Tower of London: Opening Ceremony & Early Crown Jewels Access
Description
Most visitors arrive at the Tower of London to find crowded rooms and long queues at the Jewel House. This tour puts you inside before any of that happens. You join a group of up to 20 guests and begin with a guided walk along the Tower's medieval outer walls, covering stories of Traitors' Gate, royal prisoners, and Thames-side ramparts. Before the Tower opens to the public, a Yeoman Warder leads your group inside for the Beefeater Opening Ceremony, where Yeoman Warders march in full dress uniform and unlock the fortress with military precision. It is a living ritual that most visitors never see. Straight after the ceremony, you head to the Jewel House for first-of-the-day access to the Crown Jewels before the queues form. Your all-day entry ticket and included map and audio guide app then let you explore the White Tower, Bloody Tower, Tower Green, and more at your own pace.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meet your guide outside the Tower of London Gift Shop for check-in and a welcome briefing. From here, follow your guide along the medieval outer walls, passing the ancient moat, Traitors' Gate, and the Thames-facing ramparts while hearing stories of royal prisoners, ravens, and centuries of intrigue.
Before the Tower opens to the public, a Yeoman Warder leads your group through a side entrance and into the empty fortress. Watch as Yeoman Warders in full dress uniform march through the courtyard and unlock the Tower of London gates with military precision, a living royal ritual that most visitors never witness.
Head straight to the Jewel House for first-of-the-day access to the Crown Jewels before the queues form. Marvel at the Imperial State Crown, set with over 2,800 diamonds, and the Sovereign's Sceptre, topped with the world's largest colorless cut diamond.
With the guided portion complete, your all-day entry ticket and included map and audio guide app let you explore every corner of the fortress at your own pace. Seek out the White Tower armories, Bloody Tower, Tower Green, and the Chapel Royal across the rest of the day.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- This tour is not wheelchair accessible due to uneven terrain and historic surfaces. Please contact us in advance if you have any questions or concerns about your mobility.
- A smartphone and headphones are required to access the included audio guide app. Please ensure you bring both on the day of your tour.
Reviews(120)
Viator worked with us when we ended up being g 30 minutes late due to unexpected traffic on the way to the venue. The guide, Lee, was fantastic. Very personable.
The opening ceremony tour with The Tour Guy is worth every penny. Our guide, Lee, was friendly, funny, informative and, best of all, able to get us in to see the opening ceremony and the Crown Jewels before anyone else. Had we booked on our own, we wouldn’t have been first in which is critical if you want to actually see anything. Highly recommend and if you can, request Lee!
It was great! Learned a lot before going inside. First ones in which made it easier to see everything
Loved our guide Sophie! She was very animated and made all the stories she told so interesting. She also made sure everyone felt welcomed and watched out for us. Highly recommend this tour as we got to go in before the general crowd and saw the opening ceremony.
Thank you for your fantastic review! We're so glad Sophie made your visit to the Tower of London both engaging and memorable. Early access to the Crown Jewels is such a special experience, and we're happy you enjoyed it without the larger crowds. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again soon!
Lee was an amazing guide! We had a great time and arrived before the crowds. Lee had a lot of knowledge and was funny and great with the kids
Thank you for your fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear Lee made your Tower of London visit so memorable. Early access, fascinating stories, and a guide who can keep the whole family entertained make for a truly special experience. We'll be sure to share your kind words with Lee, and we hope to see you again soon!
Informative and funny. Lee was great!
Thank you for your review! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed your early visit to the Tower of London and that Lee made the experience both informative and fun. Arriving before the crowds is a wonderful way to explore this iconic landmark, and we're glad you had such a great time. We hope to see you again soon!
Anthony was so knowledgeable! Very funny. Personable. Great tour.
Thank you so much! Anthony is an exceptional guide, and we are glad his humor and knowledge made your early access tour of the Tower of London so amazing. Be sure to spread the word to your family about booking their next adventure with The Tour Guy!
Lee was wonderful! Very fun and informative.
Thanks! We love to hear you had a complete perspective of your tour in London, from fun to informative. Share The Tour Guy and return soon!
Sofie was knowledgeable and personable. She took us to all of the key areas outside and was then available for additional questions if we had them. She was a great guide.
Thank you for your kind review! We're so glad you enjoyed your early access visit to the Tower of London. Sofie will be delighted to hear that her knowledge, friendly personality, and willingness to answer questions helped make your experience so memorable. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
"Team Lee" was the winning team to be on that day! He was outstanding and made sure that we were first in line for the things that being up front for really made a positive difference!
Hi Kenneth, Love to hear that "Team Lee" took the crown! Getting you to the front of the line for the big moments makes all the difference, especially for the early access. I'll let Lee know he crushed it and kept you guys ahead of the crowds.
