The Best Time to Visit the Tower of London

Halt! Who comes there? Another intrepid explorer?

By Karleen Stevens
Published: July 18, 2024
View of the Tower of London from across the Thames

Pass then, visitor, for all’s well at the Tower of London, which has been standing solidly in place for almost 1,000 years. It’s no wonder it’s so popular with visitors – it’s a piece of living history, where tourists can get up close to the crown jewels, see the famous ravens of the tower and meet a real-life Beefeater. It’s extremely popular at any time of year – although some times are inevitably busier than others. To help you make a plan, this handy guide for when to visit includes:

  • Opening times
  • High and low seasons
  • Entrances
  • Best times to visit
  • Skipping the queue
  • How to get there
  • Where to eat

Opening hours

 

Opening hours at the Tower of London operate under two main seasons: summer and winter. The summer season runs from March 1st through October 31st, when the Tower is open from 9am to 5:30pm every day, except on Sundays and Mondays when it opens at 10. Last admission is at 4:30pm, and the last Beefeater tour starts at 3:30. From November 1st through February 28 (or 29th) the Tower moves to winter opening hours, which are from 9am to 4:30pm (10am on Sundays and Mondays), with last admission at 3:30. Note that the Tower closes on some days over Christmas and New Year’s, and may open late or close early on other days due to official events, such as gun salutes or the induction of a new Constable of the Tower. The safest thing to do is to check before you go to avoid being disappointed.

High and low seasons

 

January to March is the quietest time to visit the Tower, as tourist numbers are low, the weather is cold and wet and the evenings are dark (this also goes for other things to do in London too). Any school holidays are busy times, and they last for two weeks at Easter and Christmas and for one week three times a year at half term. By far the busiest time is during summer holidays, from the end of July to the beginning of September. You’ll get better weather and longer days, but you’ll be competing with a lot of other people. September to October is a nice time to visit, as the weather remains mild and the crowd numbers go down before picking up again in December when the Christmas lights start to appear.

Entrances

 

As a fortified castle, the Tower of London has long been a shelter for the monarch against invading or rebelling armies – therefore there aren’t many ways in or out! The main entrance for visitors is at the West Gate, opposite the Tower Shop, where you’ll go through a security check before passing under the portcullis to enter the tower. However, before you can pass through security you’ll need to have purchased your ticket, which you can get from the Tower Kiosk, Welcome Center or Group Ticket Office. The group entrance is on the south side near the river at the Middle Drawbridge, just down from Traitor’s Gate. Many have come through Traitor’s Gate over the years – including Sir Thomas More and the future Queen Elizabeth I – but not many of them ever came out again. Best avoid that one!

Best time to visit

 

Weekends and public holidays will always be busy, though you may also encounter busy times during the week as the Tower is very popular with school groups. These tend to arrive later in the morning, so your best bet is to arrive as early as possible. This is also a good idea if you want to see the crown jewels, as you’ll have to line up again for them once you’re inside. Although it’s impossible to say for sure, on average the quickest times are mid-week mornings, when you may only have to queue for a few minutes. In the afternoons and weekends when queuing times are medium to high, expect to be waiting for at least 30 minutes and up to an hour.

 

How to skip the queue

 

There are a number of ways to get priority access to the Tower. You can pre-purchase your tickets online to save queuing at the ticket kiosk, or use an attraction pass such as the Go City Explorer Pass to head straight to security. There are a number of combined entrance and guided tour packages available which will let you straight in – some of these also include priority access to the crown jewels exhibit. You can also skip the queue if you’re a member of Historic Royal Palaces or if you attend a special access event – these include the Twilight Tour, held on some Sunday evenings, or the Ceremony of the Keys, when the tower is locked up every evening at 9:30. Both of these must be pre-booked.

Getting there

 

The Tower of London sits on the northern banks of the River Thames, west of the City of London next to St Katharine’s Docks and adjacent to the unmistakable twin turrets of Tower Bridge. The fastest way to get there is via the London Underground to Tower Hill. If you prefer a scenic route, buses 15, 42, 78 and 343 will get you there, as will the Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour. If you’re coming by boat, the closest drop-off point is Tower Pier, or take the overground rail to Fenchurch Street or London Bridge and walk for around 10 to 15 minutes. If in doubt, use your maps app to plan a route, and keep in mind that the busiest times for public transport are between 8 and 9am and then again from around 4pm. Be prepared to stand if you’re traveling at those times, or if you prefer to stretch your legs it’s a pleasant 40-minute walk along the river from the Southbank Centre.

Where to eat

 

If you’re heading to the Tower early there are plenty of coffee outlets around Tower Hill and London Bridge Stations where you can get your caffeine fix. Ideally you need a whole day to get the most out of your Tower visit, so plan on being here for lunch. There are two cafes and a kiosk in the tower grounds, and you’re allowed to bring in food and drink which you can enjoy on certain lawn areas or benches around the grounds. If you’ve worked up an appetite by the evening or fancy a leisurely pint or cheeky gin while you wait for the traffic to slow down again, there’s the Tower Café just outside the exit on the riverbank; there also plenty of restaurants in the surrounding areas including a Wetherspoons, a Slug and Lettuce and an All Bar One.

All’s well at the Tower of London

If you’re coming to London, the Tower is among the must-see London attractions whatever time you choose to come. Be sure to grab your Go City London Pass so you don’t have to miss a thing!

Karleen Stevens
Go City Travel Expert

Continue reading

People enjoy the dun in St James's Park London
Blog

London in June

June in London is known by its nine million residents for its blend of sunny skies, annual events and warm evenings outdoors. If you’re looking to get a sense of the British capital at its most animated, June is the month to visit. Not only do summer temperatures creep into every aspect of a visit to London during the month, but the city gets all dressed up in its finery for events of international significance – from the Wimbledon tennis championships to Trooping the Colour. Come with us, as we explore the very best of London in June. Soak up the June sun With the bright summer sun warming the streets of London from east to west and south to north, June is perhaps the perfect time to explore some of the city’s hidden green spaces. And that’s exactly what it’s possible to do during London’s Open Garden Squares Weekend at the start of the month. This very special weekend sees usually private spaces opening their gates to the public. Those taking part change from year to year, but have previously included City of London rooftops, a historic garden beside Shakespeare’s Globe accessed via London’s narrowest street and even the rarely-seen lawns of the Prime Minister’s office at 10 Downing Street. Situated among the ancient trees of a Royal Park, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre does nights at the theater like nowhere else in the capital. Its alfresco nature ensures every performance is unique, whilst the company’s artistes are top talents who regularly end up touring shows first-opened just a few hundred meters from the lion habitat of ZSL London Zoo. Pomp and pageantry The massed ranks of the British army put on one of their best performances of the year at Trooping the Colour. Marking the official birthday of the reigning monarch, this June event has taken place since 1908, after King Edward VII got tired of celebrating his natural birthday in the November chill. Dressed in their famous red frock coats and bearskin hats, over 1000 soldiers troop the color – their regimental flag – to the tune of around 400 musicians. It all takes place under the watchful eye of the monarch on Horse Guards Parade. But The Mall provides the best vantage point for the public to watch, since it has the added benefit of lining the route taken by various members of the royal family to and from Buckingham Palace by horse-drawn carriages. If sport is more your métier, head to London towards the end of June for the Wimbledon Championships. Probably the world’s most prestigious sporting trophy, tickets for the show courts are fiercely fought over. However, it’s still possible to take in the atmosphere and look out for the greatest players of the generation with a ground pass. The start of festival season Meanwhile, the London Festival of Architecture spans the entire length of June. The world’s biggest festival of its kind aims to reveal the stories behind some of the city’s best-known structures. Syon Park’s classic car show aims to fulfil a similar role for all things petrol-powered, whilst June is also the start of Pride month. Many of London’s nightspots in Soho and the West End put on special events to get the LGBT+ community in the spirit of the rainbow flag. The spectacle of the Royal Ascot five-day horse race meeting should be the only excuse you need to step aboard a Hop-on Hop-off open-topped bus in nearby Windsor. As well as admiring Europe’s longest-occupied castle, you can take in sights including Eton College and Holy Trinity Church. Observe the longest day of the year Summer nights in London develop an atmosphere all of their own, and this is only ever heightened in the case on June 22, the date of the summer solstice. Various one-off events take place on the longest day of the year, from sunrise yoga sessions to solstice parties at the capital’s top bars and clubs. It’s best to check local press closer to the time for details. It’s in June that London’s rooftop bars also come into their own, with many providing drinkers with spectacular panoramas across the skyline by both day and by night. Admire the historic landmarks which line the banks of the Thames with a city cruise river pass. Between them, the likes of the Tower of London, Houses of Parliament and London Bridge boast over a thousand years of heritage no visitor should miss. The Sunday nearest the solstice is usually the date set for Father’s Day. Those keen to celebrate everything their dad has done for them with a restaurant meal should book early. Restaurant tables get filled quickly with families looking to enjoy dedicated menus put in place just for the day. Experience London’s wildlife havens For a totally different way to see the capital, head west to the pools and ponds which form the London Wetland Centre. Created out of unwanted Victorian reservoirs in the year 2000, this magical space is now visited by some 180 different species of bird, as well as otters and innumerable species of insect. June in London is a good time to plan a visit to attractions with outdoor elements such as Chiswick House and Kitchen Garden too. Finished in 1729, the house is a celebrated example of neo-Palladian architecture. The surrounding grounds are one of the earliest examples of the English landscape style to be still in existence. Alternatively, head back to banks of the Thames and challenge yourself to find your way through the maze at Hampton Court Palace. Its yew tree hedging has been foxing residents and guests since it was first planted in the 1690s. Ways to save on attraction admission The sky is pretty much the limit when it comes to things to do in London in June. The generally fine weather means few of London’s attractions are off limits, although this can soon have a detrimental effect on your wallet. You can save on London attraction admission with Go City. How does it work? Simply purchase a package and start to save! Go to the visitor attractions you had always wanted to explore without losing the flexibility that’s an important part of any vacation!
Ian Packham
London Bus Keyrings
Blog

Shop ‘til You Drop: London’s Must-Visit Shopping Hotspots

Explore London’s best spots for fashion, food, souvenirs and serious window shopping.
A woman returns here rental bike after enjoying a ride around London
Blog

Cheap things to do in London

You might scoff at the idea of there being cheap things to do in six-pounds-a-pint London. However, for those in the know it doesn’t take too much effort to find attractions that will eke out your savings. In fact, there’s very little you can’t do in London on a budget. Much of the city’s history, as well as its modern culture, thriving food scene and even many events can be enjoyed for very little money if you know where to head! Cheap museums and galleries in London The permanent exhibitions at the likes of the British Museum, Natural History Museum and Tate Modern are free to enter year-round, making for a very cheap day out in London. Many smaller museums and galleries can’t quite match this price point, but nonetheless include amazing objects within their collections. The Royal Observatory Greenwich’s modest admission allows visitors to get up close and personal with a giant of scientific discovery. Visitors are able to stand on the original prime meridian line denoting the eastern and western hemispheres, before going on to learn how the site changed the way we see the world with regard to both time and space. Within a fine example of Georgian architecture is the Benjamin Franklin House museum. The only remaining residence of the American Founding Father, its collection helps to detail Franklin’s life in London over 15 years through a mix of period furnishings and audiovisual displays. London’s budget eats If there’s one thing about traveling on a budget in London which worries visitors it’s staying well fed and watered. Whilst headlines about Salt Bae’s $1000 steaks and bar menus quoting $14 for a lager are common enough, there’s never been a better time to eat well for less. Just behind Euston train station, north west London’s Drummond Street rivals Brick Lane when it comes to cheap eats from the Indian subcontinent. Further north still, there’s plenty of options amidst the fashion stalls of Camden Market, with traditional fish and chips competing for attention against hotdogs and burritos. The converted shipping containers of Boxpark are another great option. Providing shared seating and a plethora of independent places to eat, there are three sites to look out for, in Wembley, Shoreditch and up-and-coming Croydon. London’s best value views For a bird’s eye view of the capital without the sky-high costs there are a number of potential attractions to consider. The best known is the covered Sky Garden topping out 20 Fenchurch Street – the Walkie Talkie building. Promising 360° views from London’s highest public garden, it’s free to visit, although you’ll need to pre-book a time slot. Less well known is the external balcony that sits beneath the bronze horse-drawn chariot carrying the goddess Victory on Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner. Its views extend across several Royal Parks. Tucked behind more recent buildings at the northern end of London Bridge lies The Monument. Built by Sir Christopher Wren of St Paul’s Cathedral fame to commemorate the Great Fire of London in 1666, its vertigo-inducing viewing platform puts you roughly 60 meters above ground level. The height marks its distance from the fire’s starting point on Pudding Lane. Low-cost nights out in the capital If your budget doesn’t stretch to a show in the West End, fear not, you don’t need to remove seeing a show from your list of cheap things to do in London just yet. The brutalist architecture of the Southbank Centre has long been the haunt of skaters and street artists, who together create a heady mix of spontaneity and art for passersby. The highest form of art has to go to the plays of The Bard. To experience the playwright’s greatest works as they were intended to be seen, head for the standing-only Groundling Yard of Shakespeare’s Globe. For the cost of a pint, you get closer to the stage than you probably thought possible. Also be sure to check out the listings sections of the weekend papers for details of London’s public events. June’s Trooping the Colour, August’s Notting Hill Carnival, and December’s Christmas markets lead a long list of events. Switch underground for overground The London Underground has been getting Londoners where they need to be for over 150 years. Ride the right double-decker buses instead, and you’ll get a tour of some of London’s top attractions thrown in for free. Jump aboard the number 24 from Victoria Station to whiz past Westminster Abbey, Downing Street and Trafalgar Square, or flag down the number 11 to travel along Piccadilly to the Royal Albert Hall. Another alternative to the tube is London’s Santander Cycles, known to almost everyone as Boris Bikes after the former mayor Boris Johnson, who brought them to the capital’s streets and kick-started a cycling revolution in the process. Ride as far as you want (a few have made it all the way to Paris and back) for a set price that can see you recreating The Beatles’ Abbey Road album cover and free-wheeling across Tower Bridge. Take a walk in the park Whichever part of London you find yourself in, it’s very likely there’s a public park nearby. The Westminster area boasts the triple alliance of Hyde Park, St James’s and Green Park, with Regent’s Park to the north and Battersea Park lining the Thames’ south bank. Elsewhere, Highgate Cemetery is a historic burial place with grand tombs and the unofficial status of a nature reserve. One of London’s ‘magnificent seven’ graveyards, it has around 170,000 interments. Amongst them are famous faces including poet Christina Rossetti, singer George Michael, novelist George Eliot, socialist thinker Karl Marx, and if legend is to be believed, the Highgate Vampire too. The cheap things to do in London don’t end there Of course, there is another way to explore London in a budget-friendly way without having to miss out on the big-ticket attractions that brought you to the British capital in the first place. Go City lets you visit the London attractions you want to, when you want to, whilst giving you incredible savings on attraction admission. That trip to London doesn’t look so expensive after all, does it?
Ian Packham

Have a 5% discount, on us!

Sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts, trip inspiration and attraction updates straight to your inbox.