请进吧，游客。伦敦塔一切安好，它已在这里屹立了近 1,000 年。 伦敦塔如此受游客欢迎不足为奇——这是一段活生生的历史，游客可以在这里近距离欣赏皇冠珠宝，看到著名的伦敦塔乌鸦，并与真实的伦敦塔卫士见面。 一年中的任何时候这里都非常受欢迎——尽管有些时段不可避免地会比其他时段更加繁忙。 为了帮助您制定计划，这份实用的游览指南包括：
开放时间知识
Tower of London 的开放时间分为两个主要季节：夏季和冬季。 夏季开放时间为 3 月 1 日至 10 月 31 日，在此期间塔楼每天 9:00 至 17:30 开放，但周日和周一除外，这两天的开放时间为 10:00。 最后入场时间为 16:30，最后一场伦敦塔卫兵（Beefeater）导览游于 15:30 开始。 从 11 月 1 日至 2 月 28 日（或 29 日）期间 塔楼执行冬季开放时间，即 9:00 至 16:30（周日和周一为 10:00 开放），最后入场时间为 15:30。 请注意，塔楼在圣诞节和新年期间的部分日期关闭；由于官方活动（如礼炮仪式或新任伦敦塔总管的就职典礼），其他日期可能会推迟开放或提前关闭。 为了避免遗憾，最稳妥的做法是在出发前查看相关信息。
淡旺季说明
1 月至 3 月是塔楼游客最少、最清静的游览时段，因为此时正值旅游淡季，天气寒冷湿润，且天黑较早。 任何学校假期都是旅游旺季，包括复活节和圣诞节的两个星期假期，以及每年三次、每次为期一周的学期中假（half term）。 到目前为止，游客最多的时段是 7 月底至 9 月初的暑假期间。 此时天气更好且白昼更长，但您将面临与极多游客竞争的局面。 9 月至 10 月是理想的游览时段，因为天气依然温和且游客人数有所减少；直到 12 月圣诞灯饰亮起时，游客人数才会再次回升。
入口说明
作为一座设防城堡，伦敦塔长期以来一直是君主抵御入侵或叛军的避难所 —— 因此出入口并不多！ 游客的主入口位于西门（West Gate），正对着塔楼商店（Tower Shop）；您将在此接受安检，随后穿过闸门进入塔内。 不过，在通过安检之前，您需要先购买门票，您可以在塔楼售票亭（Tower Kiosk）、游客中心（Welcome Center）或团体票务处（Group Ticket Office）购票。 团体入口位于南侧靠近河流的中抽屉桥（Middle Drawbridge），就在叛逆者之门（Traitor’s Gate）的正下方。 多年来，许多人都曾经过叛逆者之门 —— 包括托马斯·莫尔爵士（Sir Thomas More）和未来的伊丽莎白一世女王 —— 但他们中没多少人能再次出来。 最好避开那扇门！
最佳游览时间/时段
周末和法定节假日总是很繁忙，但在周中您也可能会遇到人流高峰，因为伦敦塔非常受学生团体的欢迎。 这些团体往往在上午晚些时候到达，因此您最好的选择是尽早抵达。 如果您想参观王冠珠宝（Crown Jewels），早点到达也是个好主意，因为进入景区后您还需要再次排队等候。 虽然无法给出确切的说法，但平均而言，最快的游览时间是在周中的上午，届时您可能只需要排队几分钟。 在排队时间中等偏长的下午和周末，预计等待时间至少为 30 分钟，最长可达 1 小时。
如何免排队
有多种方式可以获得进入伦敦塔的优先入场权。 您可以提前在网上购票，以节省在售票处排队的时间，或者使用 Go City Explorer Pass 等景点通票，直接前往安检处。 目前有多种包含入场券和导览服务的套票可供选择，让您可以直接进入——其中一些还包括参观王冠珠宝展的优先入场权。 如果您是历史皇家宫殿（Historic Royal Palaces）的会员，或者参加了特别进入活动，也可以免排队——这些活动包括在部分周日晚上举行的暮色游览（Twilight Tour），或每天 21:30 伦敦塔锁门时的钥匙仪式（Ceremony of the Keys）。 这两项活动都必须提前预订。
交通指南
伦敦塔坐落于泰晤士河（River Thames）北岸，位于伦敦市中心以西，毗邻圣卡瑟琳码头（St Katharine’s Docks），紧邻著名的 Tower Bridge 的标志性双塔。 前往伦敦塔最快捷的方式是乘坐伦敦地铁（London Underground）至 Tower Hill 站。 如果您更喜欢观赏沿途风景，可以乘坐 15、42、78 和 343 路公交车，或搭乘 Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour。 如果您选择乘坐 boat，最近的下船点是伦敦塔码头（Tower Pier）；或者您也可以乘坐地上铁（Overground）至 Fenchurch Street 站或 London Bridge 站，步行约 10 至 15 分钟即可到达。 如有疑问，请使用地图 App 规划路线。请注意，公共交通最繁忙的时段是 08:00 至 09:00 以及 16:00 左右。 如果您在这些时段出行，请做好站立的准备；或者如果您想活动一下筋骨，从南岸中心（Southbank Centre）沿河步行前往也是不错的选择，全程约 40 分钟。
餐饮指南功能
如果您打算早点前往伦敦塔，Tower Hill 站和 London Bridge 站周边有许多咖啡店，您可以去那里喝杯咖啡提提神。 理想情况下，您需要一整天的时间来充分体验伦敦塔的魅力，因此请计划在此享用午餐。 伦敦塔内设有两间咖啡厅和一个售卖亭，您也可以携带食物和饮料进入，并在场内指定的草坪区域或长椅上享用。 如果您在傍晚时分胃口大开，或者想在等待交通高峰过去时悠闲地喝上一杯啤酒或金酒，出口外的河岸边就有 Tower Café；周边地区也有许多餐厅，包括 Wetherspoons、Slug and Lettuce 和 All Bar One。
伦敦塔之旅一切顺遂
如果您来到伦敦，无论选择何时到访，伦敦塔都是不容错过的 London attractions。 请务必购买您的 Go City® London Pass，这样您就不会错过任何精彩内容！
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:
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