Is Tower of London worth booking?

82 SCORE

Yes, book it. Book Ahead

Timed entry, and summer weekend slots do run out roughly a week ahead. Book online, take the first slot of the day, and go straight to the Crown Jewels before anyone else does.

Check tickets & availability Tour or solo?

BOOK AHEAD?: Yes — recommended; Sells out in season

SELL-OUT RISK: Medium; Peak dates go first

BOOKING WINDOW: 1–2 weeks; 3–4 weeks in peak season

TYPICAL PRICE: £35–£89; Monument

TIME NEEDED: 2,5–4 hours; Early morning

AT THE DOOR?: Sometimes; Off-peak only

Best for

First-time visitors — this is the one paid historic site that earns the money
Anyone who wants a thousand years of grim stories in one place
Families: the Yeoman Warder tours are genuinely funny and included
Early risers willing to be at the gate for opening

Skip if

You need step-free routes. The White Tower has spiral stairs and no lift
You arrive after 11am in August, when the Jewels queue is 40 minutes
You have half a day in London and have not seen anything else
You only want the Tower Bridge photo, which is free from the north bank

THE BIG QUESTION

Guided tour or solo visit?

We compared both, factor by factor.

FACTOR Solo visit · £35 Our pick Guided tour · £89

Price Solo visit € — ticket only Guided tour €€€ — full package

Flexibility Solo visit High — your own pace Guided tour Low — fixed schedule

Historical context Solo visit High — expert storytelling Guided tour High — expert storytelling

Ease of entry Solo visit Medium — you manage the slot Guided tour High — entry handled for you

Best for Solo visit Independent travellers Guided tour Travellers short on time

Our pick

Go solo, and this is not a close call. A Yeoman Warder tour runs every 30 minutes, lasts an hour, is led by someone who served 22 years in the armed forces, and is included in your ticket. Paying a third-party guide for the same ground is money set on fire. The only paid tour worth considering is the before-opening one, and that is for the empty Jewel House, not the commentary.

See the tour →

Ways to visit — pick one

Prices checked today

Timed Entry Ticket

What almost everyone should buy. Take the 9am slot and walk to the Crown Jewels first, not the White Tower.

£35/ person

Check availability GetYourGuide

BEST EXPERIENCE

Before-Opening Access Tour

Expensive. Buys you the Crown Jewels with about eight other people instead of eight hundred.

£89/ person

Check availability Viator

BEST FOR FAMILIES

Family Guided Visit

Paced for children, with the ravens and the beheadings up front. Only worth it if the free Warder tour feels too long for your lot.

£59/ person

Check availability Viator

MOST FLEXIBLE

Tower + Tower Bridge Combo

Adds the glass-floor walkway across the road. Convenient, mild saving, easy afternoon.

£55/ person

Check availability Civitatis

We may earn a commission when you book through our partners, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend, and it is why we tell you when something is not worth booking.

Frequently asked

Do I need to book the Tower of London in advance?

Yes, in practice. Entry is timed and popular morning slots go about a week out in summer. It is also several pounds cheaper online than at the gate, so there is no reason not to.

How long do you need at the Tower of London?

Three hours is right. Two is possible if you skip the Royal Armouries. Under two and you are paying £35 to look at jewels for six minutes on a travelator.

Is the Tower of London worth it?

Yes. It is the most expensive standard ticket in this list and still the one we would defend hardest. Go at opening and it is a completely different experience from the midday crush.

Planning more of London?

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Is Tower of London worth booking?

Quick facts

✓ Best for

✕ Skip if