Tower of London Questions
 

I hope I am not being repetitive but I couldn't seem to search out any specific posts just on the Tower of London.<BR><BR>I know to get there early and will try to buy tickets prior. Whats the easiest/most convenient place to buy tickets?<BR><BR>Also, should I plan a half day to spend at the Tower? I heard it takes a lot longer than what people expected. Any other helpful hints on visiting the Tower would be appreciated!<BR><BR>Thanks!<BR>

We followed Rick Steve's strategy: Arrived before it opens (no line to speak of) and head straight to the jewels. Then do the rest of the Tower at your more or less leisure. When we left the line was absurdly long (yet we more or less walked in earlier that morning).

Hi, Ric: frankly some of us might consider half a day at the Tower rushing just a bit, it's quite a place, you know,…why not plan your day around it, spend as long as you like, then use the rest of the day to wander Southwark, stroll the long walk down the Thames toward parliament, or take a cruise down to Greenwich? Speaking of cruising to Greenwich, there is a company very near the Tower entrance where you can buy your Tower admission ticket and thus avoid what can be VERY long queues.<BR><BR>If you opt for the stroll make your way to London Bridge (NOT the Tower Bridge), turn south and walk to the George, a very old, unique, and historic pub and have yourself a pint?<BR>

Just before you take the cruise down the Thames to Greenwich (a hidden jewel) be sure to do the London Eye...especially if it's a clear sunny day.. Long lines, but they move you in and out very efficiently. Building boom along the Thames in the past four years has even surprised our friend.. At the Tower be sure to "do" the I think armmor building..although many items are gone to another museum the chapel is in it's simplicity just beautiful.

No one has mentioned the guided tour. The yeoman warders are excellent guides and give you history and lots of colorful info. After we entered, we gathered up with a group and the tour started. After the tour we walked about on our own. Don't remember how long we stayed, but it could have been half day (including getting to and from). Very enjoyable--much different than we expected. <BR><BR>Additionally, they have an excellent gift shop outside the walls and we found some nice things there.

I have to second the comment on the yeoman warder tours. The gentleman are entertaining and provide excellent information. I got much more of that than if I'd just wandered around on my own.

Per the Tower of London website (http://www.hrp.org.uk/webcode/content.asp?ID=34):<BR><BR>Special prices are available for joint tickets to the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace; the Tower of London and Kensington Palace; Hampton Court Palace and Kensington Palace - or all three palaces. <BR><BR>Two-palace tickets can be purchased at the ticket office on the day or in advance by calling +44 (0)870 756 7070. <BR><BR>Three-palace tickets can be purchased at the ticket office on the day. <BR><BR>At the Tower ticket office, we bought joint tickets to both Hampton Court Palace and the Tower for 19.50 STG which saved us about 3 STG each.<BR><BR>Agree with other poster who said you should get there before it opens (short line), go see the Crown Jewels first and then come back to take one of the Yeoman Warder tours. After the tour, you can wander around the other bits yourself.<BR>

Ric - Good advice so far. If you are going to be there early (which you should) just buy the tickets then. The line is short when they first open the ticket windows.

If everyone gets there early won't there be a crowd ???

If you do make it a half day or longer, there is a Pret a Manager location very near the tourist stuff for a quick bite to eat.

We were there on Sept. 6. Went in late afternoon and had no line at all. I don't know if this is a fluke or is typical after schools start in England. (I overheard a guard at the National Gallery saying that now classes had started, crowds were down.)

Curious: No it won't be crowded because not many people show up early. By the same token - EVERYONE knows to buy the museum pass in Paris to avoid the long lines, right? Well, apparently not because every time I go I walk into the Louvre w/o waiting while hundreds of people wait for up to 2 hours to get in. Same goes at the Tower - most people are clueless.<BR><BR>Joe: That strategy can work too. Afternoons will often have short lines too - but as the school term gets rolling that is riskier because school groups start taking class trips and afternoons can sometimes be crowded too.

We just returned from London and loved the Tower. Definitely follow the others advise and go early and head straight for the jewels. We bought our tickets at the Tower subway stop. When you area about to exit through the turnstiles you will see a glass window on the left. It's easy to miss and not well-marked (if marked at all) and we bought tix there.

Ric,<BR><BR>You can also purchase Tower tickets at London Underground stations. <BR><BR>You may aslso want to search on "Ceremony of the Keys" which is a wonderful evening event at the Tower. Advance order tickets only (they are free). If you can't find the details you need, feel free to email me.<BR><BR>Dave White<BR>http://www.KidsToLondon.com<BR><BR>

You can also tickets from the hop on/off buses such as The Big Bus.<BR><BR>I've been several times and always do the Yoeman Warders walking tours, always excellent. On our visit this past June accidently discovered that there are additional free programs available. One was a slide show/lecture on torture devices. Very interesting, only 10 people in the room. <BR><BR>Usually a half day is about right, also really enjoyed the food in the little restaurant inside the tower.

I just got back from London last week, and visiting the Tower was one of the highlights of my trip. I thought it would only take me 2 hours to see the Tower, but I ended up spending around 5 hours there. <BR><BR>I bought tickets a day ahead at a tube station. I arrived at the Tower just before it opened (9 a.m.) on a Monday morning. I was the first person in the gate because everyone else was buying tickets. I saw the Crown Jewels first and then went through the White Tower. <BR><BR>When I got out of the White Tower around 11, the place was pretty crowded. I was glad I had taken pictures earlier so that people wouldn't get in my way. I was also hungry and went to the Armouries Cafe but found out they weren't serving lunch yet. They did have prepackaged sandwiches, cakes (#2.95/slice), muffins and drinks (bottled water #1.4). Don't try the banoffee cake, even if it looks really good.<BR><BR>You should definitely take a beefeater tour. At first I wasn't going to because the crowd following the guide was massive. I did listen in when the tour was halfway through and decided to stick with the group because the beefeater was so animated, informative, and hilarious. You also can't go into the Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula and see where Ann Boleyn and other queens are buried unless you're with a tour.<BR><BR>I ended up going through every building that was open to the public except for the Fusiliers' Museum because there's an admission fee for it.<BR><BR>After I left the Tower, I walked across the Tower Bridge and turned left on Shad Thames which is lined with several restaurants. Ask (pasta and pizza chain on Butler's Wharf) fit my budget and offered a view of the river, so I had lunch there. It was pretty good, and I had leftovers to take home. The Design Museum was next door.<BR><BR>Have fun in London!<BR>

Hint. Call your hotel's Concierge today before you leave and ask him/her to get you tickets for the "Ceremony of the Keys." It occurs every night after the Tower is closed and is a great experience. You may not be successful (sometimes it requires 3 months lead time) but it's worth a long distance call.<BR><BR>Good luck. It's a fascinating experience.

Daugherty is wrong. You cannot get Keys ceremony tickets from your hotel. You must apply by letter with all the pertinent information 6+ weeks in advance. These are not tickets that can be bought or scalped. They are carefully controlled.

Thank you all for your insightful replies. I will be traveling to London for the first time on October 16th (can't wait!), so unfortunately the Ceremony of the Keys is out of the question.<BR><BR>I thought perhaps visiting St. Paul's Cathedral after the Tower would work out well since it is fairly close by. Otherwise, I might also consider strolling along the Thames as suggested.<BR><BR>Again, thanks for the great advice! I will be sute and follow up after my trip.<BR><BR>Ric