Tower of London

What you'll see

The centerpiece is the Crown Jewels, the working regalia of the British monarchy, displayed in a heavily secured vault that you pass through on a moving walkway. The collection includes crowns set with some of the largest cut diamonds in the world, along with scepters, orbs, and ceremonial plate still used at coronations.

Beyond the jewels, the White Tower at the center is the original Norman keep, now holding a display of royal armor. You can walk long stretches of the medieval walls, see the spot associated with the executions of three English queens, and visit the cells where prisoners scratched inscriptions into the stone that survive today.

The Yeoman Warders and ravens

The Yeoman Warders, often called Beefeaters, live inside the Tower and lead the free guided tours included with entry. Their walks last about an hour, mix grim history with dark humor, and are the single best way to make sense of the site. Tours run regularly through the day from near the entrance.

The Tower's ravens are part of its mythology: legend holds that the kingdom falls if they ever leave, so a small group is kept on site and cared for by a dedicated Ravenmaster. You will usually spot them near the White Tower and the green, large and unmistakable, with their flight feathers trimmed so they stay put.

Planning your visit

Tickets use timed entry, so you choose an arrival window when you book, and arriving when the gates open is the best way to reach the Crown Jewels before the queue builds. A standard visit runs two to three hours, and longer if you take a Warder tour and explore the walls in full.

Buying online ahead of time is usually cheaper than the gate price and guarantees your slot on busy days, when same-day tickets can sell out. The official ticket includes the Crown Jewels, the White Tower, the Warder tour, and the wall walks, so there is no need for separate add-ons.

Combining with nearby sights

Tower Bridge stands right next to the Tower, so the two pair naturally in a single visit, with the bridge's high walkways giving you a view back over the fortress. The riverside in front of the Tower is also one of the better spots to photograph the bridge.

From here the South Bank is a short walk across the river, and the City's other landmarks, including St Paul's Cathedral, are within reach by foot or a quick Tube hop. Borough Market, good for lunch, sits a little upriver on the south side.

History to know before you go

The Tower's reputation as a prison rests on real episodes. Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, two of Henry VIII's queens, were executed within the walls, and figures from Sir Walter Raleigh to the future Elizabeth I were held here. The graffiti carved by prisoners into the stone of the Beauchamp Tower survives and brings that history close.

Less grim is the long stretch when the Tower housed a royal menagerie, with lions, an elephant, and even a polar bear kept on site as royal gifts. It also served for centuries as the home of the Royal Mint and a secure store for state records, roles that explain why so much of national life passed through these walls.

Knowing a little of this beforehand makes the visit richer, since the buildings themselves are spare and the stories are what fill them. The Yeoman Warder tour does the same job in person, which is why it is worth catching one early in your visit.