My husband and I will be visiting the TOL for the first time and are interested in a guided tour. Unfortunately, our schedule doesn’t allow us to take advantage of the tours with London Walks. So, I am considering splurging on a private guide instead. Do you consider this a site that a visitor could find a guide particularly helpful? In our experience a good guide can provide a lot of information. Is the TOL a place that really comes alive with a guide?
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
The Yeoman Warder tour is included and was good.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
No private guide needed - the included beefeaters tour is very good !
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15856 posts
Agreed: the free Yeoman Warders tour is great! While it doesn't cover all sections of the Tower, it's a good intro from honored military officers who reside within the walls, and with a dose of humor besides.
https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/explore/yeoman-warder-tours/#gs.=gxFNok
I will recommend purchasing the official guidebook upon arrival to reference both during and after your visit. It's a worthwhile accompaniment to the tour, IMHO, as it contains information - such as illustrations of expansion over the centuries after initial construction - that's useful to have.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32913 posts
The Yeoman Warders will give you a fabulous tour, as career military they will make sure that they are heard (as long as you pay attention - no talking in the ranks!!) and they will give you loads of information.
Included in your entry, and meet up just inside the walls in one of one or two spots. You won't miss them. If one talk and walk is full or just started you will be on the next, quickly behind it. Only Yeoman Warders who live within the Tower can perform that activity. Only a Yeoman Warder can get you into St Peter ad Vincula and you won't want to miss that....
Oh, and no money changes hands. They are free with your admission or membership.
and funny