Swapping stories with a Beefeater is one of the coolest things you can do in London, and the best tours to meet Beefeaters in London get you the moments a standard ticket can’t. These Yeoman Warders are military veterans who live inside the Tower of London and have guarded it for over 500 years. Every Tower ticket includes a Yeoman Warder talk, subject to availability, but the best encounters happen where most visitors never go: in an area closed to the public, at a ceremony before the gates open, or at the nightly locking of the gates. Knowing which tour to book is what gets you there. Here’s what each of these three covers, who it suits, and what it costs.
We offer more than a dozen Tower of London tours, but only these three build the visit around the Yeoman Warders:
Real time with a Beefeater: every pick puts a Yeoman Warder in front of your group, whether that’s a 15-minute meet and greet, a briefing before the opening ceremony, or a Beefeater leading your evening walk.
Moments regular visitors miss: each tour takes you somewhere, or at a time, the public can’t go: an area closed to regular visitors, the Tower before it opens, or the grounds after it closes.
Entry handled for you: every tour includes your Tower of London access, so you skip the ticket lines. You’ll still pass through a quick security check.
Capped group sizes: every tour sets a limit, from up to 20 guests on the pre-opening tour to up to 50 after hours.
Strong traveler feedback: each pick consistently earns strong praise from travelers, and the Beefeaters themselves come up again and again.
Quick Look: The Best Tours to Meet Beefeaters Compared
Short on time? Here’s how the three picks stack up on time, access, and price.
Beefeater-led lantern walk and the Ceremony of the Keys
From around $165
The 3 Best Tours to Meet Beefeaters in London
Each pick below gets you time with the Yeoman Warders, so the choice comes down to how you want to meet them: a face-to-face chat, a morning ceremony, or an evening behind locked gates.
Only this pick gives you 15 minutes with a Yeoman Warder outside the King’s House, an area closed to regular visitors. You’ll share it with our guests only, with time for royal gossip, your questions, and a photo. It’s also the only pick with a full guided tour of the Tower’s highlights, and it runs in the morning, ahead of the afternoon crowds.
Highlights:
Timed entry to the Tower of London
15-minute meet and greet with a Yeoman Warder at the exclusive King’s House
Why Book the Pre-Opening Tower of London Tour with Us?
Every morning for over 500 years, the Yeoman Warders have marched out in full uniform and unlocked the Tower’s gates. Most visitors never see it, since it happens before the Tower opens to the public. After a guided walk around the outer walls, a Yeoman Warder leads your group inside for the ceremony, and you’re steps from the Jewel House as it opens. From there, your all-day ticket, map, and audio guide let you explore at your own pace.
Highlights:
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’s outer grounds
All-day Tower of London ticket, plus a map and audio guide app
Best Beefeater Tour For: history lovers who want a Beefeater as their guide for the whole evening and a seat at London’s most exclusive ritual.
Duration: 1.75 hours
Group size: up to 50
Sites: the Tower’s grounds by lantern light, Traitors’ Gate, the White Tower, and the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula (from outside), the Ceremony of the Keys
Why Book the After Hours Tower of London Tour with Us?
A resident Beefeater is your guide for the entire tour here, not just one stop. Once the daytime visitors leave, you walk the lantern-lit grounds together, then stand steps from the Chief Yeoman Warder for the Ceremony of the Keys. The gates have been locked this way every night for 700 years, and public tickets sell out within minutes. The tour stays outdoors, with no entry to the buildings.
Highlights:
Beefeater guide
Exclusive after-hours access to the Tower of London
Ceremony of the Keys experience
Walking tour of the Tower’s historic grounds by lantern light
Exterior views of Traitors’ Gate, the White Tower, and the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula
More London Tour Ideas: Semi-Private Tower Tours and a Half-Day Combo
Prefer a smaller group, or want the Tower as part of a bigger day out? These three add two semi-private Tower of London tours and a half-day tour that pairs the Tower with Westminster Abbey and a Thames cruise.
Yes, and every Tower of London ticket includes a Yeoman Warder tour, subject to availability, with the last one starting mid-afternoon. For dedicated time with a Beefeater, the Beefeater Meet & Greet Tour adds 15 minutes outside the King’s House, an area closed to regular visitors.
Who are the Beefeaters?
Yeoman Warders is their official title, and they’ve guarded the Tower of London for over 500 years. Every one is a retired non-commissioned officer from the armed forces with an impressive service record, and the Beefeater nickname comes from the generous beef rations they once received. Look for the blue coats with red trim, which they swap for red uniforms on special occasions.
What is the best tour to meet a Beefeater?
For a real conversation, book the Beefeater Meet & Greet Tour, the only pick built around 15 minutes of Q&A with a Yeoman Warder. Early risers should choose the Pre-Opening Tower of London Tour for the opening ceremony, and night owls the After Hours Tower of London Tour for the Ceremony of the Keys. If the Crown Jewels are your top priority, compare our best Crown Jewels tours.
What is the Ceremony of the Keys?
Every night for 700 years, the Tower of London’s gates have been locked in this ritual without interruption. The Chief Yeoman Warder challenges the sentry, then a bugler plays the Last Post across the empty grounds. Photos aren’t allowed during the ceremony, and the After Hours Tower of London Tour gets you in after the public has left.
Do Beefeater tours include the Crown Jewels?
Two of the three do. The Beefeater Meet & Greet Tour includes Crown Jewels access and the Pre-Opening Tower of London Tour gets you to the Jewel House as it opens, while the After Hours tour stays outdoors. Guides can’t go inside the Jewel House, so read up on whether a Crown Jewels tour is worth it before you go.
Do you need to book Beefeater tours in advance?
Book as early as you can, since Tower of London tickets can sell out by the morning in summer. Aim for at least a week ahead, and earlier in July and August. Pre-opening spots are limited, and public tickets for the Ceremony of the Keys sell out within minutes, so lock in those two first.
How much do Beefeater tours cost?
Expect to pay from around $105 to $165 per person, with the After Hours tour at the top end. The Quick Look table above shows where each pick sits.
What can you do after a Beefeater tour?
Keep exploring, since the Meet & Greet and Pre-Opening tours include a Tower ticket that’s valid all day. That leaves time for the White Tower, the ravens, and the battlements. When you’re hungry, try one of the best restaurants near the Tower of London.
Final Thoughts
A Beefeater’s stories turn the Tower of London from an old fortress into a tradition that’s still very much alive. If you only book one tour, make it the Beefeater Meet & Greet Tour for real time with a Yeoman Warder and the Crown Jewels in one morning. With a few days in London, pair it with the After Hours Tower of London Tour to see the Tower by day and by lantern light. Spots on the ceremony tours are limited, so browse all our Tower of London tours and lock in your dates.
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