Tower of London Tickets with the Yeoman Warder Tour Times

The Tower has been a royal residence, a prison, an execution ground and a menagerie, and it now holds the Crown Jewels. This ticket covers all of it.

The route takes in the royal chambers, the Royal Menagerie where the exotic animals were kept, and the spots where Anne Boleyn and Thomas More were executed. The prison that held William Wallace before his own execution in 1305 is here too.

In the Jewel House: St Edward's Crown, used at the coronation of English and British monarchs; the Imperial State Crown, worn at the annual State Opening of Parliament; the Cullinan Diamond, the largest rough diamond ever found in South Africa; and the Koh-i-Noor.

Six black ravens live on the grounds. The legend says that if they ever leave, the Tower falls and the monarchy with it.

The Yeoman Warder tours, and when they run

The Beefeaters guard the Tower and also lead free 60-minute tours through the day: prisoners, intrigue, torture, and the history behind them. Tours leave every half hour, from 10am Tuesday to Saturday and from 10:30am on Sundays and Mondays. The last one goes at 2:30pm in winter and 3:30pm in summer, so a late arrival misses it.

These tours cannot be reserved, and you may end up joining another group.

Opening hours

November to February: Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 4:30pm, Sunday and Monday 10am to 4:30pm. Last entry 4pm.

March to October: Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 5:30pm, Sunday and Monday 10am to 5:30pm. Last entry 4:30pm.

Opening times can change.

Two other things worth knowing: in bad weather you will be offered a cancellation or an alternative, and some parts of the Tower can unsettle younger children.