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Tower of London: Is It Worth It?

March 19, 2020 by alongforadventure Leave a Comment

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tower of london

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Many London visitors wonder if visiting the Tower of London is truly worth it. The Tower of London is one of the UK’s most iconic landmarks and it appears on just about every “things to do in London” list. If you’re not familiar, it’s a fortress dating back to 1078 that sits along the River Thames in Central London. The tower has been used as a prison (three former queens were held prisoner and executed here), a palace, and a mint, among other things. Today, it’s a museum that comes to life with history.

tower of london

How to Visit the Tower of London

Purchase your tickets online prior to arriving! The online rate will be £26 per adult vs. the door price of £29 (card only, no cash accepted). There are special rates available for families, senior citizens, and full-time students as well.

The Tower of London is a five minute walk from the Tower Hill underground station. Several city buses also stop nearby. There is no on-site parking available as Tower Hill is within a car-free zone, but there are a few parking lots within a 5-10 minute walk. As a visitor to London, just hop on the tube!

Quick Tip
Download the free CityMapper app for easy to follow instructions on navigating the London public transportation system. The app will provide you with the exact route to take via train/bus to get anywhere you need to go. It works in other cities, too!

Should You Take a Guided Tour of the Tower of London?

The Tower of London is open 7 days a week, starting at 9:00am Tuesday through Saturday (10:00am Sunday and Monday). The first tour begins at 10:00am and that’s the one you want. The reason you want to take the first tour of the day is so that once your tour concludes, you can head right over to the Crown Jewels without a long wait. I’ll go into more detail about that in just a moment! The guided tour is included in your price of admission, and provides all the necessary context for what you’re looking at. Tours begin near the main entrance, so just join the group that will be forming and look for a guy dressed like this:

tower of l

The Yeoman Warders (or Beefeaters, as they are colloquially known) live onsite at the Tower of London and provide daily tours, in addition to other duties. To qualify as a Beefeater, one must have served a minimum of 22 years in the UK’s armed forces AND have received a medal of Good Conduct. Their job is to guard the Tower in addition to providing entertaining tours to the Tower’s guests. 

A tour with a Yeoman Warder is not your average history lesson — while you learn about the Tower’s violent past and visit its many towers and halls, you will be thoroughly entertained and laughing quite frequently. The Yeoman Warders truly love their jobs (they live in a castle, for free — who wouldn’t?!) and it shows through their tours. 

What to See at the Tower of London

The Crown Jewels are the most famous collection of artifacts at the Tower of London. Held in the Jewel House under armed guard, the line to get into the building can be hours long. Above, I mentioned that you should take the first tower tour offered each day. This is because once you’re done with the official tour, you can get in line for the Crown Jewels and go straight in. When I visited the Tower of London in 2019, I was able to walk right in and saw that the line had grown to a two-hour wait by the time I exited the Jewel House! 

tower of london

If you do find yourself facing a long wait to see the Crown Jewels, know that when you get inside, you will be able to see some of the most beautiful, glimmering crowns and jewels. The official Coronation Regalia, in use since 1661, is on display along with the solid-gold crown used only for the coronation ceremony. One of the world’s largest diamonds (530 carats) is on display next to a 317 carat sapphire.

tower of london

The White Tower is at the center of the Tower grounds, and is known as the most famous castle in the world. The historic tower still holds a centuries-old execution block and ax which date back to the Tudor period. The White Tower’s basement was once used for interrogations of famous prisoners such as Guy Fawkes.

During your time exploring the vast fortress grounds, you’ll be able to see authentic medieval knights’ armor, including several sets worn by King Henry VIII. I was told that there was even a set of armor for his cat on display, but I somehow missed it. There is so much to see at the Tower of London that you should allow a half day to see it all.  

armor

The Verdict: Is the Tower of London Worth It?

A resounding YES! My visit to the Tower of London was one of my most memorable and educational parts of my first London trip. Even if you’re not a fan of history or museums, everything is incredibly interactive and you will not be bored. The Yeoman Warders keep you thoroughly entertained and the historical importance of the site cannot be overstated. 

tower of london

 

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Start Planning Your Trip

Book Your Flight: I use Kayak to save an average of 20% on every flight! They have tons of data to show you how to find the best deal on your flight.

Find Accommodations: Use Booking.com as they consistently offer the lowest prices. Many of their listings also allow you to book now and pay when you stay, making it easy to plan ahead for travel.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance: Travel insurance can protect you in case of injury, illness, theft, missed flights, and more. I have been using World Nomads for years and have had nothing but great experiences.

Get the Guide Book: I read the Lonely Planet guide book for my destination before every trip! Their guide books are full of great information.

Read This Next:  How to Beat the Crowds at the Louvre Museum

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I’m Danielle, a girl from Texas who wants nothing more than to explore every corner of the world. Follow along as I document my journey to travel as much as possible and help you do the same.

You’ll find destination guides and itineraries, my recommendations for the best places to eat and stay, and tips on how to make your next trip the best ever.

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