How long should I allow for the Tower of London?

Historic Royal Palaces recommends at least two hours. In practice allow three to four hours to see most of it without rushing, longer with a Yeoman Warder tour or on a peak day.

What time does the Tower of London open?

On 10 September 2026 the Tower opened 09:00–17:30 with last entry at 16:30. Hours change by season, so check the official page for your date. Last entry that day was 16:30 and the last Yeoman Warder tour 15:15.

Can I leave and come back in?

No. Historic Royal Palaces does not allow re-entry once you have exited.

Is the Tower of London step-free?

Partly. Level access: Jewel House (Crown Jewels), with a moving walkway staff can stop; Chapel Royal via a platform lift operated by the Yeoman Warder on duty (two wheelchair users at a time); New Armouries Café (ramp). No step-free access: Battlements (wall walk); Bloody Tower; Imprisonment at the Tower exhibition (Beauchamp Tower); Upper floors of the White Tower (its lift only reaches the basement shop). A free wheelchair can be borrowed on arrival but not reserved.

When is the Tower of London quietest?

Historic Royal Palaces says the quietest time is after 13:00; peak season is Easter to October.

Visit guide

The practical facts, checked by hand

Everything on this page was read from Historic Royal Palaces' official pages on 10 Sept 2026. Hours change by season and events close routes without warning, so confirm on hrp.org.uk on the day.

Hours and how long to allow

On 10 September 2026 the Tower opened 09:00–17:30 with last entry at 16:30. Hours change by season, so check the official page for your date.
Last entry was 16:30; last Yeoman Warder tour 15:15.
Allow at least two hours (official); three to four hours to see most of it without rushing.
No re-entry once you leave.
Quietest after 13:00; peak season is Easter to October.

Tickets in one paragraph

Adult £37.00, child (5–15) £18.50, under-fives free, excluding the optional donation. Book online for a timeslot; the Yeoman Warder tour, Crown Jewels and White Tower are included. Audio guide from £5. Compare all the options.

Getting there

Address: Tower of London, London EC3N 4AB.
Tower Hill (District and Circle lines), Tower Gateway (DLR) and London Bridge stations all have lifts to street level; Tower Hill is a few minutes' walk.
Riverboats stop at Tower Pier on the wharf; most have wheelchair spaces.
Blue Badge bays are in the Tower Hill car park; taxi and coach drop-off on Lower Thames Street.

What to bring, and what not to

Comfortable shoes: cobbles, uneven paths and spiral stairs.
A layer and something waterproof; much of the visit is outdoors.
Small bags only. There is no luggage storage and large items are not admitted.
Headphones and a charged phone if you use the audio guide on your own device.
Nothing for the ravens. They bite.

Physical access at the Tower

Level access: Jewel House (Crown Jewels), with a moving walkway staff can stop; Chapel Royal via a platform lift operated by the Yeoman Warder on duty (two wheelchair users at a time); New Armouries Café (ramp).

No step-free route: Battlements (wall walk); Bloody Tower; Imprisonment at the Tower exhibition (Beauchamp Tower); Upper floors of the White Tower (its lift only reaches the basement shop).

A wheelchair can be borrowed free on arrival (not bookable). One free carer or companion ticket per disabled visitor. Hidden-disability wristbands from the ticket office. Assistance dogs welcome; emotional support animals are not admitted.

Source: HRP accessibility page, including its downloadable access guide. This section is about the site; this website's own accessibility is described separately.

Toilets, seating, quiet

Toilets: Brick Tower behind the Jewel House (accessible, baby changing), Salt Tower, Cradle Tower; Changing Places toilet in the New Armouries building.
Benches with back rests on Tower Green and outside the White Tower; indoor seating in the New Armouries Café.
Low light in the Jewel House, Battlements, Bloody Tower and the torture display; sound effects in several rooms; gun salutes on the wharf on set dates are very loud.

Eating

Inside the walls the New Armouries Café (east of the White Tower) serves hot food and has indoor seating, a ramp and the Changing Places toilet in its lobby; it is busiest between noon and two. Kiosks on the wharf are outside the walls, so use them before you enter or after you leave: there is no re-entry. Historic Royal Palaces lists its own food and drink options; we do not recommend restaurants beyond the walls.

The inner ward with the Waterloo Block, near the New Armouries Café — Photo: Ethan Doyle White, CC BY-SA 4.0

The dry moat and outer walls of the Tower of London — Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0

The moat

Dry since the 1840s, dug for vegetables in both world wars, and planted as a wildflower landscape for the 2022 Platinum Jubilee ("Superbloom"), the moat is free to look at from the causeway and often hosts seasonal installations. The remains of the medieval Lion Tower, home of the royal menagerie, are visible in it by the ticket office. Read the menagerie story.

Quick answers

How long should I allow for the Tower of London?: Historic Royal Palaces recommends at least two hours. In practice allow three to four hours to see most of it without rushing, longer with a Yeoman Warder tour or on a peak day.
What time does the Tower of London open?: On 10 September 2026 the Tower opened 09:00–17:30 with last entry at 16:30. Hours change by season, so check the official page for your date. Last entry that day was 16:30 and the last Yeoman Warder tour 15:15.
Can I leave and come back in?: No. Historic Royal Palaces does not allow re-entry once you have exited.
Is the Tower of London step-free?: Partly. Level access: Jewel House (Crown Jewels), with a moving walkway staff can stop; Chapel Royal via a platform lift operated by the Yeoman Warder on duty (two wheelchair users at a time); New Armouries Café (ramp). No step-free access: Battlements (wall walk); Bloody Tower; Imprisonment at the Tower exhibition (Beauchamp Tower); Upper floors of the White Tower (its lift only reaches the basement shop). A free wheelchair can be borrowed on arrival but not reserved.
When is the Tower of London quietest?: Historic Royal Palaces says the quietest time is after 13:00; peak season is Easter to October.

Sources: HRP visit, tickets, accessibility and tour pages, checked 10 Sept 2026. How we verify.