Inner ward
Salt Tower
The south-east corner of Henry III's inner wall, later a prison for Catholic priests under Elizabeth I. Hew Draper, a Bristol innkeeper accused of sorcery, carved an astrological sphere into its wall in 1561.
- Time here
- 10–15 min (our estimate)
- Access
- Not step-free · Spiral stairs
- Where
- Inner ward · indoors
.jpg){kind=link}
What you can see
- Hew Draper's zodiac 'sphere', dated 30 May 1561, low on the wall by a window
- Inscriptions from the 1580s and 1590s, several by Jesuit priests
- Views down onto the wharf and Tower Bridge from the wall walk
Practical considerations
- Not step-free
- Spiral stairs
- Part of the wall walk; no step-free access
- Toilets in this tower
Access details from Historic Royal Palaces' accessibility page. Time estimates are ours unless marked official.
Book
Tickets that suit a visit built around Salt Tower
- Viator Guided tour
Small-group guided tour with early entry and a private Beefeater audience
First-time visitors who want a guide for the whole morning and the story behind what they are looking at
From €117 per adult, EUR · seen 10 Sept 2026
Who needs it, who doesn't, and the small print - Official Admission
Standard admission (official)
Almost everyone: first visits, families, anyone happy to explore independently
From £37.00 adult · seen 10 Sept 2026
Who needs it, who doesn't, and the small print
Viator links are affiliate links: we earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. Official tickets earn us nothing. Prices are what we saw on the date shown; providers show live prices in your currency at checkout. All six options compared.