from
$118
Pre-Opening Tower of London with Beefeater Ceremony & Crown Jewels
Watch the Yeoman Warders unlock the gates, then get first-of-the-day access to the Jewel House
When the Tower of London opens its gates, a select few guests are already inside with the Beefeaters. Want to be one of them? Join this exclusive early access tour for the Ceremonial Opening, where Yeoman Warders in full uniform march through the courtyard and unlock the fortress with military precision. You’ll also be among the first to enter the Jewel House and see the Crown Jewels. Plus, receive a map and audio guide app to explore at your own pace. Spots are rare, lock in yours today!
What's included
An invite to a ceremony few visitors see
Expert English-speaking tour leader
Pre-opening access to the Tower of London
Beefeater Opening Ceremony
First-of-the-day viewing of the Crown Jewels
Tour of the Tower of London external grounds
Map & audio guide app for the Tower of London
See Traitors' Gate, Bloody Tower, Tower Green, and more
Guided tour of Tower of London
Itinerary
Your tour begins outside the Tower of London
Meet your tour leader just outside the Tower of London Gift Shop. Aim to arrive 15 minutes early for check-in and a welcome briefing, so your early access guided tour can get underway on time.
Walk the external medieval grounds
Follow your tour leader on a guided walking tour around the outer walls of the Tower of London. Pass Traitors' Gate and the Thames-facing ramparts while hearing stories of medieval prisoners, ravens, and royal intrigue.
Head inside the Tower of London before it opens to the public
Before going inside, your tour leader hands off a Tower of London map and audio guide link and says farewell. A Yeoman Warder then leads your group through a side entrance and into the empty fortress for a ceremony briefing.
Witness the Beefeater opening ceremony
Few travelers ever witness this: the Yeoman Warders march down in full regalia and unlock the Tower of London with theatrical flair. You'll stand steps away from a living royal ritual that few visitors get to see.
See the Crown Jewels before the crowds arrive
After the ceremony, we recommend heading straight to the Jewel House for first-of-the-day access to the Crown Jewels. Marvel at the Imperial State Crown and Sovereign's Sceptre before the queues form.
Explore with your map and audio guide app
After admiring the Crown Jewels, cue up the audio guide on your phone and begin your self-paced exploration of the Tower of London. Your map highlights hidden corners like the Bloody Tower, the ravens' roost, and the execution site.
Your tour ends inside the Tower of London
There’s no hurry to head out. With an all-day ticket, you’re free to explore the White Tower armories, Bloody Tower, Tower Green, and the Chapel Royal for as long as you like.
For Reference Only. Itineraries are subject to change
Select participants and date
Start times are in the product’s local time
Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance!
Sun, 27 Sep 2026
Meeting and drop-off point
Important Details
Discover what to expect, what's included, and everything you need to know before booking.
Good to know:
Accessibility: Due to uneven terrain and historic surfaces, this tour is not wheelchair accessible. Please contact us in advance if you have questions or concerns about your mobility. You can also join our Private Tower of London Tour for a fully customizable experience.
Map & Audio Guide App: You’ll receive a printed map along with a link to an audio guide app for your visit to the Tower of London. Be sure to bring your own smartphone and headphones so you can listen as you explore.
Lines: This tour includes early access to the Tower of London, so you can skip the longer lines that form later in the day. You’ll still go through a quick security check before entry, which may involve a short wait.
Tickets: Your Tower of London ticket is valid all day, so you’re free to stay as long as you like after your tour has finished.
Bag Policy: For quicker entry, please leave large backpacks and wheeled bags at your accommodation as they aren’t permitted inside the Tower of London. All bags will be screened at security.
Check-in: Please arrive 15 minutes early so your group can start right on time and make the most of your visit.
Your tour includes:
Expert English-speaking tour leader
Early access to the Tower of London with a Yeoman Warder
Beefeater opening ceremony viewing
First access to the Crown Jewels and Jewel House
Guided walking tour of the Tower of London external grounds
All-day Tower of London entry ticket
Tower of London map and audio guide app
Self-guided exploration after the ceremony
What to bring:
Valid ID
Comfortable walking shoes
Camera
Water bottle
Smartphone and headphones (for audio guide)
Light jacket (in cooler months)
See what people are saying
4.94
272 Ratings
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Susan R.
September 25, 2026
Christopher Y.
September 25, 2026
Fun experience, very informative
Irene C.
September 23, 2026
Sophie was an amazing guide! Thorough information and historical tidbits of details!
Elizabeth P.
September 07, 2026
Wonderful guide!
Kathy W.
September 05, 2026
Our guide Lee was phenomenal. Getting there early and taken straight to the Crown Jewels was just wonderful. Such an easy and more peaceful experience and well worth the money. The “tour” is largely outside the Tower of London, then you go inside and watch the opening ceremony and the guide walks you to the crown jewel entrance and says goodbye so if you’re looking for a tour of the Tower of London this probably won’t fully suffice. But if you want a 45 min quick history and fun fact tour outside, early entry and no lines this is for you!
Great Pre-Opening
Leala D.
August 28, 2026
We did the pre-opening tour and it was definitely the way to go, you beat the crowds, you get to see the beefeater opening ceremony.
Elizabeth A.
August 23, 2026
Our tour guide was most informative, entertaining and friendly for our pre opening tour.
Lynda R.
August 09, 2026
Angelina S.
August 05, 2026
Best tour guide ever!
So glad we did this tour
Kelley P.
July 29, 2026
We are so glad that we made the effort to get up early for this tour. It was amazing being the only ones in the Tower. The Yeoman Warders are very interesting and entertaining. And the ceremony itself has so much history - it was fascinating.
Pre-opening Tour of Tower of London
Jane R.
July 14, 2026
Tour guide was terrific, very engaging!
Valerie M.
July 13, 2026
Lee was great! Interesting anecdotes and stories that even held our 7 year old's interest while we waiting for early entry. Being the first in line for the crown jewels was totally worth it as well. Really recommend even for those who aren't typically "tour people" as a good way to get a jump start on a day at the Tower.
Mary Wood
Mary W.
July 10, 2026
Anthony was very personable and informative. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
Maria H.
July 05, 2026
Lee was informative, passionate, animated and got us a great view of the ceremony and the first entry as a group into the Crown Jewels
Enjoyable and informative guide, great to get in early
Kendra S.
July 04, 2026
Very pleased we selected the early tour, before the place was teeming with tourists and so we could see the opening of the gate. Fun guide, too (Lee), highly recommend.
Tamara W.
June 28, 2026
A must for London
Traci C.
June 26, 2026
Loved being there early. Our tour guide Stacy was entertaining but very informative. Beef Eaters were so nice
Dana A.
June 24, 2026
Len B.
June 16, 2026
James S.
June 16, 2026
Unique experience
Julie K.
May 29, 2026
This tour was one of the highlights of our trip to London! The Beefeater Opening Ceremony is a truly unique experience that very few visitors get to witness, and the small group size made us feel like VIPs from start to finish. Our guide, Sean, was terrific—knowledgeable, engaging, and full of interesting stories that brought the Tower's history to life. Having early access to the Crown Jewels before the general public arrived was an added bonus and made the experience even more special. If you're debating which Tower of London tour to book, you really can't go wrong with this one. The exclusive access, intimate group size, and excellent tour guide make it well worth it. Highly recommended!
Perfect intro to Tower of London
Deborah H.
May 24, 2026
Our guide Lee was lighthearted and informative and got us first in line.
Amazing Tour
Melinda T.
May 22, 2026
The Tower of London is not to be missed. I'm so glad we chose The Tour Guy. Our guide Lee was phenomenal, knowledgeable, and witty. He was a supberb communicator and took good care of getting his group up front and center.
Tower of London
Michele G.
May 17, 2026
We enjoyed our early pre-opening Tower of London tour. Our guide was great and very knowledgeable. He explained so much to us and helped us to understand the area.
Walt W.
May 16, 2026
Catherine provided history and insight all while getting us in the perfect spot to watch and speak with beefeaters. Early admission to Crown Jewels was a real bonus. Would advise looping around for audio headset and tour site after viewing the Crown Jewels.