Tower of London: Opening Ceremony & Early Crown Jewels Access
Description
Most visitors arrive at the Tower of London to find crowded rooms and long queues at the Jewel House. This tour puts you inside before any of that happens. You join a group of up to 20 guests and begin with a guided walk along the Tower's medieval outer walls, covering stories of Traitors' Gate, royal prisoners, and Thames-side ramparts. Before the Tower opens to the public, a Yeoman Warder leads your group inside for the Beefeater Opening Ceremony, where Yeoman Warders march in full dress uniform and unlock the fortress with military precision. It is a living ritual that most visitors never see. Straight after the ceremony, you head to the Jewel House for first-of-the-day access to the Crown Jewels before the queues form. Your all-day entry ticket and included map and audio guide app then let you explore the White Tower, Bloody Tower, Tower Green, and more at your own pace.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meet your guide outside the Tower of London Gift Shop for check-in and a welcome briefing. From here, follow your guide along the medieval outer walls, passing the ancient moat, Traitors' Gate, and the Thames-facing ramparts while hearing stories of royal prisoners, ravens, and centuries of intrigue.
Before the Tower opens to the public, a Yeoman Warder leads your group through a side entrance and into the empty fortress. Watch as Yeoman Warders in full dress uniform march through the courtyard and unlock the Tower of London gates with military precision, a living royal ritual that most visitors never witness.
Head straight to the Jewel House for first-of-the-day access to the Crown Jewels before the queues form. Marvel at the Imperial State Crown, set with over 2,800 diamonds, and the Sovereign's Sceptre, topped with the world's largest colorless cut diamond.
With the guided portion complete, your all-day entry ticket and included map and audio guide app let you explore every corner of the fortress at your own pace. Seek out the White Tower armories, Bloody Tower, Tower Green, and the Chapel Royal across the rest of the day.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- This tour is not wheelchair accessible due to uneven terrain and historic surfaces. Please contact us in advance if you have any questions or concerns about your mobility.
- A smartphone and headphones are required to access the included audio guide app. Please ensure you bring both on the day of your tour.
Reviews(130)
The guide gave Interesting facts in an entertaining way before the tour and the beefeater and opening ceremony were great! The Crown Jewels were the cherry on top!
Lee is a great guide. He really sets the stage for what you will see on the tour. I would certainly do this tour again. In fact I have!
Lee was very funny and knowledgeable
Sophie our guide was amazing! The tour was great.
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed your Tower of London experience and that Sophie made it so memorable. We'll be sure to share your kind words with her. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back again soon!
A nice blending of humor and interesting with great education.
My family and I had a great time and our guide, Svetlana, was knowledgeable and patient with our kids.
Great tour! Shane was very knowledgeable and loved sharing interesting stories about the history of the Tower
Lee was awesome!!!!! Audi alteram partem et veritatem quaere cum cura ut sapientiam invenias. Thank you! This comment box shouldn't have a character minimum.
Great guide (Lee) was fun, energetic, funny, and knowledgeable. He is the consummate professional guide - ensuring his guests are happy and able to enjoy the historical buildings/elements while understanding their significance and history. Lee's commentary was informative, and he provided very helpful logical information that enhanced our enjoyment is the Tower AND Crown Jewels. We were the first in the door to see the Crown Jewels (thank you, Lee!!!) Great tour and highly recommended.
It was full of fun information and allowed access to the Crown Jewels before it got crowded
