Tower of London: VIP After Hours Access & Ceremony of the Keys

Highlights

Itinerary

1. 1

   Tower of London

   Your tour begins outside the Tower of London, where a friendly tour host meets your group for check-in. Once the last daytime visitors have filed out, you are guided to the gates to meet your Beefeater guide.

   15 minutes•Admission included•See on map

2. 2

   Tower of London

   With special after-hours access, your group steps through the gates after they have closed to the public. These rare tickets hand 900 years of fortress history over to your group in near-total quiet.

   10 minutes•Admission included•See on map

3. 3

   Stand before the famous watergate that once delivered prisoners directly from the Thames into the Tower. Your Beefeater shares the stories of those who passed through here and never returned.

   15 minutes•Admission included

4. 4

   The oldest and most iconic structure within the complex rises above you as your guide brings its history to life by lantern light. The Tower has served as a royal palace, prison, and fortress across nine centuries of English history.

   15 minutes•Admission not included

5. 5

   Walk past one of the oldest chapels within the Tower walls, the burial site of Anne Boleyn, Thomas More, and other figures of English history. Your Beefeater provides the context that transforms the facade into a story.

   10 minutes•Admission not included

6. 6

   Take your place at the Ceremony of the Keys, the nightly locking ritual that has run without interruption for 700 years. The Chief Yeoman Warder challenges the sentry, the bugler plays the Last Post, and the fortress is locked for the night — exactly as it always has been.

   30 minutes•Admission included

7. 7

   Tower of London

   Your tour concludes inside the Tower of London grounds after the ceremony ends. You leave with the Last Post still echoing and a side of London most travelers will never see.

   5 minutes•Admission included•See on map

Meeting point

Please arrive 10 minutes early. Meet one of our representatives in front of the Tower of London Shop. Look for our friendly staff in red, holding a sign with 'The Tour Guy' on it!

The map shows London. The exact meeting point is the address above.Open larger map

Pickup

• Everyone meets at the start point

Know before you go

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• This tour focuses on the Tower of London's historic grounds and the Ceremony of the Keys. It does not include access to the Crown Jewels or entry inside the buildings.
• The tour of the Tower of London grounds is exclusively for your group. However, the Ceremony of the Keys is open to other visitors and groups who have purchased tickets for the event.
• Please note photography is not allowed during the Ceremony of the Keys.
• This tour involves walking on uneven terrain and historic cobblestone surfaces. It is not wheelchair accessible. Please contact us in advance if you have any questions about your mobility.
• Photos courtesy of © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024 | Royal Collection Trust
• We regret that we are unable to accommodate guests with wheelchairs or any walking impairments that require special assistance on our group tours. We are also unable to accommodate strollers or baby carriages.
• Mobile or paper ticket accepted
• One per booking
• - Only small bags are permitted inside the Tower of London. Large backpacks and wheeled bags are not allowed; please leave them at your accommodation before arriving. - All guests must pass through a security check before entry. Even with after-hours timed entry, a short wait may apply. - Photography is not permitted during the Ceremony of the Keys; this rule is strictly enforced. - Please note that this experience focuses on the Tower's outdoor grounds; interior building access is not included. - Please note that depending on site conditions or operational requirements, the order of stops within the grounds may vary. - It is the responsibility of all visitors to be at the meeting point 10 to 15 minutes before departure. Guests arriving after departure cannot be accommodated, and missed tours or tickets cannot be refunded. - Please bring a valid government-issued ID for entry

Cancellation and refunds

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.