Guide To Visiting The Tower Of London With Kids In 2024
UK’s Best Castles for Families, tower of london with kids
Visiting the Tower of London with kids should be top of your London itinerary for so many reasons.
It is one of the most iconic sites in the capital and one of the most visited family-friendly attractions in London.
It is also one of the oldest castles in England with the most interesting (and gory) history.
But despite its gruesome past, the Tower of London is a really great place to visit with kids.
Here’s our guide to visiting the Tower of London with kids. It is packed with helfpul information to help you make the most of your visit.
We’ve also included things to do with kids near the Tower of London and where’s good to eat nearby.
By the way, if your kids enoy the Tower of London, you’ll find similar gory histories at the London Dungeons. Find out what age kids might enjoy the London Dungeons in our review.
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FAQs on visiting the Tower of London with kids
Here are just a few helpful hints and tips that will help you plan your visit to the Tower of London
Where is the Tower of London?
The Tower of London is located on the River Thames in Central East London. The nearest tube station is Tower Hill on the District Line (Green) and the Circle Line (Yellow). The next closest is the DLR (Tower Gateway).
You can also take a Thames Clipper boat with a stop right by the Tower of London at Tower Pier. This is a great way to arrive at the Tower of London with kids.
If you are taking the bus, lines stop close by the Tower of London: 15, 42, 78, 100, 343 and RV1.
Tower of London opening times
The Tower of London is open every day from 9am until 4.30pm. The Tower opens at 10am on Sundays and Mondays. Tickets cost from £33.60, adults; £16.80, children; under 5s – FREE.
Tower of London tickets
You can buy tickets for the Tower of London on their site, but make sure to check other sources first for discounted tickets.
If you are planning on visiting more than one of the top attractions in London, take a look at the London Explorer Pass. You can choose to add 2,3,4,5,6 or 7 attractions (including the Tower of London) and it will save you a huge amount of money. See how it all works here.
How long to spend at the Tower of London with kids?
We would recommend that you allow at least 3 hours to visit the Tower of London with kids.
If you are visiting during the summer holidays (and don’t get there at opening time), you may find that you need longer as it will be very busy.
What is a good age for kids to visit the Tower of London?
We would say that kids age 6 and over will enjoy a visit to the Tower of London. At this age, they are learning a little about the history of London (if in school in the UK) and should find it interesting.
In all honesty, kids under 5 may not get much out of a visit to the Tower of London.
What else is there to do near the Tower of London with kids?
One of the things we hear from people is planning a London itinerary. You don’t want to be visiting one thing in the morning and then have to rush to the opposite side of London to see another. Here are some of the best things to do near the Tower of London that are withing walking distance.
- Tower Bridge – you can climb up and over Tower Bridge and it is surprisingly reasonable. Kids will love the glass walkway where they can watch the River Thames traffic pass by below.
- The Sky Garden – for amazing (and free) views of London. Even though it is free, you do need to book the Sky Garden in advance.
- Monument to the Great Fire of London – this is a good one if your child has recently been learning about the Great Fire of London at school. Great views can be enjoyed from the top of The Monument.
- St Dunstan in the East – is one of London’s hidden gems and a little oasis to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
- Leadenhall Market – a must-see for Harry Potter fans visiting London. See also Harry Potter things to do in the UK.
- The Shard – pop in for one of the most family-friendly afternoon teas in London and enjoy the views.
- HMS Belfast – HMS Belfast is a World War II Warship that has been turned into a museum with 9 decks to explore.
These should keep you going for a while. You can also read our guide to the most family-friendly attractions in London or the best museums to visit in London with kids.
We also have a guide to the best free things to do with kids in London and the best splash parks in London (essential when visiting London in the summer).
Where can I eat near the Tower of London with kids?
There are lots of restaurants right by the entrance to the Tower of London.
If you would like a meal with a view, check out the Coppa Club Tower Bridge. It is a really popular igloo restaurant in London and needs to be booked in advance.
We also love The Dickens Inn at St Katherine’s Dock. They serve amazing (and huge) pizzas.
Across the river from the Tower there are lots of restaurants, including one of our favourites, Five Guys. You can sit and enjoy a meal while the kids have a splash in the splash park.
See also our guide to the most child-friendly restaurants in London and where to eat for free in London with kids.
Best things to do at the Tower of London with kids
The Yeoman Warder Tours at the Tower of London
If you only do one thing at the Tower of London with kids, it has to be a Yeoman Warder Tour.
This tour is included in the price of your ticket. You just need to be near the main entrance at certain times of the day to join a tour.
Yeoman Warder Tour times: Every 30 minutes from 10am (Mon to Sat) and 10.30 (Sun) until 2.30pm.
They are are a fantastic way to learn the history of the Tower of London with kids.
The Yeoman Warders (also known as Beefeaters) live at the Tower and have guarded it for 500 years.
To be eligible to apply for the job of Yeoman, they need to have served honourably in the armed forces for at least 22 years. Part of the job description must also be to have huge, booking voices (based on the few that we saw and heard)!
The Yeoman Warders will keep everyone in the family entertained with amusing and slightly revolting stories!
One fascinating fact is that from 1200s to as late as 1835, there was a menagerie at the Tower of London including lions and polar bears.
Nowadays, you’ll just spot the odd monkey or two (and, of course, the ravens).
Make sure none of the ravens are missing!
There are nine ravens living in the Tower and it’s fun to spot them as you walk around. They are known as ‘Guardians of the Tower’.
King Charles II is thought to have been the first to insist that the ravens of the Tower be protected after he was warned that the crown and the Tower itself would fall if they left.
One of the beefeaters (the Ravenmaster) is in charge of looking after them. They are fed a special diet of mice, chicks, rats and assorted raw meats. As a special treat (blergh), they are given biscuits soaked in blood.
You should not attempt to feed the ravens as they may bite (or peck) you.
Visit the Crown Jewels
One of the highlights to family day out at the Tower of London is a visit to see the Crown Jewels.
The Crown Jewels are the nation’s most treasured possessions. They are priceless and will leave you dazzled – literally.
The collection at the Tower of London includes St Edward’s Crown, which is only used to crown a new king or queen during the coronation ceremony and the Imperial State Crown, used by the monarch at state occasions such as the State Opening of Parliament.
The Crown Jewels have been protected at the Tower of London since the 1660s.
As you can imagine, the Crown Jewels are heavily guarded. You’ll be impressed by the enormous vault doors that you have to pass through to reach them.
Note that you cannot take photos in the Crown Jewels vault.
Get interactive in the White Tower
The White Tower was one of the favourite parts of the Tower of London for my kids.
The White Tower (the large, central tower) is the most iconic castle keep in the world. It is nearly 1000 years old and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the oldest part of the Tower of London.
It houses the royal armoury, including an impressive suit of armour worn by King Henry VIII. What is more impressive actually, is the difference in size between the suit of armour worn by him when he was young to when he was older.
The basement of the White Tower is believed to have been where Guy Fawkes was interrogated and tortured.
Our kids enjoyed the interactive games in the White Tower.
Watch the Ceremony of the Keys
This one might be a bit late for younger kids but older kids might like to watch the Ceremony of the Keys, the traditional locking up of the Tower of London.
This ceremony has been taking place for over 700 years and almost the exact same thing has been said every time.
At 9.52pm exactly, the sentry cries out, ‘Halt, who comes there?’ The Yeoman Warder replies, ‘The keys.’ ‘Whose keys?’ ‘King Charles’ keys.’ ‘Pass then, all’s well.’
Only a select number of visitors are admitted into the Tower to watch it from 9.30pm. Admission is free but you need to book online.
You can read more about the Ceremony of the Keys here.
Take Part in a Family Activity at the Tower of London
There are often special activities for families at the Tower of London during the school holidays.
The Knight School at the Tower of London has been really popular in the past. Children are taught how be a knight by learning how to use a sword, how to joust and how to dance like a medieval squire.
You can click here to see what is on at the Tower of London.
They also run some fun Halloween events. See here for more things to do at Halloween with kids in London.
It’s also one of the best places to visit in London at Christmas with kids.
Have your photo taken with the guards
What impressed us about visiting the Tower of London with kids is that everyone there was so friendly and helpful.
If you get the opportunity, ask to have your photo taken with one of the Yeoman guards. You will see them wandering around. We’re sure that your Yeoman will oblige during your tour too.
Tips for visiting the Tower of London with kids
- Pick up a guide book at the entrance and family trails and worksheets from the information desk.
- Get there early (at opening) and head straight to the Crown Jewels.
- Take a Yeoman’s Tour.
- There are a couple of cafés in the Tower of London – see here for details. Bring your own snacks too just in case you are queueing a while for the Crown Jewels.
Things to do near Tower of London with kids
If you’re looking for more ideas of things to do with kids near the Tower of London, here are a few suggestions:
- climb Tower Bridge and watch the Thames River traffic pass underneath through the glass floor.
- splash around in the play fountains at City Hall
- cross the River Thames and walk west along the river to Southbank and Waterloo where there are lots of things to do with kids.
Hotels in London with views of the Tower of London
If you can’t get enough of the Tower of London and would like to have a hotel room with a view of the Tower of London, here are a few suggestions:
Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square
DoubleTree by Hilton London Tower of London
See also our guide to family hotels in London with pools and the best accommodation in London for families.
We hope you have found our guide to visiting the Tower of London with kids helpful.
Drop us a line if you have any questions.
