Spotting a Beefeater at the Tower of London is easy, but knowing how to meet a Beefeater in London, and actually get a word in, takes a plan. The Yeoman Warder tours included with your ticket run subject to availability and wrap up by mid-afternoon, while public tickets for the nightly Ceremony of the Keys get snapped up fast. We bring travelers face to face with the Yeoman Warders from the morning unlocking of the gates to the nightly locking up, so here’s how to get your moment with one.
Your quick answer: Book a Beefeater tour or your Tower ticket ahead, take the Tube to Tower Hill, and plan around the clock: Yeoman Warder tours stop by mid-afternoon, and Ceremony of the Keys guests must arrive by 9:25 pm.
Every new Yeoman Warder is sworn in with a toast of port and the words “may you never die a Yeoman Warder,” a wry nod to the days when the post was sold for 250 guineas and the Constable kept the lot if a warder died on the job. These royal bodyguards have guarded the Tower of London since Tudor times, and each one still needs at least 22 years of military service and a long service and good conduct medal to earn the uniform. Today, many live inside the fortress walls, and together they lock its gates every night and tell the Tower’s stories to millions of visitors a year.
Your best bet is the Tower of London, where the Yeoman Warders live and work. Here’s when and where to catch one:
On a Yeoman Warder tour: Every Tower ticket includes one, subject to availability, packed with tales of intrigue, imprisonment, and execution.
Around the grounds: Beefeaters are on duty throughout the fortress, so don’t be shy about asking a question or snapping a photo. Look for the Ravenmaster near the ravens.
At the morning opening: Before the public arrives, the Yeoman Warders march out in full uniform and unlock the gates, a ritual you can watch on our Pre-Opening tour.
Outside the King’s House: This area is closed to regular visitors, and Meet & Greet guests get 15 minutes there with a Yeoman Warder.
At the nightly lock-up: The Chief Yeoman Warder locks the gates at the 9:30 pm Ceremony of the Keys. You’ll need a ticket from Historic Royal Palaces or a spot on our After Hours tour.
Beefeater Ticket Prices & Hours: When to Catch the Yeoman Warders
So, how much does it cost to meet a Beefeater? Here’s what you need to know:
Yeoman Warder Tour Times:
Included with your ticket: Yeoman Warder tours come with Tower admission and begin every 45 minutes.
First tour: 10:00 am Tuesday to Saturday, and 10:45 am on Sunday and Monday.
Last tour: It starts at 3:15 pm on summer dates and 2:30 pm in late October, since the Tower sets its hours date by date.
Gun salute days: The 1:00 pm tour is canceled, and tours pick back up at 1:30 pm.
Tower hours: Summer dates run 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, with last entry at 4:30 pm. Late October runs 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, with last entry at 3:00 pm. Check the official calendar for your date.
Tower of London Ticket Prices:
Adult: £38.00
Child (5 to 15): £19.00
Under 5 and Historic Royal Palaces members: Free
Concessions: Reduced tickets are available, and prices exclude the optional 10% donation.
Ceremony of the Keys Tickets:
Price: £10.00 per ticket, booked online only, with up to 6 per booking.
Release: Each month’s tickets go on sale at 1:00 pm UK time on the first working day of the month before. If that day is a Friday, sales open the following Monday.
On the night: Arrive at the West Gate by 9:25 pm. The ceremony runs 9:30 to 10:05 pm, and late arrivals aren’t admitted.
Rules: The named ticket holder must attend, photography isn’t allowed, and there are no toilets or refreshments.
Interesting Fact: Every Yeoman Warder receives a bottle of Beefeater Gin on their birthday, a thank-you from the brand whose bottles feature a warder in full state dress.
How to Get to the Tower of London: Where to Meet the Beefeaters
The Tower of London sits on the north bank of the Thames beside Tower Bridge, and every Beefeater encounter starts at its gates. Where you stand depends on your plan: our tours meet just outside the Tower, while Ceremony of the Keys ticket holders gather at the West Gate, the main entrance.
Tube: Tower Hill station (District and Circle lines) is about 5 minutes on foot from the gates, with step-free access.
DLR: Tower Gateway is roughly a 7-minute walk away.
Bus: Routes 15, 42, 78, 100, and 343 all stop near Tower Hill.
River: Boats from Westminster and the London Eye dock at Tower Pier, right below the fortress walls.
Taxi: Ask for the West Gate main entrance, the same spot Ceremony of the Keys guests check in.
Pro Tip: The Pre-Opening tour meets outside the Tower of London Gift Shop, not at the main gates, so set your GPS there and arrive 15 minutes early.
Interesting Fact: Whenever a Royal Navy ship moors at Tower Wharf, its captain still owes the Constable a barrel of wine, rum, or brandy, and the Yeoman Warders escort it onto Tower Green in a ceremony called the Constable’s Dues.
👉 Not sure where to stand after dark? On our After Hours Tower of London Tour, a host meets you outside and walks you to the gates, where your Beefeater guide takes over.
Best Guided Tours to Meet a Beefeater in London
For a morning chat, an opening ceremony, or the nightly lock-up.
Visitor Tips for Meeting a Beefeater: Questions, Photos & Ceremony Rules
A little prep turns a quick wave into a real conversation.
Come with questions. Yeoman Warders love a curious crowd, so have a question or two ready about royal legends, the ravens, or life inside the walls.
Know who’s on duty. Beefeaters wear dark blue with red trim, or red state dress on special occasions. The sentries posted outside the Jewel House and the King’s House are soldiers on duty, so admire them from a respectful distance.
Time your photos. Snapping a picture with a Beefeater is fair game on daytime tours. Cameras go away during the Ceremony of the Keys, and inside the Jewel House and the Chapel of St. John.
Pack light. Large backpacks and wheeled bags aren’t allowed inside, and every bag gets screened at security.
Dress for the night shift. The Ceremony of the Keys runs rain or shine, outdoors, with no toilets or refreshments, so layer up and plan ahead.
Bring the kids (mostly). Children love meeting a Yeoman Warder by day, but the late timing makes the Ceremony of the Keys a better fit for older kids.
How Long Does a Beefeater Tour Take?
A Beefeater tour takes 1 to 2 hours: the Pre-Opening tour runs 1 hour, the After Hours tour 1 hour 45 minutes, and the Meet & Greet 2 hours. If you’re visiting on your own with a standard ticket and its included Yeoman Warder tour, plan on 2 to 3 hours at the Tower. The Ceremony of the Keys lasts 35 minutes, from 9:30 to 10:05 pm, while the Meet & Greet and Pre-Opening tours include an all-day Tower ticket, so add extra time to keep exploring afterward.
What to See at the Tower of London: Where the Beefeaters Work
These are the spots where you’re most likely to hear a Beefeater’s best stories, or watch one on duty.
👉 Click on the name of the stop for a detailed explanation!
The King’s House: This area is closed to regular visitors, and it’s where Meet & Greet guests spend 15 minutes with a Yeoman Warder. Look for the sentry posted outside.
Traitors’ Gate: Prisoners like Anne Boleyn once arrived here by boat, and every one of our Beefeater tours passes it.
Tower Green: Two of Henry VIII’s wives were executed on this grassy square. It’s also where the Yeoman Warders deliver the Constable’s barrel of rum, wine, or brandy.
The Bloody Tower: This was the prison of the Princes in the Tower and of Sir Walter Raleigh, who spent 13 years inside. Ask your Beefeater about the princes.
The Ravens: A Yeoman Warder serves as Ravenmaster, because legend says the kingdom falls if the birds ever leave.
The Crown Jewels: These treasures are the reason the gates are still locked every night. Guides can’t go inside the Jewel House, so you’ll see it on your own.
Interesting Fact: Yeoman Warder uniforms have carried the monarch’s initials since 1570. The everyday blue uniform was updated with King Charles III’s cypher just before his coronation.
👉 Want to see these spots by lantern light? Our After Hours Tower of London Tour passes Traitors’ Gate, the White Tower, and the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula with a Beefeater as your guide.
Where to Eat Near the Tower of London
Photo courtesy of Côte St Katharine Docks
Plan your meals around your Beefeater timing, from an early breakfast to a post-ceremony feast.
New Armouries Café| ££ | It sits inside the walls, so you can refuel between your tour and the Jewel House without giving up your all-day ticket. Expect hot meals, sandwiches, and kids’ options.
De Vine| £ | A no-fuss, locals-love-it café on Vine Street serving full English breakfasts in big portions, ideal before a morning Meet & Greet.
Côte St Katharine Docks| ££ | This brasserie has a terrace overlooking the marina and works for breakfast, lunch, or an easy dinner before the Ceremony of the Keys.
Duck & Waffle| £££ | It’s open 24/7 on the 40th floor of the Heron Tower, so a late bite after the 10:05 pm lock-up is no problem. Order the signature duck and waffle with a fried duck egg and mustard maple syrup.
Interesting Fact: The most popular story behind the “Beefeater” nickname is the generous beef rations the Yeoman Warders once received.
Attractions Near the Tower of London
These are all within walking distance of the Tower of London and make a great addition to your London itinerary.
Tower Bridge: Sir Horace Jones won a public design competition for this late 19th-century bridge, which features on many of our London tours, from bike rides to black cab tours.
Tower Pier for Thames River Cruises: Boats dock right below the fortress walls. Our Tower of London Combo Tour adds a Thames cruise ticket you can use on your own schedule.
Borough Market: This market has over 1,000 years of history and more than 100 food stalls. It’s the setting for our Morning Food Tour, which wraps up with a pint at a local pub.
Frequently Asked Questions About Beefeaters
Where can I meet a Beefeater in London?
At the Tower of London, where the Yeoman Warders live and work. You can meet one on the Yeoman Warder tour included with your ticket, around the grounds, or on a tour built around the morning opening, a King’s House meet and greet, or the nightly Ceremony of the Keys.
Can you talk to the Beefeaters at the Tower of London?
Absolutely: the Yeoman Warder tours included with your Tower ticket start every 45 minutes, subject to availability. For a proper chat, the Beefeater Meet and Greet Tour adds 15 minutes with a Yeoman Warder outside the King’s House.
Do Beefeaters actually live in the Tower of London?
Many do, living inside the fortress walls, which is why a resident Beefeater can lead our after-hours tour of the grounds.
How do you become a Beefeater?
Every recruit needs at least 22 years of military service, a certain rank, and the long service and good conduct medal. New warders then take an oath of royal allegiance said to date back to 1337.
How do I get Ceremony of the Keys tickets?
Book online through the official Historic Royal Palaces website, where tickets cost £10.00 and go on sale at 1:00 pm UK time on the first working day of the month before. They book up fast and there’s no waiting list, so if you miss out, our After Hours Tower of London Tour includes the ceremony.
What is said during the Ceremony of the Keys?
The sentry calls out “Halt, who comes there?” and the Yeoman Warder answers “The keys,” followed by “Whose keys?” “King Charles’ keys.” “Pass then, all’s well.” Apart from the monarch’s name, the exchange hasn’t changed in centuries.
Can you take photos with a Beefeater?
On daytime visits, yes, and the Meet and Greet tour builds in a photo with your Yeoman Warder. Cameras must stay away during the Ceremony of the Keys.
Are there female Beefeaters?
There are: the Yeoman Warders are drawn from men and women who have served in the armed forces.
Are there promo codes and discounts for Beefeater tours?
Meeting a Beefeater is the fastest way to turn the Tower of London from a pile of old stone into a living tradition. Now that you know how to meet a Beefeater in London, pick your moment, whether that’s a morning chat, the unlocking of the gates, or the nightly lock-up, and book early, since ceremony spots are limited. Planning a full day? Read up on how to visit the Tower of London and how to visit the Crown Jewels before you go.
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