Tower of London and Tower Bridge: Tips for Visiting
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The Tower of London and Tower Bridge are two of the most popular tourist destinations for anyone visiting London.
Visiting the Tower of London and Tower Bridge: (Jump To)
For more to do in London check out our 5-Day London Itinerary.
Tower of London and Tower Bridge Location
Start at Tower Hill for an easy five-minute walk to the gates, then plan a London Bridge to Tower Bridge walk along the river for big views and quick access between both icons. If you’re looking for things to do near the Tower of London or things to do near Tower Bridge, you’ve got St. Katharine Docks, Borough Market, and the riverside path right at your feet.
Both are located slightly down the Thames River from central London. Start your visit at the Tower Hill subway station, upon exiting follow the signs to the Tower of London. You’ll be able to see it from the station exit. It’s about a five-minute walk. Tickets are available in advance online or at the ticket booths outside the castle walls for both the tower and the bridge.
Tower of London Tickets
Buy Tower of London tickets in advance, then give yourself time to see the big hitters—Crown Jewels, White Tower, medieval walls, and the ravens. Wondering how long do you need at the Tower of London? Most visitors spend 2–3 hours, more if you want every talk and exhibit.
Ticket prices are available at the following rates either online in advance or at the time of arrival at the Tower. Using our partner GetYourGuide might save you some money on tickets.
Adults - £35.80
Children (aged 5-15) - £17.90
Kids under age 5 - FREE
Tower of London Private Tours
Private tours unlock early or after-hours access and a guide who can laser-focus on what to do at the Tower of London based on your interests. If your group is short on time, a private guide helps you prioritize what to see at the Tower of London and still make your Tower Bridge slot.
Private tours of the tower are available for £1200 + Tax. This price includes groups of up to twenty guests. Any additional guests can be added for £60. per person plus taxes.
Tower of London White Tower
Inside the White Tower you’ll find the Romanesque chapel, the Line of Kings, and armor that makes “what to see at the Tower of London” an easy answer. If you’re comparing Tower of London reviews, this building is consistently praised for its depth of history without feeling stuffy.
There’s quite a bit to see inside the Tower of London. The oldest building on the site, the White Tower, was built in 1078. It served as an important military fortress as well as home to the king. Inside the building, you can tour the 11th-century Romanesque chapel.
Also on display inside are items from the Royal Armories. Some of the items in the exhibit have been on display there for 350 years. The most impressive pieces include armor created for King Henry VIII. Upstairs is a grim exhibit displaying a block and ax used for beheadings.
Tower of London - Crown Jewels
The Crown Jewels exhibit is the headliner and the top answer to what to see at the Tower of London—expect a moving walkway, serious sparkle, and a steady line. To dodge the rush, arrive early or late; then use any extra time for things to do near the Tower of London like the wall walk or river views.
The other large building on the site, The Waterloo Block, is a much newer addition to the site. It was built in 1845 as a barracks for soldiers. The building is most famous for being home to the Crown Jewels.
Viewing the jewels is included in your ticket price. You’ll likely have to line up outside. Once indoors you’ll view the jewels on a handy moving walkway. There’s enough bling on display to make even the most over-the-top drag queen cry. There are crowns, scepters, swords, and shiny things of all kinds. Notably, the largest clear-cut diamond in the world is on display here.
You can also walk the walls of the castle. As you explore you’ll see numerous towers and stops each holding their own unique piece of history. There are even a few animal statues in the place where the king kept his small personal zoo.
Tower of London Ravens
The famous ravens are part legend, part living attraction, and a must on any list of what to do at the Tower of London. Spot their perches as you circle the grounds, then head out for things to do near the Tower of London such as a coffee at St. Katharine Docks.
While exploring you’re also bound to see some of the famous ravens of the tower. Legend has it that if the ravens leave the tower, the kingdom will fall. They are encouraged to stay at the tower with biscuits and blood; plus they trim their flight feathers. In 1986 Raven George was exiled in scandal after eating some television aerials.
Tower of London to Tower Bridge
It’s a short, well-signed walk from the Tower of London to Tower Bridge, making it easy to pair both in one morning. For a longer riverside route, extend it into a London Bridge to Tower Bridge walk and loop back via the north bank.
After leaving the Tower of London we walked along the banks of the Thames to reach Tower Bridge. We had tickets to the Tower Bridge Experience, which allows you to enter the top portion of the bridge, the towers, and the engine room. You can, of course, just walk across the lower part of the bridge for free as a pedestrian.
The bridge was built in the late 19th century to fill the need for a bridge that could handle the growing city traffic but would also not cut off the heavy flow of sailing ships passing through the river.
The once-in-lifetime chance to walk across the walkway atop the bridge is probably worth the ticket price but touted Tower Bridge Experience isn’t a whole lot to get excited about. There were modern and informative displays about the construction and history of the bridge.
Tower Bridge Glass Floor
The glass floor on the high walkways is the marquee moment for Tower Bridge tickets and one of the easiest things to do near Tower Bridge with kids or teens. Time your visit for a bridge lift if you can; otherwise the city-and-river views more than carry the experience.
From the Tower of London side of the bridge, you climb the stairs to the top of the north tower. From there you walk across the upper bridge where you can look at the traffic below through a glass floor. In the south tower, two flights of stairs take you back down to the street level.
Tower Bridge Engine Room
Down at the Victorian Engine Rooms, you’ll see the original machinery that powered the bridge—an underrated stop when you’re weighing Tower London reviews and deciding what’s worth your time. Pair the Engine Rooms with the glass floor for a complete visit before crossing to Borough Market for lunch.
At street level, you'll walk to the riverbank where you can climb down to the small engine room to have a look at the cogs and gears that allow the bridge to rise and lower.
The Tower of London is filled with history and should not be missed when visiting London. If you’re looking to save a few dollars skipping the paid exhibition on the bridge is advisable. The real beauty of the bridge is seen from afar.
Once on the south bank of the Thames, we walked to Borough Market for a delicious lunch.
For a great day trip down the Thames, think about visiting Greenwich.
