Guided tour

Tower of London: Early Access Tour with Opening Ceremony

4.9 / 5

51 reviews

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    Guided tour

    Tower of London: Early Access Tour with Opening Ceremony

    4.9

    51 reviews

    From US$ 91.79 per person

    See the Crown Jewels without the crowds and take a fully guided tour on this VIP visit to the Tower of London. Skip the line and enjoy early entrance. Watch the famous Opening Ceremony and be among the first into the Jewel House to see the Crown Jewels

    About this activity

    Free cancellation
    Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
    Covid-19 precautions
    Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
    Mobile ticketing
    Use your phone or print your voucher
    Duration 165 minutes
    Check availability to see starting times.
    Skip the ticket line
    Instant confirmation
    Live tour guide
    English

    Experience

    Highlights
    • Be the first group to see the Crown Jewels without any crowds
    • Witness one of the oldest military ceremonies in the world
    • Take a fully guided tour of the Tower highlights
    • See the White Tower, the Bloody Tower, and the Torture Chamber
    Full description
    Start the tour with skip-the-line, early entrance into the Tower. Stand inside the Traitor's Gate with a small group of visitors and watch the ancient military ceremony that officially opens the tower every day. After a quick introduction from the Yeoman Warders who guard the palace, stroll straight into the Jewel House and be among the first people to see the Crown Jewels. There are no crowds, so after you guide tells you what to look out for, you can take your time and soak in one of the most dazzling collections of riches in the world. Then take a full tour around the Tower of London. Start with the site where many royal heads were removed on the old execution block and learn the poignant stories behind the deaths of people like Anne Boleyn and Sir Walter Raleigh. Head up to the Bloody Tower to see where Sir Walter spent 13 years of his life and down into the basements where enemies of the crown were tortured in a dungeon that contains examples of actual medieval torture devices. After a walk along the walls, which includes a peek inside the restored bedroom of Edward I (a must for medieval history enthusiasts), meet the Tower’s resident ravens and get an archers' eye view out over the old moat. Step into the castle keep, or White Tower, for a full tour of a wonderfully-preserved Norman castle. See swords, armor, and royal regalia so as you visit each room.
    Includes
    • Opening ceremony
    • First entrance to the Crown Jewels
    • Full Tower of London tour with an expert guide in a group of 20 or fewer
    • Hotel pick-up / drop-off
    • Gratuities
    Not suitable for
    • People with mobility impairments
    • Wheelchair users
    Covid-19 precautions
    Traveler requirements
    • You are required to bring and wear a mask

    Select participants and date

    Participants

    Date

    Prepare for the activity

    Meeting point

    This tour meets in front of the Tower of London shop, opposite the entrance to the Tower of London, 40 Lower Thames St, London EC3R 6DU, UK

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    Important information

    Not allowed

    • Baby strollers

    Know before you go

    • Unfortunately, guests with mobility impairments, wheelchairs, or strollers cannot be accommodated on this tour
    • Please note that for security reasons, bag searches will take place
    • The tour will have a group size of 20 or fewer
    Customer reviews

    Overall rating

    4.9 /5

    based on 51 reviews

    Review summary

    • Guide
      4.4/5
    • Value for money
      4.7/5
    • Service
      5/5
    • Organization
      5/5

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    We had a wonderful experience with Nick, our tour guide. The meet up location was easy to find and the tour started promptly. Our group was small (about 6-8 people) and very manageable. Nick was extremely knowledgeable and easy to understand. It was a real treat to be there for the opening ceremony of the Tower of London and the Yoemen Warder who narrated the ceremony was just grumpy enough to make you feel like you were back in the Victorian Era. The Crown Jewel exhibit was spectacular. The guided part of the tour was a perfect length for my attention span, and then it was nice to have all time we wanted after the guided tour was over to wander around and explore more and take photos (we spend about an hour extra after the tour). I highly recommend this tour! And may I suggest also touring the Tower Bridge and St. Paul's Cathedral on the same day. The Tower Bridge is super close and then it's a nice walk down along the Thames to St. Paul's.

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    November 18, 2019

    J
    Jennifer – United States Verified GetYourGuide customer

    Helpful?

    This is a must do!! Our tour guide Geoffrey, was excellent!!! It was so nice to have this guided tour, our tour guide was very knowledgeable. It was fantastic to get to see the Crown Jewels early and before the crowds!! We sailed right through. To learn all the history was great! Do this, you will not regret it!!

    September 27, 2019

    S
    Susan – United States Verified GetYourGuide customer

    Helpful?

    Absolutely Brilliant!!

    This tour was fabulous. We met our guide with no problem outside the shop opposite the Tower of London. Katie was a lovely knowledgeable guide and she spoke very clearly. We were the first group into the Tower to see the opening ceremony this was a great experience. Also first in to see the Crown Jewels which are stunning, this part was my highlight. Katie’s commentary all around the Tower was great. Having a guide meant we didn’t miss anything it also no doubt saved time. I would highly recommend this tour. The Tower of London is amazing.

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    August 1, 2019

    P
    Pauline – New Zealand Verified GetYourGuide customer

    Helpful?

    Organized by
    Walks - UK

    Product ID: 200482