Looking for a ballpark idea on how much time we should allow to "experience" the tower(s). We basically want to see the highlights and not necessarily explore every nook and cranny.

Two hours - major time will be getting in - taking the Beefeaters tour is really good - they're animated guides reeking of the essence of the stiff-upper-lip British culture. Tip - buy Tower ticket at Tube stations to avoid waiting in ticket line at Tower.

The last time we went was during the month of January. There was no line to get in and at a casual pace it took my daughter and I 3+ hours to:

Take the Yeoman Warder tour
Visit the Crown Jewels (again no line)
Tour the White Tower
Check in with the ravens

I'm afraid PalQ is seriously underestimating the time it takes to tour the Tower. Even if you don't go into "every nook and cranny" plan on a MINIMUM of 3 hours. More if you eat there, more yet if you want to shop in any of the gift shops, and still more if you get there much after opening time and have to wait in the queue for the Crown Jewels.

I usually tell folks to plan on 4 hours including lunch - 3+ w/o eating. Of course - if you do start going into all the nooks/crannies you can spend 5 or 6 hours there easy.

Another tip is to get there as it opens and make straight for the Crown Jewels room. You'll see them without the crowds and then you can explore the rest of the tower at your leisure.

We were running short on time and were coming up against a theater curtain, so we spent not much more than one hour at the Tower.

No lines (November), we saw the jewels, the torture room, and the small regimental museum. Actually, just the ambiance of the place was what appealed to us most. We saw it twice, two years apart, and if we went again it would be either to sketch or to see one specific aspect of the architecture. I know most people insist that you need 3 or 4 hours to see it "properly," but that may be more than what you want to see. It's expensive, though, and the guy in the ticket kiosk actually tried to talk us out of going in so close to closing time. He meant well.

take the Beefeater's tour and allow half a day

We went in early October and went to the Tower of London 15 minutes before it opened at 9 a.m. We were the first ones in, and the crowds didn't really gather until about 11, and by then we'd seen most of the Tower museum and the Crown Jewels. We gave it about 3 hours, and saw all we needed to.

I would take the Beefeater tour if I had it to do over again, as they are quite entertaining...but that would defeat your "not necessarily explore every nook and cranny" goals...

Happy travels,

Juless

the Beefeater tours don't go anywhere near most of the nooks and crannies. They are great but are really only a high level overview of the place . . . . .

Thanks for all the feedback. About how long is the Beefeater tour and is there additional cost?

There is no additional charge for the YEOMAN WARDER (the correct and respectful term--not "Beefeater&quot tours at the Tower. The tours vary, since every Yeoman has his own style. I never really timed one, but they seem to go quickly--maybe 20 minutes or so.

I think Janis is right - two hours impossible unless you don't need to see the Crown Jewels and take the Beefie tour - two must things. I retract the two hours!

Send for reservations for the Ceremony of the Keys as early as possible--it is the 'official' locking up of the Tower each night. Very cool hearing the stories and viewing the city at night.