How much time to allow to see Tower of London and Tower Bridge?

You can visit Tower Bridge now, with its glass walkway high above the roadway. Otherwise it's just a photo stop. Three hours at the Tower would do me. Go to the Tower first up then lunch at Borough Market. Tate Modern or St Paul's would round out your day.

I agree 3 hours is probably average for the Tower. You could do it quickly in 2, or very in depth include the crown jewels and spend 4. I think the line for the crown jewels can get quite long in the afternoons.

Half a day at Tower of London. You will see Tower Bridge while you're there, and it takes about five minutes to walk across. Then head west along the South Bank to Borough Market for lunch.

I recall spending a good 3 hours at the Tower, between touring the various buildings and watching the ravens, then I walked across the Tower bridge and headed to the Tate Modern.

Off topic, but I was just in that area last week, and indulged in the best Tapas!
https://www.brindisakitchens.com/restaurant/tapas-brindisa-london-bridge/

We stayed at CitizenM Bankside, very close to that area. Really enjoyed our stay.
https://www.citizenm.com/destinations/london/london-bankside-hotel
we got a really good rate through Jetsetter.com. Don't bother with their breakfast if you have to pay for it.

If you are there for Sunday brunch, I had the best meal of my life here:
http://www.seacontainersrestaurant.com/menus/
The Mondrian Sea Containers Hotel is great. Jetsetter has deals on that one also. Brunch requires a reservation unless, like us, you are willing to sit at the bar. Order the ribeye & chicken & waffles...enough for 3-4 -people!

Have fun,
Marie

We have done the Tower Bridge tour just once. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour, much of it it spent in watching videos. It covers the making and history of the bridge and exposes and draw bridge lifting mechanism. Also it provides views from higher up. Just admiring the bridge without the tour is a five to 20 minutes thing. It's also a great place from which to photograph the tower.

2 to three hours will do it for The Tower of London.

We have done the Tower Bridge tour just once. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour, much of it it spent in watching videos. It covers the making and history of the bridge and exposes and draw bridge lifting mechanism. Also it provides views from higher up. Just admiring the bridge without the tour is a five to 20 minutes thing. It's also a great place from which to photograph the tower.

2 to three hours will do it for The Tower of London.

You can save a lot of time standing in line if you buy your tickets to the Tower of London in advance.

We got there about 15 minutes before opening and joined the "tickets in hand" queue. We went straight to the Crown Jewels when they opened, then went out and joined the next Beefeater tour. After that we wandered around a bit and then got lunch there. Borough Market would have been a much better choice for lunch!

Lola's got good advice about the Tower, try to get there when it opens, preferably with "ticket in hand." The beefeater tour is very good but may mean waiting in line for the crown jewels. Or see the jewels first then the rest.

It's worth going up in Tower Bridge (by elevator) to walk across the upper level and, if you're lucky and the bridge opens, see a ship or barge pass beneath your feet. The video is good but can be skipped if time is short. I don't remember whether there's an elevator at the south end, I took the stairs, but if not elevator you may want to retrace to the north end for it, then walk across at the traffic level. Borough Market would be a good lunch choice if you can wait that long. Southwark Cathedral is interesting and has Roman and medieval ruins you can look down at.

But MORE importantly where did you finally choose to stay?

Thank you all for the great advice. Magenta that is awesome advice. Can't wait. We want to do the tour of Tower bridge too.

As for where we are staying, we have put in a request for a flat in Covent Gardens and waiting on a response. Keeping fingers crossed at this point.

If you are planning on going to Borough Market - yum yum yum - make sure you are there on a day and at a time when it is open and active. Plan for crowds and very tasty food.

Bridge opening times are advertised online. The bridge doesn't just open on demand, randomly.

Tower is closer to 4 hours to see unless you skip things.

I recommend 4 hours. There is a great museum at the Tower that shouldn't be missed or rushed through. We just took pictures of Tower Bridge after visiting Tower of London. Then we walked across it to get some lunch.

I've been told that as a part of touring that side of the city, the observation level of the Shard skyscraper is well with the time and expense.....

Order you tickets for the Tower so you don't have to wait in line for tickets and then in line to get in! Be sure and see the crown jewels as soon as that part opens the line isn't long then. And I loved the Beef Eaters tour, it's free, you learn about the history of the tower, it is the only way to see the inside of the chapel, and they are very funny! Also be sure and see the memorial to those who were executed at the tower. To see it all and do the tour 4 hours.

With so many free and fabulous high viewpoints now open around London, it is a shame that Shard is still ripping people off with their most exceedingly high admission price - after all the agreement when permission was given to build the monstrosity was that access would be free.

Sure, Tower Bridge is a quick walk-past, or rather walk-over. Much less well known is the chance to explore its inner workings (I missed it myself only two weeks ago.) http://www.towerbridge.org.uk/