The Tower is a paid, ticketed site, so the split here is between tours that go inside (with the Crown Jewels and White Tower) and those that use it as a stop on a wider London itinerary. Early-access and opening-ceremony tours are a real thing worth paying for -- the Tower gets mobbed, and seeing the Crown Jewels before the crowds is a genuine upgrade. Read whether "entry" is actually included versus just a walk past the walls.
Prices swing from $24.99 to $379.42, with uniformly strong ratings (4.8 to 5.0). The cheap medieval walking tour is a lovely low-cost intro but stays outside; the early-access and opening-ceremony tours are where the money is well spent; and the private tour is the top-dollar option for those who want the Tower to themselves.
#1Best value
Medieval History Walking Tour from The Tower of London
A cheap, top-rated medieval walk around the Tower and riverside.
★★★★★ 5.0 (245 reviews)·from $25·2h 00m·
At just $24.99 this 2-hour medieval history walking tour scores a perfect 5.0 over 245 reviews, covering the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast and London Bridge. It's the best-value intro here -- but it's a walk around the outside, not entry into the Tower itself.
★★★★★“Expert historian Mik took us a this Medieval tour of London, which should be renamed to the Medieval Fire tour of London based off how much all the great fires reshaped the city. He did a great job making this interesting for all and answering our many questions. Our family agrees he has excellent photography skills as well.”
— Verified traveller
Where you'll go: Tower of London · Tower Bridge · HMS Belfast · London Bridge
What's good
- Perfect 5.0 over 245 reviews
- Remarkable value at $24.99
- Covers the Tower area and riverside landmarks
What to know
- No entry inside the Tower or to the Crown Jewels
- Exterior walking tour only
Best for: Budget travelers wanting rich history around the Tower
Skip it if: You want to go inside and see the Crown Jewels
#2Best private
Private Tour of The Tower of London
A private guide and the Tower to yourselves -- top price, top rating.
★★★★★ 5.0 (189 reviews)·from $379·3h 00m·Private
This $379.42 private tour is the most expensive here and scores a perfect 5.0 over 189 reviews, covering the Tower, Jewel House, White Tower and Tower Bridge across 3 hours. If you want a private expert and a bespoke pace through the fortress, this is the premium choice.
★★★★★“This was a fun and fascinating experience. Marina was a wonderful guide. She is very knowledgeable about the history of the tower and the monarchy. She really did a great job of steering us around the crowds. We learned so much, and the 3 hours flew by. This was definitely a highlight of our trip.”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Private tour
- Professional guide
- Optional Upgrade: Afternoon Tea
- Your Blue Badge Guide will work to minimise time spent queuing
Where you'll go: Tower of London · Jewel House · White Tower · Tower Bridge
What's good
- Private tour with a perfect 5.0 rating
- Covers Jewel House, White Tower and Tower Bridge
- Fully guided at your own pace
What to know
- Most expensive option at $379.42
- Overkill for casual visitors
Best for: Groups or families wanting a private, thorough Tower visit
Skip it if: You're happy in a group or want to save money
#3Best overall
Tower of London Early Access, Opening Ceremony and Royal London
Early access plus the opening ceremony -- the Tower before the crowds.
★★★★½ 4.9 (153 reviews)·from $146·4h 00m·
At $145.78, rated 4.9 over 153 reviews, this 4-hour tour gets you early access to the Tower, the Crown Jewels and the historic opening ceremony, then continues to Royal London. Beating the crowds to the Jewels is the single best upgrade you can buy here, and this delivers it at a fair price.
★★★★★“Our guide was fantastic. The history she shared, the stories, and lore made the Tower of London come to life for us . It was much more meaningful with our guide. Highly recommend to see the crown jewels without crowds and getting to meet and hear about a beefeaters life inside the tower .”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- VIP early-access tickets to Tower of London
- Local English-speaking guide
- Thames River Boat Ride
- A guided walking tour of Royal Westminster
Where you'll go: Tower of London · The Crown Jewels · Thames River · Houses of Parliament
What's good
- Early access to the Crown Jewels before crowds
- Includes the atmospheric opening ceremony
- 4.9 over 153 reviews, 4-hour scope
What to know
- Early start required
- Modest review base
Best for: Visitors who want the Tower and Jewels without the crush
Skip it if: You're on a tight budget or want a private guide
#4Best London combo
London in a Day: Tower of London, Westminster & River Cruise
The Tower folded into a full London-in-a-day with a river cruise.
★★★★½ 4.8 (784 reviews)·from $132·Flexible·
At $131.89 this tour (4.8 over 784 reviews) covers the Tower of London, Westminster, Buckingham Palace and a Thames river cruise -- a genuine London highlights day. The Tower is one stop among many, so expect breadth over depth, but the 784-review base speaks to a reliable operation.
★★★★★“This tour was a very long day. Not for the elderly.
There wasn’t any time to look in gift shops at each location. We only had time to do what we wanted in an hour lunch break.
A little too much talking on each site we visited. Some people even left early as the shops shut and it didn’t finish until 4.45.
We only had one day in London so no time to look around.”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- St James Palace (exterior)
- Blue Badge guide
- Buckingham Palace (exterior)
- Tower of London & Crown Jewels
Where you'll go: Parliament Square · Westminster Abbey · Buckingham Palace · Horse Guards Parade at Whitehall
What's good
- Wide London coverage plus a river cruise
- 4.8 over 784 reviews
- Good value for a full day out
What to know
- Tower is just one stop, so limited depth there
- No early access to beat crowds
Best for: First-timers wanting London's greatest hits in a day
Skip it if: You specifically want an in-depth Tower experience
#5Best for the ceremony
VIP Early Access: Opening Ceremony Tower of London & Bridge Entry
VIP early access with the opening ceremony and Tower Bridge entry.
★★★★½ 4.8 (586 reviews)·from $207·3h 30m·
For $206.87 this 3.5-hour VIP tour (4.8 over 586 reviews) combines early access, the opening ceremony and entry to Tower Bridge. The added Tower Bridge inclusion sets it apart, and the solid 586-review base gives it more credibility than the newer opening-ceremony tour.
★★★★★“This is an absolute must do tour! Warren was our guide and he was full of so much information and history. He made the experience really special!”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Entrance to the 11th century Romanesque Chapel of St. John's located in the White Tower
- Be one of the first to enter the Crown Jewels Exhibition and avoid the massive lines
- Meet the Chief Beefeater for a private welcome to the Tower of London & Opening Ceremony
- Enter the Tower of London before the public to witness the 700 year old Opening Ceremony
Where you'll go: Tower of London · White Tower · Tower Bridge
What's good
- Early access plus the opening ceremony
- Includes Tower Bridge entry
- 4.8 over 586 reviews
What to know
- Pricier than the 4.9-rated early-access tour
- Early start
Best for: Visitors who want the ceremony and Tower Bridge together
Skip it if: You'd rather the higher-rated, cheaper early-access option
#6Best small-group
The Tower of London - Small Group Tour with a Local Expert
A focused small-group tour of the Tower with a local expert.
★★★★½ 4.8 (422 reviews)·from $212·Flexible·Small group
At $212.42 this small-group tour (4.8 over 422 reviews) stays focused on the Tower of London itself with a local expert. It's a more intimate, in-depth way to explore the fortress than the big itinerary tours, though duration isn't listed and it's on the pricier side.
★★★★★“Even though it was raining buckets, our tour of The Tower was the highlight of our trip to London. James was an excellent guide. We could have spent the entire day learning more about the history of The Tower and its current workings, as well. My husband and I ended up being the only people in the group that day so we had a private tour for a very reasonable price. I can't recommend this tour wi”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Visit the Royal Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula to see the burial site of Anne Boleyn
- Access to the “Beefeaters” and Tower Ravens
- Visit the Medieval Palace to experience the lifestyle of English Kings and Queens
- Easy access to the White Tower Royal Armour Exhibition
Where you'll go: Tower of London
What's good
- Small-group, in-depth focus on the Tower
- Local expert guide at 4.8 over 422 reviews
- Single-site depth rather than a rushed loop
What to know
- Pricey at $212.42
- Duration not stated
Best for: Travelers wanting a deep, small-group dive into the Tower
Skip it if: You want early access or a wider London itinerary
#7Best history double
Full Day London Tour: Tower of London & Westminster Abbey
A full day pairing the Tower with Westminster Abbey.
★★★★½ 4.8 (122 reviews)·from $124·7h 00m·
For $124.45 this 7-hour tour (4.8 over 122 reviews) links the Tower of London with Westminster Abbey plus Parliament Square and Downing Street. Two of London's heavyweight historic sites in one long day -- good for history-focused visitors, though the day is long and the review base small.
★★★★★“To know about the hidden history of these iconic places, highly recommended. Easy pace, and knowledgeable guide Jeremy.”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Knowledgeable, English-speaking guide
- Admission to the British Crown Jewels
- Guided tour of the Tower of London
- Witness the Changing of the Guard ceremony (or Horse Guard on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays)
Where you'll go: Parliament Square · Westminster Abbey · 10 Downing Street · St. James's Park
What's good
- Pairs the Tower with Westminster Abbey
- 4.8 rating, full 7-hour day
- Covers key political landmarks too
What to know
- Long 7-hour commitment
- Only 122 reviews
Best for: History travelers wanting two major sites in one day
Skip it if: You want a shorter day or Tower-only depth
Before you go
- Head straight for the Crown Jewels on arrival, the Jewel House line is short at opening and brutal by midday.
- The Yeoman Warder (Beefeater) tours are free with entry and genuinely worth catching, don't pay extra expecting them to be the highlight.
- Early-access 'Opening Ceremony' tours are the real upgrade here, they get you to the jewels before the crowds.
- The White Tower is the oldest part (1078) and holds the Royal Armouries, budget time for it beyond the jewels.
- Tower Bridge is right next door and often confused with London Bridge, several tours include it.
- Allow a full 2-3 hours minimum inside, it's a large site and rushing it wastes the ticket.
How I ranked these
For Tower of London tours I weighted three things: what you actually get for the money (group size, what's included, special access), the rating balanced against how many reviews back it up — a 4.9 from 200 people isn't the same as a 4.6 from 15,000 — and price for what's on offer. Ratings, review counts and prices shift over time, so always check the live booking page before you pay.
Good to know
What's the must-see inside the Tower of London?
The Crown Jewels and the White Tower (the original Norman keep from 1078). The early-access and VIP tours here, from about $146, are built around beating the crowds to the Jewel House, since the line to see the jewels can be long once the site fills up.
What is the 'Opening Ceremony' early-access tour?
It's a chance to enter before general admission and witness the daily ceremony that unlocks the Tower. The ~$146 and ~$207 versions get you in early and to the Crown Jewels ahead of the day-ticket crowds. It's the main reason to pay more than standard entry.
Are the Yeoman Warder (Beefeater) tours included?
The free Yeoman Warder tours are run by the Tower itself and included with any admission, they're excellent and darkly funny. The paid tours here add early access, small groups or a private guide on top; you can still catch a Beefeater tour once inside.
Can I see the Tower and Westminster in one day?
Yes, the ~$132 'London in a Day' tour and a ~$124 full-day tour both pair the Tower with Westminster Abbey and other landmarks. They're long days covering opposite ends of central London, so expect a lot of ground and a river cruise or transfer in between.
Is the Tower of London worth a private tour at ~$379?
The private 3-hour tour suits families or anyone wanting the White Tower, Jewel House and Tower Bridge explained at their own pace without a group. For most visitors the early-access small-group options deliver the crowd-beating benefit at a fraction of the price.
Prices are "from" prices in USD and change with date and availability. Last updated August 2026.