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(476)
Incredible history and great architectural experience that satisfies one's cruriousity! Should be on everyone's bucket list!
Jeremy Itzkovitz was a phenomenal tour guide. He was patient and kind and inclusive. His history and ability to make it interesting and exciting was top-notch.
It was very informative in that I had only thought of the tower as a place of imprisonment but our guide presented us with a fuller knowledge of its use as a royal residence as well. He fully answered questions and gave an engaging presentation.
Nate Young was an amazing tour guide — fun, charismatic, with terrific stories.
A wonderful experience, filled with history and storytelling. Our guide Frances was amazing and ensured that everyone had a lovely experience.
Our tour guide Francis was absolutely wonderful, so knowledgeable and joyful. Even on the hottest day of the week, she was able to keep our heat-adverse family cheery and entertained. Perfect tour for the kids, and all ages! We really loved her! Tour with her!
It was a great tour. Our tour guide Frances was amazing. She had a lot of interesting information, entertaining even for the kids. The length is just right. Highly recommend!
Anne was very engaging and knowledgeable. She has a great deal of enthusiasm for her work. A true pleasure.
We were put on the list for the wrong tour. We paid for the VIP beefeater’s meet and greet and received the regular tour. The tour guide was great but when we called to get a refund of the difference, the person on the phone first lied to us, then refused to get a manager, and in the end we didn’t get our refund. It ruined the experience for us.
Hi Alyssa, thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We are so glad to hear that you had a great tour guide during your time at the Tower of London, but we are deeply sorry to hear about the confusion with your booking and the frustrating interaction with our support line. Delivering smooth organization and helpful customer care is always our priority, so it is very disappointing to hear that your experience fell short of those standards. We have brought your feedback directly to our London Operations Manager and Customer Service Manager to investigate what happened with your tour manifest and review our phone support procedures. Please reach out to us at support@thetourguy.com so we can work together to get this resolved for you. We truly appreciate your patience as we work to continually refine our service.
Amazing day and super well done. Daniel, the tour guide knew his stuff! Highly recommend!
