I am going to purchase tickets to the Tower of London for late June. Since the Tower opens at 10:00 a.m. on Sundays, what time should we arrive to avoid long lines to get in?
Also, I read to hurry back to the Crown Jewels upon entrance before the crowds get back there. Then, come back to the entrance to catch a Beefeater Tour. Can anyone verify this plan?
Last, does anyone know how far in advance I should book tickets?
Any other tips to touring the Tower of London?
Thank you in advance!
You are traveling in June one of the most tourist laden months in London.
Been to Disneyland during the summer? That’s what you’re facing. Lines and crowds will be large everywhere.
Book your tickets now!
I’d arrive at least an hour early and yes head to the Crown Jewels first then join a tour.
I followed this strategy on my visit and it worked well. Plenty of time with the Crown Jewels and really no lines for them when you go there right away.
Yes, crown jewels first. Beefeaters tour is enjoyable and goes on all day (every half hour). It's helpful to do it early for an orientation and quick history. A must-do early as well is a photo-op with the royal guards (not the Beefeaters, the guys in the furry hats and red jackets). They're roped off so you can't get beside them but you can get close to get photos. Crowds can get thick around them as the place gets busy (think the characters at Disneyland). You might also want to walk the walls early as well, I suspect they may get crowded mid-day to mid-afternoon, we lucked out and a heavy rain came in the early afternoon for about half an hour and cleared the crowd out for awhile, even after the rain stopped. My favorite moment of the day was in the basement of the tower. I was fascinated by an old door and one of the workers was so excited that I took an interest in this door that he actually closed it-keeping some people from entering for a few minutes including my wife :), so he could show me the hinges and history of the door which is an original door and almost 1000 years old. It can be a full day there and lots to see, don't expect to be in and out in a couple of hours. We were there about 6 hours but it really depends on your level of interest. I suspect there is a reason you're planning the tower for a Sunday, I don't know this for sure but I would suspect mid-week would have less crowds.
Yes, definitely agree with the others on the head to the Crown Jewels first strategy. There are little signposts thru the Tower pointing you in the right direction. Oh, actually, here's a good picture on Google satellite view. You'll come in at the gate on the left side at the bottom. The Crown Jewels is conveniently noted on this picture as well. You'll return to the entrance gate as the Yeoman Warder/Beefeater tours start just inside the gate and down on the grassy moat area. You can't tell from this picture but the moat is much lower than the surrounds.
https://goo.gl/maps/B6CFks5bPkR2
The plus about going on the Yeoman Warder tour is that this is the only way you can enter St Peter ad Vincula, the Royal Chapel which is the burial place of Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Lady Jane Grey.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_St_Peter_ad_Vincula
There is a fairly reasonably priced cafe in the Tower in the SW corner.
I've been to the Tower twice, both times in early to mid-afternoon on a weekday and it was not horribly crowded. I bought my ticket about a month in advance and just walked right in. The first time I did the Yeoman Warder tour, Crown Jewels, etc. The second time was just to spend 3 hours with the ravens--I am a wee bit of a fanatic about them and my enthusiasm was repaid handsomely--I found one of their feathers, best souvenir ever :) I had hoped to meet the Ravenmaster but that didn't happen until he came to CA on tour to promote his wonderful book.
Thank you sooo much! Fantastic information - love this warm community! :)
I don't have to go on a Sunday. I was thinking we (family of 5) because Sundays are travel days sometimes - good day (if there is one) for Disneyland ;). And I am not sure what might close in London because it is a Sunday. But... maybe we'll take the train up to Oxford on Sunday and go to the Tower of London on a Monday or Tuesday. Will get there well in advance of opening to get a head start.
@Allan I didn't realize one could walk the walls. Can you (or someone here ) tell me a little more about that?
You can't walk all the way around on the inner wall but there are specific areas where you can go up. Here's a link to the official website for the tower and the section on accessing the Battlements.
https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/explore/battlements/#gs.FWrSfWUl
I should have linked to the official map rather than the google satellite view but I was on the google site doing something else so.... Anyway, here's the official map.
https://www.hrp.org.uk/media/1587/tower-map-2018.pdf
BTW, if you zoom in on the googlemap you can see cars parked around the inside of the outer wall. There are folks that actually live there!
CaliMom, I was going to send the same link as Pam did above. I can't remember where I saw it but there is one room along the walls with a bunch of fun facts. My favourite-"King Henry III's polar bear was tied to a rope so he could go fishing in the Thames".
Thanks all!
I was just reading Rick Steves 2019 London Guide and he says there is no need to book the Tower of London ahead of time. Hmmm....
Think about this for a moment, you get up early on Sunday and travel to the Tower then stand in line for entry for say an hour or maybe 90 minutes.
Or
You get up whenever you feel like and eventually wonder over to the Tower and get a relatively short wait to get in (it always seams to me that the wait is to get tickets not get in). But you have a much longer line to get to see the crown jewells.
The question is how long does it take to get to the Tower from your lodging and are you doing anything else in the area at the same time. As a special trip will eat up whatever time you save by going early.
Either way you are going to wait. Yes going early probably means that you wait a bit less but you are still going to wait.
Even in Sept or October the Tower is popular.
Anyway my point is if you want to go early that is fine but make sure it fits your schedule to do so as either way will involve waiting.
Rick's book says Tower of London tickets do not need to be purchased ahead of time but he highly recommends doing so. You would be in for a looooooong wait if you roll in on a Sunday in June without tickets. Another option if you don't want to buy ahead would be to do a London Walks tour of the Tower, Those meet at 11 and they get your tickets.
I’ve decided to buy tickets in advance for a Monday., and will plan to arrive by 9:30 am (site opens at 10). We have tickets to Hamilton that night at 7:30 so what to do in between? Walk through the city (follow Rick Steves audiobook), Tube to Spitalfields Market and Shoreditch? Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, Borough Market or Brick Lane for Lunch? Walk to the Shakespeare Globe Theater and do the Queens’s Jubilee Walk along the south side of the Thames?
Thanks for your input!!
yes, any of those
I’d consider a quick trip to All Hallows By The Tower, the oldest church in London.
Out of all you mentioned, I prefer the tour of the City of London. You might also look at London Walks schedule for that day to see if there’s anything of interest.
