London: VIP Tower Opening Ceremony, Crown Jewels & Cruise

Skip the line for VIP entrance into the Tower of London. Once inside you’ll watch the Opening Ceremony, a notable military ritual that officially opens the famous historical edifice. Following a brief overview from the Yeoman Warders – the tower guardians – you’ll be among the first people of the day to walk into the Jewel House to experience the Crown Jewels without the crowds that come later in the day.

Next, your expert guide will lead you on a complete tour of the Tower of London, beginning with the Execution Site, on Tower Green, where many a noble lost their head. As you make your way from there to the Bloody Tower (where Sir Walter Raleigh was imprisoned for 13 years) and then to the Torture Chambers, you will get a firm sense of English history in all its gruesome forms.

After a walk along the famous Tower Walls and a quick look inside the refurbished bedroom of Edward I, you’ll spy a “conspiracy” of the tower’s resident ravens. Your tour ends with a highlight as you step into the White Tower (the central tower, or ‘keep’), for a full tour of a refurbished medieval castle.

Your guide will leave you inside the White Tower, but you'll be able to explore the other areas of the Tower of London on your own, including the Bestiary, Beauchamp Tower, and the Fusilier Museum. As the guided tour ends, you’ll also receive a flexible one-way boat pass for a London sightseeing river cruise to be used on any day and from any pier.

If you're short on time, select the Regular Tower of London Tour with Crown Jewels option for a 2.5 hour tour of the Tower's grounds (excluding the Opening Ceremony).