Tower of London Guided Tours: 3 Great Options!
The Tower of London is on most Britain-bound travelers’ bucket lists, and we get it. We’ve been numerous times and always learn something new. The big question is, do Tower of London guided tours fit your travel style, or do you want to explore on your own? Both have advantages, so let’s get into it.
Activity Overview
Why We Think Guided Tours Great: let me count the reasons
- A guided tour is a great way to skip the lines, as groups are allowed to enter at the Middle Drawbridge. This is how they can advertise “skip the line” tours. Note, guided tours do not have fast-track access to the Crown Jewels, only to entry into the Tower of London.
- Local guides tell incredible stories and historical nuggets that may not be on a plaque.
- They know where to find the best stuff in the tower, and their route makes for an efficient tour of this large complex.
- The kid’s tour is a good way to avoid the stories about torture, imprisonment, and ghost hauntings that may leave them up all night. Such stories may freak out your kids on the standard tour. The Tower of London was not a place London citizens enjoyed looking at; it symbolized oppression.
- During the busy seasons, entry tickets can be sold out. A Tower of London guided tour may have last minute availability for your family or group.
A Tower of London guided tour will include the regular Tower of London entry ticket that currently costs £34.80 plus the cost of the guide. Below, we share our favorite private tour, a family-friendly tour, and a small-group tour. Click the booking buttons below to learn more and book.
Don’t get us wrong, you don’t need to do a guided tour of the Tower of London. You can book your tickets in advance (we recommend a month to get the date and time you want) on the Tower of London’s official website.
Two of our favorite tours that are part of your regular entry ticket include the free Yeoman tours. After the sun goes down, you can go on the Ceremony of the Keys tour. A separate booking is required. We did this years ago and still remember the stories.
We have tips for skipping the line at the Tower of London (#5 on the list) and several other popular attractions in this video:
Tower of London Guided Tours Options:
Pick from 3 great tours. If you want a more personal experience, opt for the Private Tour. If you want something more family-friendly and less morbid, go for the Kid-Friendly Tour. Of course, if you want to see more than the Tower of London on a single tour, opt for adding Westminster!
Private Tower of London Guided Tour
Get your guide to yourself with a private tour of the best there is to see here, including the Crown Jewels.
- Pricing is based on group size, with larger groups getting a more discounted per-person rate.
- It is suited for children ages 5+, but we recommend the following tour if you have young kids.
- This tour lasts about 3 hours.
Family-Friendly Tower of London Guided Tour
Let’s face it: the history of the Tower of London is not sunshine and rainbows. There are ghost stories and tales of torture that can even give us adults the chills. This tour is excellent if you want to experience the Tower of London with kids in tow without freaking them out.
This is also a private tour, so you still get the guide to yourself, but the delivery is designed to be educational for all ages.
- Pricing is based on group size, with larger groups getting a more discounted per-person rate.
- Suited for all ages, and children 5 come along for free!
- This tour lasts about 4 hours.
Group Tower of London + Westminster Guided Tour
This is an excellent option if you want to see as much as possible in a short time frame and prefer a bit of time to explore on your own rather than being guided 100% of the time. This isn’t a private tour but a small group with a maximum of 15 guests.
You’ll start by independently exploring the Tower of London (entry is included). Then, take a boat ride on the River Thames to see more historic landmarks from the water. You’ll end in Westminster with a walking tour of the area.
- Small group tour priced per person. Entry tickets and a boat ride are included in the price.
- Suited for all ages! Children under 4 attend for free.
- This tour lasts shy of 4 hours.
Things to Note:
- These tours are not wheelchair-friendly. There are cobblestone paths and stairs to navigate.
- All tours have a 24-hour cancellation policy.
Other tours we think you’ll like:
Here is our video, in which we share one itinerary for a day in London. This is the day we would give to our friends and family. The day starts at the Tower of London on a DIY tour. Look if you’re on the fence about visiting the Tower of London.