Tower of London Guided Tour with Optional Thames River Cruise
Description
The Tower of London has guarded the Thames for almost 1,000 years, and its stones still hold the darkest stories in British history. With timed-entry tickets in hand, you step past the long ticket queues and head inside with a storytelling guide who unpacks royal scandals, executions, and the unsolved mystery of the missing princes. Stand at Traitor's Gate, walk Tower Green, and pause at the Bloody Tower before heading on your own to see the dazzling Crown Jewels and the medieval White Tower. Cap it all off with a flexible 30-minute Thames River cruise ticket you can use whenever fits your London plans. Pick the version of the day that fits you best: stick with a focused Tower of London visit without the cruise, add a flexible Thames cruise to the main combo tour, or upgrade to an extended half-day that pairs the Tower with a guided river cruise and Westminster Abbey entry.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meet your guide outside the Tower of London Gift Shop, near the main entrance area for Tower visitors. Look for your guide and check in with your group, then get a quick orientation on how the tour will unfold before heading inside with timed-entry tickets in hand.
Walk through ancient gateways and into nearly 1,000 years of royal drama, military might, and political intrigue. Pause at Traitor's Gate for the chilling story of those who passed through and never returned, including Anne Boleyn, then continue to the Bloody Tower for the unsolved mystery of the missing princes and the imprisonment of Sir Walter Raleigh. Stand on Tower Green, where some of England's most famous figures met their tragic ends, before your guide leads you toward the Jewel House.
Your guide hands you off at the entrance to the Jewel House and shares fascinating stories about what awaits inside before saying goodbye. Step inside independently to see coronation crowns, royal scepters, and the dazzling Cullinan diamonds up close, all still used in British royal ceremony today.
Climb the medieval keep that William the Conqueror built in 1078 to display royal armor, swords, and the chapel of St. John. Explore on your own and take in centuries-old medieval weaponry at your own pace before heading toward the Thames.
Walk a short distance from the Tower of London to Tower Pier and board your boat for a relaxing 30-minute cruise along the Thames. Glide past Tower Bridge, the Shard, Shakespeare's Globe, and London's iconic skyline before disembarking at one of the central piers to continue your London day from there. Your flexible ticket is typically valid for one month, so you can use it the same day or save it for later (the Thames River cruise is not included with the Basic option).
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- For minors, please select the correct age category when booking. Children under 4 don’t need a ticket to enter the Tower of London, so the cost is lower, but entry tickets are required for the youth (5+) category. Incorrect selections will result in denied entry from the premises.
- This tour involves walking, stairs, and uneven terrain at the Tower of London. It is not wheelchair or stroller accessible. A soft baby carrier is recommended.
- Your boat ticket is valid for a single journey only. You can board at any City Cruises departure point, but onward or return travel is not included and may require public transportation. We recommend checking the City Cruises website for the most up-to-date schedule before your visit.
Reviews(449)
Ariana was very knowledgeable and had lots of facts to share. Unfortunately other members of the group had some physical limitations and our party found the pace to be quite slow - much slower than other tours we’ve experienced. We also didn’t feel like we could follow a thread or narrative of what she was telling us - particularly challenging for my two teenagers who would have especially benefited from a storytelling approach. It sometimes felt disjointed and jumped from topic to topic before our party could ask questions. At one point my daughters took off their headsets to focus on the information on placards instead. I would also encourage the tour operator to upgrade the whisper ear sets to disposable ear buds. I would also encourage Ariana to hold her flag higher and more often. On a crowded day she was sometimes difficult to identify. We were also under the impression that the guided tour included the Crown Jewels but found ourselves on our own for that portion of the tour. We decided to skip the cruise because the boat looked packed and far too large for our liking.
Ariana was a fantastic guide, who was extremely knowledgeable, and very personable and made the tour. We would definitely book again and would to have her as our guide again.
Great tour guide. Would recommend the tour as the place is very large. We booked with the river cruise & couldn’t get on a cruise for 5 hours after our tour due to boat cancellations and large youth groups. Book a river cruise when you get there.
Toby was a great guide! Very informative and kind.
Fia was welcoming, knowledgeable and an amazing guide with great tips 🙂
Energetic and knowledgeable- highly recommend
Very knowledgeable and worth the time and cost.
The experience was wonderful. Our guide Ann was the perfect. She had so much knowledge of the Tower and history. We could have listened to her for hours. I would highly recommend Ann and this tour.
Our tour guide was excellent. Very entertaining and well informed! Kept the tour moving while also taking time at each site.
Nick was an awesome guide! He exceeded our expectations and we had a very good time!
