Tours/London/Early Access Tower of London, Crown Jewels & Thames River Cruise
Viator · group up to 20 pax

Early Access Tower of London, Crown Jewels & Thames River Cruise

4.7(177)London1 hour
VIATOR4.5(102)TRIPADVISOR4.9(75)

Description

Skip the line and start your morning inside the Tower of London, a former royal residence, and experience history brought to life. You’ll admire the precious Crown Jewels and then enjoy an hour to explore at your own pace. Next, soak in views of Tower Bridge, St. Paul's Cathedral, The Shard, and more on a relaxing river cruise down the River Thames. You'll disembark in Westminster, where you'll set off on a walking tour. Learn why each stop earned its spot in England's royal and political history as you pass Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and end with a peaceful stroll through St. James' Park. This walking tour covers London's main sites in under 5 hours. Unlock even more Tower of London secrets and watch the storied Opening Ceremony by selecting the Opening Ceremony option when booking. After the Opening Ceremony, you'll enjoy a complete tour of the Tower of London with a certified Blue Badge Guide and finish with a relaxing river cruise down the River Thames.

Tour Options

VIP Opening Ceremony Option
  • Duration: 3 hours VIP Access Upgrade & Cruise: See the opening ceremony and Crown Jewels before the crowds. Full tour of the Tower with & river cruise. NO history walk
Best of London Tour Option
  • Duration: 4 hours 45 minutes Tower of London & River Cruise: Early entry to Crown Jewels, History walk, Tower of London & River Cruise. DOES NOT include Opening Ceremony

Itinerary

Admission included45 min

Meet your local tour leader and head into the tower. You'll head straight to the Jewel House, which means you’ll be able to grab a prime spot to view the Crown Jewels. If you want to start your Tower of London tour with a behind-the-scenes look of day-to-day life at the Tower, select the Opening Ceremony option when booking. The Opening Ceremony is a notable military ritual that officially opens the famous historical edifice. After the Opening Ceremony, your tour will continue to the Jewel House.

Admission included60 min

You'll have free time to explore the entire complex at your own pace. Your tour leader will share suggestions based on your interests. By the end of your visit, you'll be equipped with the complete story of the Tower and its importance as a symbol of royal, state and historic power.

Pass by

See the sites where famous prisoners were executed, and choose to venture into the Bloody Tower to hear the story of the two princes, which has become a legend in its own right. Various sources say their ghosts are among the specters that have been sighted at the Tower at night. From there, step into the Torture Tower and learn about this horrid practice in British history. Though it has never been officially been permitted in English law, torture was used to extract confessions from prisoners brought to the Tower of London.

Pass by

White Tower is the heart of the Tower of London, and you’ll have the chance to explore the armory. See armor used by Henry VIII, Charles I, and James II on display.

Admission included65 min

Reunite with your tour leader and board a sightseeing cruise down the River Thames, you'll see Tower Bridge, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Shard—the tallest building in the UK—Shakespeare's Globe Theater and more.

Pass by

An observation wheel and fixture on the London skyline popularized in movies and TV shows.

Pass by

A 19th century drawbridge still in use today and one of London's most recognizable landmarks.

Pass by

A symbol of resilience, having been rebuilt after the Great Fire and survived WWII bombings. The cathedral also hosted the state funeral for Sir Winston Churchill.

Admission not included20 min

The river cruise ends in Westminster, where your tour leader will take you on a walking tour of England's royal history. Pause outside Westminster Abbey, where Coronations and royal weddings have been held for centuries.

Admission not included10 min

Gaze up at the clock tower standing next to the Houses of Parliament and an iconic symbol of the capital city.

Admission not included20 min

The center of political life in the UK for centuries, with the current building dating back to the 1860s and 1870s.

Admission not included20 min

Continue past Buckingham Palace to see the official residence of King Charles III and many other British monarchs before him.

Admission not included20 min

Finally, finish with a peaceful stroll through St. James' Park, the oldest Royal Park in London.

Highlights

Guided walk past Buckingham Palace, Big Ben & Westminster Abbey
Cruise on the River Thames with views of Tower Bridge, St Pauls Catherdral & Shakespeare's Globe
Entrance to Tower of London with first access to Crown Jewels
Explore the Tower viewing Blood Gates, the legendary ravens & the castle walls Ca

What's included

Included
Guided walk past Buckingham Palace, Big Ben & Westminster Abbey
Cruise on the River Thames with views of Tower Bridge, St Pauls Catherdral & Shakespeare's Globe
Entrance to Tower of London with first access to Crown Jewels
Explore the Tower viewing Blood Gates, the legendary ravens & the castle walls Ca
Not included
Hotel Pick-up/Drop-off
Gratuities
Entrance to other monuments
Guided tour of Tower of London

Traveller Ratings

4.7
177 reviews
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Important Information

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
  • Sites on this tour are subject to occasional closures. If modifications are needed and time permits, we will reach out to you prior to your tour. For last-minute closures, modifications may be communicated at the tour start time.
  • This tour is in English.
  • This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
  • Please note: This tour offers multiple options. Take a moment to choose the one that best suits your interests. Depending on the option you select, your itinerary may vary slightly.
  • Note: the Opening Ceremony option does not include a royal history walking tour of Westminster.
  • Note: If the Opening Ceremony option is selected the tour will end at the Tower of London.

Reviews(177)

F
flom299
July 22, 2026
Becki does the best Changing of the Guard tour

Becki was phenomenal! Great presentation manner and so knowledgeable. She's very suited to this tour guide profession and we rate her best tour guide in London! It was a perfect day walking thru London and hearing bits of history! Definitely worth the price of admission! Becki had a lovely relaxed way of presenting. The Orangery was a beautiful place to visit. We had a small group of 10 so it was easy to hear everything and she slowed her pace and adjusted the tour to suit our group. Would highly recommend this tour and Becki!

F
F1269BTamandam
July 22, 2026
Becki was great !

Becki was great! Very knowledgeable:)

M
mattwB1577HK
July 22, 2026
Great

Great tour, great guide. Highly recommend.

S
sherryaN4117RK
July 21, 2026
Fantastic, fun time!!

Olly was fantastic! Very personable and knowledgeable!

J
J5613QKsm
July 21, 2026
Great Tour Guide

Was very informative and delightful

F
Flatcoatfun
July 21, 2026
Perfect intro to London sights.

Amazing Guide Danny! So much information and took us to locations we would not have found or learned about on our own. Definitely recommend. Their app allows you to scan and tip digitally.

T
TravelerWa62
July 21, 2026
Excellent food and history tour

We had a fabulous gastronomic tour of London with Ollie whose knowledge of the food scene was extensive. He seamlessly interwove history and social issues with culinary treats. We ate well and ended with a wine tasting which was delicious. We highly recommend this tour and tour guide.

G
Germavajo
July 18, 2026
Walks Devour is the best tour you can book!

This was the most amazing tour. Loved every moment and Becki was brilliant! She made us all feel like family. I will definitely be booking more tours with Walks Devour

O
olal842
July 18, 2026
Good guide and beer

Nice places and good beers and snacks on the tour👍 very good guide. Will recommend it

O
O6090YFandreasb
July 18, 2026
Fantastisk saturday mini beer crawl

Becki was amazing, the food and beer went really well toghether!

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