那就請進吧，訪客，倫敦塔一切安好，這座建築已屹立不倒近 1,000 年。 難怪這裡如此受遊客歡迎——這是一段活生生的歷史，遊客可以近距離欣賞王權之物、看到倫敦塔著名的渡鴉，並與現實生活中的倫敦塔衛士見面。 無論在一年的任何時候，這裡都非常受歡迎——儘管某些時段難免會比其他時間更加擁擠。 為了幫助您制定計劃，這份實用的參觀指南包括：
開放時間
Tower of London 的開放時間主要分為兩個季節：夏季和冬季。 夏季營運時間為 3 月 1 日至 10 月 31 日，塔樓每天上午 9:00 至下午 5:30 開放，惟週日與週一於上午 10:00 開放。 最後入場時間為下午 4:30，最後一場倫敦塔衛兵（Beefeater）導覽於下午 3:30 開始。 從 11 月 1 日至 2 月 28 日（或 29 日） 塔樓改為冬季開放時間，即上午 9:00 至下午 4:30（週日與週一為上午 10:00），最後入場時間為下午 3:30。 請注意，塔樓在聖誕節和新年期間的某些日子會關閉；此外，由於官方活動（如鳴放禮炮或倫敦塔新任總管的就職典禮），其他日期可能會延遲開放或提早關閉。 最保險的做法是在出發前先確認資訊，以免向隅。
旺季與淡季
1 月至 3 月是參觀塔樓人潮最少的時期，此時遊客不多、天氣寒冷潮濕，且入夜較早。 任何學校假期期間都是繁忙時段，包括復活節和聖誕節各兩週，以及一年三次各為期一週的期中假（half term）。 到目前為止，最繁忙的時期是 7 月底至 9 月初的暑假期間。 那段時期天氣較好，白天時間也較長，但您將會面臨許多競爭對手。 9 月至 10 月是適合參觀的時節，此時氣候依然溫和，人潮在 12 月聖誕燈飾亮起再次回升前，會有所減少。
入口處
作為一座防禦堡壘，倫敦塔長期以來一直是君主抵禦入侵或反叛軍隊的避難所，因此進出的通道並不多！ 遊客的主要入口位於塔樓商店（Tower Shop）對面的西門（West Gate），在那裡您將通過安全檢查，然後穿過落閘進入塔內。 然而，在通過安檢之前，您需要先購買門票。您可以從 Tower Kiosk、遊客中心（Welcome Center）或團體票務處（Group Ticket Office）購票。 團體入口位於靠河的南側，就在叛徒門（Traitor’s Gate）下方的 Middle Drawbridge。 多年來，許多人都曾穿過叛徒門（Traitor’s Gate）——包括湯瑪斯·摩爾爵士（Sir Thomas More）和未來的伊莉莎白一世女王（Queen Elizabeth I）——但其中沒幾個人能再次平安出來。 最好避開那個門！
最佳參觀時間表
週末和公眾假期通常人潮擁擠，不過由於倫敦塔非常受學生團體歡迎，您在平日也可能會遇到繁忙時段。 這些團體往往在接近中午時分抵達，因此最穩妥的辦法是盡早到達。 如果您想參觀王冠（crown jewels），早起也是個好主意，因為進入景區後您仍需要再次排隊參觀。 雖然無法百分之百確定，但平均而言，人潮最少的時間是週中的上午，屆時您可能只需排隊幾分鐘。 在排隊時間中等至較長的下午和週末，預計至少需要等待 30 分鐘，甚至長達一小時。
如何免排隊
有多種方式可以獲得進入倫敦塔的優先入場權。 您可以提前在網上購買門票以節省在票亭排隊的時間，或使用 Go City Explorer Pass 等景點套票直接前往安檢處。 目前有多種包含入場門票和導覽服務的套裝行程，可讓您直接進入景區，其中一些還包括參觀王冠展覽的優先入場權。 如果您是歷史皇家宮殿（Historic Royal Palaces）的會員或參加特別入場活動，也可以免排隊。這些活動包括在部分週日晚上舉行的暮光導覽（Twilight Tour），或每天晚上 21:30 鎖門時舉行的鑰匙儀式（Ceremony of the Keys）。 這兩者都必須提前預訂。
交通指南
倫敦塔坐落於泰晤士河北岸，位於倫敦市以西，緊鄰聖嘉芙蓮碼頭（St Katharine’s Docks），並與標誌性的 Tower Bridge 雙塔建築相連。 前往該處最快的方式是搭乘倫敦地鐵至塔丘站（Tower Hill）。 如果您偏好欣賞沿途風景的路線，可以搭乘巴士 15、42、78 及 343 號線，或是搭乘 Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour 前往。 如果您搭乘 boat 前往，最近的下船點是塔碼頭（Tower Pier）；或者也可以搭乘地上鐵（Overground）至芬喬奇街站（Fenchurch Street）或倫敦橋站（London Bridge），然後步行約 10 至 15 分鐘。 如有疑問，請使用地圖 App 規劃路線。請注意，大眾運輸最繁忙的時段為上午 8:00 至 9:00，以及下午 4:00 起。 如果您在這些時段出行，請做好站立的準備；或者如果您想活動一下筋骨，從南岸中心（Southbank Centre）沿著河岸步行 40 分鐘也是一段愜意的旅程。
美食指南抽空
如果您打算早點前往倫敦塔，塔丘站和倫敦橋站周邊有許多咖啡店，您可以到那裡喝杯咖啡提提神。 理想情況下，您需要一整天的時間才能充分體驗倫敦塔的魅力，因此建議您計劃留在這裡享用午餐。 倫敦塔內設有兩間咖啡廳和一個販賣部，您也可以自行攜帶食物和飲料，並在場地內的特定草坪區或長椅上享用。 如果您在傍晚時分感到飢腸轆轆，或者想在等待交通尖峰過去時悠閒地喝杯啤酒或琴酒，倫敦塔出口外的河岸邊就有 Tower Café；周邊地區也有許多餐廳，包括 Wetherspoons、Slug and Lettuce 和 All Bar One。
倫敦塔一切安好
無論您選擇何時來到倫敦，倫敦塔都是必看的 London attractions 之一。 請務必購買您的 Go City® London Pass，這樣您就不會錯過任何精彩內容！
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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