Tower of London

The Tower of London
London
EC3N 4AB
England

Website

Official site for Historic Royal Palaces

www.hrp.org.uk

E-mail

Telephone

Education

0203 166 6654

Booking line

0844 482 7799

Membership

0844 482 7788

Events booking

0844 482 7795

Information line

0844 482 7777

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.

The world famous White Tower south elevation

The ancient stones reverberate with dark secrets, priceless jewels glint in fortified vaults and ravens strut the grounds. The Tower of London, founded by William the Conqueror in 1066-7, is one of the world's most famous fortresses, and one of Britain's most visited historic sites. Despite a grim reputation for a place of torture and
death, there are so many more stories to be told about the Tower.

This powerful and enduring symbol of the Norman Conquest has been enjoyed as a royal palace, served as an armoury and for a few years in the 1830s even housed a zoo! An intriguing cast of characters have played their part: including the dastardly jewel-thief Colonel Blood, tragic Lady Jane Grey and maverick zoo keeper Albert Cops.

Venue Type:

Museum, Castle or defences

Opening hours

1 November - 28 February:
Tuesday - Saturday: 09.00-16.30
Sunday - Monday: 10.00-16.30
Last admission: 16.00

1 March - 31 October:
Tuesday - Saturday: 09.00-17.30
Monday - Sunday: 10.00-17.30
Last admission: 17.00

The Tower is closed 24-26 December (inclusive)and 1 January.

Admission charges

Adults: £17.00
Students (with ID) and senior citizens (60+): £14.50
Children under 16: £9.50
Children under 5: Free
Family ticket: £46.00 (up to 2 adults and 3 children)

JOIN US AND SAVE MONEY!
Become a Member of Historic Royal Palaces and you can make unlimited visits to our five palaces for free!
- £38 a year for one adult
- £59.50 a year for two adults
- £55 a year for a family of one adult and up to
six children (family with one adult)
- £75 a year for a family of two adults and up to
six children (family with two adults)
Join online at www.hrp.org.uk or call 0844 482 7788

General services and facilities

Brochure or leaflet available with directions to museum
Foreign language audio guide available
Foreign language leaflet or brochure available
General audio-guide available
Guided tours
Pre-booking service for groups
Cafeteria
Parking for coaches
Picnic area
Refreshments
Restaurant
Shop

Children and families

Events and resources for children and families
Baby changing facilities

Disability access

Toilets for disabled
Wheelchair access to some public areas
Wheelchairs available for loan

Schools services and facilities

Member of staff available with responsibility for education
Primary school education service available
Printed/audio-visual information available for schools
Secondary school education service available
Education facilities available

Research and adult learning

Academic publications and resources available
Mail order service available

Commercial and hire services

Facilities for private functions and events
Meeting room available

Additional info

The Tower of London welcomes all visitors and tries to make everyone's day out successful and enjoyable. However, the Tower is a historic building with difficult stairs and passageways and wheelchair access is limited. There are a large number of steps throughout the Tower with cobbles laid in some of the roads.
Although many of the towers have limited access, the Jewel House is completely accessible to all visitors.
A limited number of wheelchairs are available from the Group Ticket Office at the West Gate entrance to the Tower. Toilets, with easy ramped access are situated behind the Jewel House.

The Tower of London
London
EC3N 4AB
England

Website

Official site for Historic Royal Palaces

www.hrp.org.uk

E-mail

Education enquiries

towereducation@hrp.org.uk

Media enquiries

press@hrp.org.uk

Group visits enquiries

groupsandtraveltrade@hrp.org.uk

Gorporate events enquiries

events@hrp.org.uk

General enquiries

visitorservices_TOL@hrp.org.uk

Telephone

Education

0203 166 6654

Booking line

0844 482 7799

Membership

0844 482 7788

Events booking

0844 482 7795

Information line

0844 482 7777

The Tower of London has been home to the Crown Jewels since the 14th century and the Jewel House is an essential part of any visit to the Tower today. Marvel at some of the world's largest and most historic diamonds set in the regalia used to crown the sovereigns of England.

The Martin Tower houses a special exhibition Crowns & Diamonds: the making of the Crown Jewels, which explains the evolution of British crowns and the role that diamonds played in their decoration. Included in the display are five royal crowns, and over 12,000 diamonds.

Torture at the Tower is a permanent exhibition which explores the real evidence for the use of torture at the Tower over the centuries. This educational exhibition houses replicas of the Rack, Scavenger's Daughter and Manacles, and touch-screen technology allows visitors to find out more about the victims, the history and the torturers themselves.

Collection details

Architecture, Social History, Weapons and War

Collections services

General guide to collections available

The Tower of London
London
EC3N 4AB
England

Website

Official site for Historic Royal Palaces

www.hrp.org.uk

E-mail

Education enquiries

towereducation@hrp.org.uk

Media enquiries

press@hrp.org.uk

Group visits enquiries

groupsandtraveltrade@hrp.org.uk

Gorporate events enquiries

events@hrp.org.uk

General enquiries

visitorservices_TOL@hrp.org.uk

Telephone

Education

0203 166 6654

Booking line

0844 482 7799

Membership

0844 482 7788

Events booking

0844 482 7795

Information line

0844 482 7777

Resources listed here may include websites, bookable tours and workshops, books, loan boxes and more. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all.

face to face resources

Chance of a Lifetime - experience conservation

http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/educationandcommunity/towerschools/chanceofalifetime.aspx

We're currently conserving the White Tower – a huge task only undertaken once every sixty or eighty years. As skilled stonemasons give this iconic fortress a facelift, school groups can experience historic building conservation first-hand.
Sessions at each key stage have been specifically designed to support the Science, Design and Technology, Geography and Art and Design curricula. See individual session listings for more details.

How to obtain

Tuesday to Thursday - 11.00, 13.30
£90/£100 plus admission
Contact the Tower Education Service to arrange a visit. Call on 020 3166 6654 or visit ‘How to book’ at http://www.hrp.org.uk/howtobookeducationattoweroflondon.aspx

Key Stage 2 sessions

Materials: mix and match
In this session students will make and test different mortar recipes to match the original medieval mortar used centuries ago.
The White Tower rocks!
Pupils will help our geologists map out the walls of the fortress by comparing rock samples to identify the different types used in the White Tower.
Masons: medieval versus modern
By examining tools and materials, pupils will be invited to explore the differences and similarities between building conservators and medieval masons.

Key Stage 3 sessions

Take a peek...
For the first time ever students can put on hard hats, access the conservation site, and take a closer look at the White Tower. Working in three different teams, students will investigate the fabric of the Tower firsthand.
Tower of London: a landmark setting?
Is the White Tower still a City landmark? Students will debate different attitudes and values associated with the Tower of London and its environment.

Tailor your session

The White Tower conservation project offers learning opportunities that can support the National Curriculum in many ways. We would happily design a bespoke session or a creative workshop adapted to your scheme of work.
Grasp your chance to work on such a unique project and contact the White Tower Learning Officer for further details on: emilie.rolland@hrp.org.uk - 020 3166 6619

Workshops for Diploma students

The Tower of London has teamed up with Construction Skills to offer ‘Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment’ students the opportunity to learn about historic building conservation.
Students get the chance to trial conservation methods and explore this exciting area of the building sector, directly within compounds of the White Tower conservation site.

How to obtain

Contact the White Tower learning officer on emilie.rolland@hrp.org.uk

paper-based and downloads

Learning and teaching on site

http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/educationandcommunity/Towerresources/teachersresources.aspx

The Tower of London has developed online materials to support lessons and your students' learning. Fact sheets, briefing notes and resources for self-directed visits to the palace are available on our website.