Tower of London!

If you’re heading to other places in Europe, here are some more posts you don’t want to miss!  You can check out our entire Europe Travel Gallery to see all of our posts and helpful info.

Things to See in Europe

Tea at the Orangery | Riding Trains in Europe | Dublin Travel Guide | Paris Museum Pass | Best Family Hotel in Rome

Things to do in Europe

Visiting Bruges | Staying Connected in Europe | Best View in Paris | Amsterdam Canal House | Borough Market

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Happy Travels!

Tammy

Tammy

Creative Director at Pink Peppermint Design
Tammy Mitchell is the founder and creative director of lifestyle blog pinkpeppermintdesign.com. Along with being a homeschooling mom of two kiddos, she is also an in-demand prop and event stylist, photographer, interior and graphic designer. On Pink Peppermint Design, she shares creative DIY projects, easy entertaining and gift ideas, inspiring interiors and events. She lives in Southern California, with her husband and two children.

Tower of london

3 thoughts on “What To See At The Tower Of London”

  1. We did this a few years ago when we were in London and it was so cool! Did you also know that if you send a letter to the Tower of London in advance of your trip, you can get tickets for at night when they lock up the Tower? They’ve been doing it the same way for hundreds and hundreds of years. We did that and it was one of the highlights of our trip!

    Reply
    • So cool Jo Ann! I had no idea they did that but I totally looking into it for our next trip! Thanks for the info! 🙂
      Tammy

      Reply

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