The Tower of London
The Tower of London is a working fortress-turned-museum on the Thames, and its Crown Jewels — over 100 objects, including the Sovereign's Sceptre with the 530-carat Cullinan I diamond — are the main draw. Adult admission is £37 (about $48) online, £18.50 (about $24) for children 5–15, under-5s free; there's no separate family ticket anymore. Entry includes a free 45–60 minute Yeoman Warder ('Beefeater') tour, the White Tower's armoury, and the Wall Walks. Book a timed online slot and allow at least half a day.
The Tower of London isn't one attraction, it's about six stacked into one site — a 900-year-old fortress, a former royal palace and prison, the vault for the actual Crown Jewels, and the home of ravens that (legend has it) keep the kingdom standing. It's genuinely worth the ticket price, but it also rewards knowing what to prioritize, since trying to see everything in two rushed hours is how people leave disappointed.
What's actually inside
- The Crown Jewels — over 100 objects used at coronations and state occasions, including the Sovereign's Sceptre (holding the 530-carat Cullinan I, the largest clear-cut diamond in the world) and St Edward's Crown. A moving walkway keeps the queue flowing past the display cases at busy times.
- The White Tower — the original 11th-century Norman keep, now housing the Royal Armouries collection, including Henry VIII's own suits of armor.
- The Yeoman Warder ('Beefeater') tour — free, included with admission, 45–60 minutes, and genuinely one of the best free tours in London — funny, sharp, and led by an actual serving member of the Tower's ceremonial guard.
- The ravens — at least six are kept on-site by royal decree (a superstition dating to Charles II holds that the kingdom falls if they ever leave); each has a name and a dedicated Ravenmaster.
- The Medieval Palace and Wall Walks — reconstructed royal chambers and a walk along the fortifications, both included in general admission.
What it costs
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult (16–59) | £37 (~$48) |
| Child (5–15) | £18.50 (~$24) |
| Under 5 | Free |
| Concession (60+, students) | Discounted rate available online — check current pricing |
The price is the same whether you book online or pay at the gate, but online booking guarantees a timed entry slot — the walk-up queue for security and the Crown Jewels can run 30–45 minutes in peak season. A 10% charity donation is added by default at checkout; it's easy to decline if you'd rather not.
How long do you actually need?
Budget at least half a day. The Crown Jewels alone can take 30–45 minutes with the queue in summer, the Yeoman Warder tour is another hour, and the White Tower's armoury rewards a slow wander rather than a rushed pass-through. Arriving right at opening (9am most of the year) is the single best way to beat both the crowds and the heat of a summer afternoon.
The ravens, seriously
The Tower has kept ravens since at least the 1600s, tied to a superstition that the kingdom and the Tower itself will fall if all of them ever leave. Today there are at least six official ravens plus reserves, each named, chipped, and cared for by a dedicated Ravenmaster — their wings are gently clipped so they can't fly far, though they've made a few well-documented escapes over the years anyway.
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Skipping the free Yeoman Warder tour to 'save time' — it's consistently rated as one of the best parts of the visit, not a filler add-on.
- Visiting on a bank holiday or in peak summer without a timed ticket booked well ahead — walk-up availability gets genuinely unreliable.
- Rushing straight to the Crown Jewels and leaving — the White Tower's armoury and the Wall Walks are just as worth your ticket price.