Tower of London: Pre-Opening Entry and Beefeater Ceremony
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts.
- Languages: English
- All-day Tower of London entry ticket
- Beefeater Opening Ceremony viewing
- Expert English-speaking tour leader
- First-of-the-day access to the Crown Jewels and Jewel House
- Guided walking tour of the Tower of London external grounds
- Pre-opening access to the Tower of London with a Yeoman Warder
- Self-guided exploration after the ceremony
- Tower of London map and audio guide app
- Guide tips
- Guided tour inside the Tower of London
- Languages: English
- All-day Tower of London entry ticket
- Beefeater Opening Ceremony viewing
- Expert English-speaking tour leader
- First-of-the-day access to the Crown Jewels and Jewel House
- Guided walking tour of the Tower of London external grounds
- Pre-opening access to the Tower of London with a Yeoman Warder
- Self-guided exploration after the ceremony
- Tower of London map and audio guide app
- Guide tips
- Guided tour inside the Tower of London
Most Tower of London visitors arrive to find the Jewel House queue already stretching across the courtyard. This tour changes that entirely. With pre-opening access and a group capped at 20 guests, you step inside the fortress before the public arrives and witness a ceremony that most visitors never even know takes place.
Your expert guide begins outside the fortress walls, leading the group along the medieval outer perimeter of this 11th-century royal stronghold built by William the Conqueror. You pass Traitors' Gate, the former watergate through which prisoners arrived by river barge, and walk the Thames-facing ramparts where royal guards kept watch for centuries.
Before the Tower opens its doors for the day, a Yeoman Warder leads your group through a side entrance and into the empty inner courtyard for a ceremony briefing. Then, Yeoman Warders in full Tudor dress uniform march through the grounds and perform the Beefeater Opening Ceremony, unlocking the fortress gates with precise, centuries-old military ritual.
From the ceremony, you head directly to the Jewel House while the rooms are still nearly empty. The Imperial State Crown, set with over 2,800 diamonds, and the Sovereign's Sceptre, which holds the 530-carat Cullinan I, are working pieces of the Royal Collection that you take in without the usual crowds pressing in around you.
Once the guided portion wraps up, your all-day entry ticket and included audio guide app give you the freedom to keep exploring at your own pace. Your map points the way to the White Tower's medieval armory, Bloody Tower, Tower Green, and the Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula, where two of Henry VIII's wives are buried.
This tour is perfect for first-time visitors and history enthusiasts who want to experience the Tower of London properly, with unhurried access to its most significant sites and the rare privilege of being inside before the crowds arrive.
- Enjoy all-day access to the Tower of London with a map and audio guide app
- Enjoy first-of-the-day access to the Jewel House to admire the Crown Jewels
- Explore the Tower's medieval outer walls and Traitors' Gate with an expert guide
- Witness the Beefeater Opening Ceremony before the Tower opens to the public
The meeting point may vary. Always check the tickets we sent you to confirm the final details before the activity.
Not suitable for
- People with mobility impairments
- Wheelchair users
What to bring
- Charged Smartphone
- Comfortable shoes
- Headphones
- Passport or ID card
- Weather-appropriate clothing
Know before you go
- A smartphone and headphones are required to use the included audio guide app. Please ensure you have your device and headphones with you on the day.
- This tour is not wheelchair accessible due to uneven surfaces and historic stone stairways.
- Your Tower of London entry ticket is valid for the full day, so you are free to stay and explore long after the guided portion has finished. Keep your schedule flexible to make the most of it.
- Your tour host will not be joining you inside the Tower of London. Instead, you will follow a Beafeater inside for the opening ceremony, then explore independently with an audio guide.
