런던탑은 1,000년 동안 튼튼하게 살아남은 건물이에요. 전 세계 관광객들에게 매우 인기가 있는 이유는 살아있는 역사의 한 조각이기 때문인데요. 왕관의 보석에 가까이 다가가 볼 수 있고, 타워의 유명한 까마귀들을 볼 수 있으며, 왕궁 경비병과 만날 수 있는 곳입니다. 언제나 매우 인기 있는 곳이라 항상 붐비는데요. 런던탑에 언제 가면 가장 좋을지, 고우시티가 팁을 알려드릴게요!
운영 시간
런던탑의 운영 시간은 두 가지 주요 계절에 따라 다릅니다. 여름 시즌은 3월 1일부터 10월 31일까지이며, 타워는 매일 오전 9시부터 오후 5시 30분까지 영업합니다. 일요일과 월요일은 오전 10시에 문을 열고, 마지막 입장은 오후 4시 30분이며, 비피터(Beefeater) 투어는 오후 3시 30분에 시작됩니다. 11월 1일부터 2월 28일까지 타워는 겨울 운영 시간으로 전환되며, 오전 9시부터 오후 4시 30분까지 영업합니다. 일요일과 월요일은 오전 10시에 문을 엽니다. 마지막 입장은 오후 3시 30분입니다. 크리스마스와 뉴이어의 몇 일에는 타워가 문을 닫을 수 있으며, 기타 공식 행사로 인해 일부 날에는 늦게 열거나 일찍 문을 닫을 수 있습니다. 방문 전에 확인하는 것이 가장 안전합니다.
성수기
1월부터 3월까지는 런던탑을 방문하기 가장 한적한 시기로, 관광객 수가 적고 날씨가 춥고 습해요. 가장 붐비는 시기는 7월 말부터 9월 초까지의 여름 휴가 기간입니다. 9월부터 10월까지는 날씨가 여전히 온화하고 사람들이 줄어들기 때문에 방문하기 좋은 시기이며, 12월에는 크리스마스 조명이 달리기 시작할 때 다시 붐빕니다.
입구
런던탑은 오랜 기간 동안 침입으로부터 왕을 보호하기 위한 보호처로 사용되어 왔습니다. 그래서 들어오거나 나가는 길이 많지 않아요. 관광객을 위한 주요 입구는 런던탑 상점과 맞은 편인 서쪽 문입니다. 여기에서 보안 점검을 하시고 입장하시면 됩니다. 보안 점검을 통과하기 전에 티켓을 구입해야 하며, 티켓은 타워 키오스크, 웰컴 센터 또는 그룹 티켓 사무실에서 구할 수 있습니다.
가기 가장 좋은 시기
주말과 공휴일은 항상 붐빕니다. 학교에서도 단체로 관광을 오기 때문에 주중에도 붐비는 시간대가 있습니다. 그러니 가능한 한 일찍 도착하는 걸 추천드려요. 왕관 보석을 보려면 내부에서 다시 줄을 서야 하기 때문에 최대한 빨리 도착하는 게 좋습니다. 주중 오전에 가시면 몇 분 동안만 기다리시면 됩니다. 오후와 주말에 가시면 최소 30분에서 최대 1시간까지 기다려야 하실 거예요.
줄 안 서는 방법
온라인에서 티켓을 미리 구매하시는 걸 추천드려요. 아니면 고우시티 선택이용권같은 어트랙션 패스를 사용해서 바로 입장을 하시는 방법도 있어요! 왕관 보석 전시물에 대한 우선 입장 권한이 포함되어 있습니다. 왕립 궁전 회원이거나 특별 이벤트에 참석하는 경우 대기줄을 피할 수 있습니다.
가는 방법
런던 타워는 템즈 강 북쪽에 위치하고 있으며 타워 브리지 바로 옆에 있습니다. 가장 빠른 이동 방법은 런던 지하철을 타고 타워 힐로 가는 겁니다. 풍경을 구경하며 가시고 싶ᄋ면 15, 42, 78 및 343번 버스, 또는 홉온 홉오프 버스 투어를 이용하세요. 보트로 가시는 경우 타워 피어 정류장에서 내리시면 돼요.
요약하자면!
런던에 여행 가신다면 고우시티 패스로 여행하세요! 런던의 인기 명소를 반값에 입장하실 수 있답니다!
High and low seasons
High and low seasons
January to March is generally the quietest time to visit the Tower. It’s when tourist numbers are at their lowest, the weather is cold and the evenings are dark. It’s also, in our humble opinion, a great time to visit. Nothing adds drama to the Tower of London like rolling clouds and rapidly darkening skies. Pro-tip: London accommodation is also at its cheapest in winter. Check out our guide to the best times to visit London here.
At the other end of the spectrum, school holidays tend to be when the Tower gets busiest. We’re talking Christmas, Easter, half term breaks in February, May and October and – especially – during the long hot summer break between July and September. Sure, you’ll get longer days and (usually) better weather, but you’ll be vying for views of the jewels and the ravens with larger crowd numbers.
For our money, September and October are nice times to visit – the Goldilocks zone, if you will – when the weather is still mild and visitor numbers relax a little before picking up again in December as the Christmas lights start to appear.
Tower of London 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 all that 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 secured a ticket, which you can buy online in advance, buy on the day from the Welcome Centre and kiosks or – easiest of all – book your time slot using the Go City London pass.
The entrance for group is on the south side near the river at the Middle Drawbridge, just down from Traitors' Gate. Many have arrived through Traitors' Gate itself over the years – including Sir Thomas More and the future Queen Elizabeth I – but not many of them ever came back out again. So maybe best avoid that one.
Best times to visit
Best times to visit
Weekends, public holidays and school breaks are always busy, though you may also encounter crowded times during the week as the Tower is (for fairly obvious reasons) rather popular with school groups. School field trips tend to visit later in the morning, so your best bet is to hit the Tower as early as possible, ideally as soon as the gates open. This is also a good idea if you want to spend time ogling the Crown Jewels, as you’ll have to line up again for them once you’re inside.
Although it’s difficult to say definitively when is best to visit, on average the shortest waiting times are mid-week mornings. Queuing times increase in the afternoons and on weekends, when you might expect to wait 30-60 minutes to access the more popular areas and exhibitions.
How to skip the lines
Pre-purchase your tickets online to save queuing at the kiosks or, better still, use your Go City London pass to bypass the lines and head straight to security. Alas, turning up early is your best bet for avoiding lines at the Crown Jewels, as there’s no priority queuing here. That said, it is possible to book private tours of the jewels and other areas direct, though you may need to pay a king’s ransom to do so.
Getting to the Tower of London
The Tower of London sits on the north bank 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. Or, if you prefer a scenic route, buses 15, 42, 78 and 343 will also get you there, as will the Big Bus hop-on hop-off tour.
If you’re coming by boat from Westminster or Greenwich, the closest drop-off point is Tower Pier.
The Tower’s best bits
The Tower’s best bits
Still unsure whether to visit the Tower of London? We’ve rounded up the all the best bits to help twist your arm – these are also the big five essentials to catch if you’re running short on time.
The Crown Jewels
The Jewel House is where it’s at for centuries of royal bling all in one (heavily guarded) place. Here, you can feast your peepers on some 23,000 gemstones and precious artifacts including scepters, tiaras, necklaces and even the Imperial State Crown that’s worn by British monarchs at their coronations.
The White Tower
You’ll recognise The White Tower straight away. This is the one you’ve seen in all those pics of the Tower of London. This ancient fortification contains several floors of fun, including the Royal Armouries collection and an opportunity to try your own hand at shooting arrows, brandishing swords and firing cannons.
The Bloody Tower
What’s in a name…? Well, The Bloody Tower is where murderous Uncle Richard (III) imprisoned his two innocent nephews – the famous ‘princes in the tower’ before their, shall we say, mysterious disappearance. You’ll learn all about their tragic tale here.
The ravens
It’s said that if the ravens ever leave the Tower, the kingdom will fall, which is all a bit Game of Thrones if you ask us. Anyway, the ravens are a key part of the Tower’s lore and charm, so do grab a selfie with them if you can.
The Tower Green
A lovely spot to sit down with a sandwich or pause to take in the view. But this beauty spot is not without its own dark history (this is the Tower of London we’re talking about, after all) – it’s where countless executions took place back in the day, including Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. Anne’s memorial here – a glass pillow on two engraved circles – can be found here.
Where to eat
Where to eat
If you’re heading to the Tower early and a tad bleary-eyed, worry not: there are plenty of coffee shops around Tower Hill and London Bridge Stations where you can get your caffeine fix. Ideally with a pastry or three to accompany it.
You need a good few hours to get the most out of your Tower visit, so plan on still being here for lunch. There are two cafés and a kiosk in the grounds (plus a few extra seasonal food carts in summer), and you’re allowed to bring in food and drinks to enjoy on some of the lawn areas and benches scattered around the grounds.
If you’ve worked up an appetite by the evening or fancy a leisurely pint or gin (Beefeater, of course) while you wait for the traffic to calm down a little, there’s the Tower of London Café just outside the exit on the riverbank. There are also plenty of bars and restaurants in the surrounding area. Favorites include a gastropub called – wait for it – Traitors Gate, the old-school Dickens Inn in St Katharine’s Dock, and an outpost of The Ivy restaurant just the other side of Tower Bridge.
What to do next
What to do next
Flex your Go City London pass for more epic sightseeing in the immediate area and beyond. Some of our favorite attractions on the pass include:
Enjoyed this? Discover the best things to do in and around Notting Hill and take it easy with our guide to London’s most relaxing activities.
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