Tower of London: Opening Ceremony & Early Crown Jewels Access in London
London, United Kingdom

Tower of London: Opening Ceremony & Early Crown Jewels Access

Outty Ranking 72 4.6 · 133 traveler reviews1 hoursFrom $24

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September 2026

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Outty Ranking

72/100

Strongly Recommended. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

4.6/5

Based on 133 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Tower of London: Opening Ceremony & Early Crown Jewels Access worth booking?

Tower of London: Opening Ceremony & Early Crown Jewels Access is a 1-hour experience in London, United Kingdom, from $24 per person. It scores 72 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended, based on a 4.6/5 rating across 133 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
72 / 100
Rating
4.6/5 (133)
Duration
1 hours
From
$24 per person

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 wal

What you get

  • All-day Tower of London entry ticket
  • Tower of London map and audio guide app
  • Guided walking tour of the Tower of London external grounds
  • Self-guided exploration after the ceremony
  • First-of-the-day access to the Crown Jewels and Jewel House
  • Pre-opening access to the Tower of London with a Yeoman Warder

About this experience

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.

What's included

Included

  • All-day Tower of London entry ticket
  • Tower of London map and audio guide app
  • Guided walking tour of the Tower of London external grounds
  • Self-guided exploration after the ceremony
  • First-of-the-day access to the Crown Jewels and Jewel House
  • Pre-opening access to the Tower of London with a Yeoman Warder
  • Beefeater Opening Ceremony viewing
  • Expert English-speaking tour host

Not included

  • Guided interior tour of the Tower of London

What you'll see and do

  1. Tower of London

    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.

    20 minutes here · Admission included

  2. Tower of London

    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.

    20 minutes here · Admission included

  3. The Crown Jewels

    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.

    10 minutes here · Admission included

  4. Tower of London

    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.

    10 minutes here · Admission included

Where it starts and ends

Meeting point

London

We highly recommend that you arrive 10 - 15 minutes before the scheduled meeting time of your tour to ensure a prompt start. You will find the guide in front of the Tower of London shop directly across from the Tower of London entrance.

Hotel pickup

No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.

Ends at

We highly recommend that you arrive 10 - 15 minutes before the scheduled meeting time of your tour to ensure a prompt start. You will find the guide in front of the Tower of London shop directly across from the Tower of London entrance.

Before you book

Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Languages
en
Ticket
Mobile Only
Runs on
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
Group size
Up to 15 travelers per booking
Operated by
The Tour Guy

Know before you go

  • 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.

Photos

Tower of London: Opening Ceremony & Early Crown Jewels Access in London, photo 2Tower of London: Opening Ceremony & Early Crown Jewels Access in London, photo 3Tower of London: Opening Ceremony & Early Crown Jewels Access in London, photo 4Tower of London: Opening Ceremony & Early Crown Jewels Access in London, photo 5Tower of London: Opening Ceremony & Early Crown Jewels Access in London, photo 6Tower of London: Opening Ceremony & Early Crown Jewels Access in London, photo 7

What travelers are saying

Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 133 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

The guide

6 mentions

Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

Knowledge and storytelling

4 mentions

Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

Traveler reviews

133 verified traveler reviews for Tower of London: Opening Ceremony & Early Crown Jewels Access. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

5 star
106
4 star
11
3 star
7
2 star
4
1 star
5
Sort
Missy_Y · August 2026

Early entry for the win.

The early entry tour is a great way to enter before the crowds. Guide Lee was very personable and made the tour so fun.

Response from the operator: Thanks, Missy! We’re so glad the early entry made a difference and that Lee helped make the morning such a fun one. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to him. Thanks for joining us and hope to see you again!

via Viator

X5698SMwilliamb · August 2026

Early access to Crown Jewels

Our tour guide, Lee, was exceptional! He has a ton of knowledge and a wicked sense of humor. Lee took care of the group and made sure we were exactly where we needed to be so we didn’t miss a thing.

Response from the operator: Thanks for the great review! We’re so glad Lee made the morning such a memorable one. It sounds like his knowledge and sense of humour were a winning combination, and we’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to him. Hope to see you again!

via Tripadvisor

Maureen_S · August 2026

Great tour

The guide gave Interesting facts in an entertaining way before the tour and the beefeater and opening ceremony were great! The Crown Jewels were the cherry on top!

Response from the operator: Hi Maureen, thank you! We're so glad you enjoyed the entertaining history, the opening ceremony, and Beat-the-Crowds early access to the Crown Jewels. Seeing the Tower of London before the crowds arrive is magic. Hope to explore with you again soon!

via Viator

Chad_B · August 2026

Lee is a great guide. ...

Lee is a great guide. He really sets the stage for what you will see on the tour. I would certainly do this tour again. In fact I have!

via Viator

Cody O · August 2026

Crown Jewels opening ceremony

Lee was very funny and knowledgeable

via Tripadvisor

Good to know

Duration
1 hours
Free cancellation
Up to 24h before
Minimum age to book
All ages
Availability
Bookable today
Runs on
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
Price range
$24 to $160
Hotel pickup
No pickup, meet at start point
Booked in 30 days
47
Verdict
Strongly Recommended

Why this scores 72

The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

Traveler sentiment (30% weight)72
Review evidence (18% weight)65
Booking momentum (14% weight)60
Value for money (12% weight)77
Listing quality (10% weight)100
Local standing (8% weight)43
Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

Tower of London: Opening Ceremony & Early Crown Jewels Access: questions travelers ask

Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for London.

How much does Tower of London: Opening Ceremony & Early Crown Jewels Access cost?

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Prices start at $24 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in London usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

How long does Tower of London: Opening Ceremony & Early Crown Jewels Access take?

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Plan for about 1 hour from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in London is not rushed.

Is Tower of London: Opening Ceremony & Early Crown Jewels Access worth it?

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It holds an Outty Ranking of 72 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.6/5 across 133 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in London, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

Can I cancel or reschedule Tower of London: Opening Ceremony & Early Crown Jewels Access?

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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

Is Tower of London: Opening Ceremony & Early Crown Jewels Access suitable for kids and families?

+

Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 1-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

How far in advance should I book Tower of London: Opening Ceremony & Early Crown Jewels Access?

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Around 47 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in London can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

What should I bring or wear?

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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in London and add a light layer if any part of the 1-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

Where does Tower of London: Opening Ceremony & Early Crown Jewels Access start and how do I get there?

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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central London within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

What are the best things to do in London?

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London's best attractions split cleanly: the museums are free and need no booking, so the paid market is about views, theatre and getting out of the city for a day. That makes value scoring unusually important here, and the Outty Ranking penalises anything charging premium prices for access you could get for nothing. On Outty we rank every London experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Soho Music & Historic Pubs Tour, London Small Group Tour of Historical Pubs, The Great British Rock and Roll Walking Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

When is the best time to visit London?

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May to September for long evenings, December for the Christmas markets. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

How many days do you need in London?

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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

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