Tower of London Guided Tour with Thames River Cruise

Skip the ticket queue and walk straight into 1,000 years of royal intrigue with a guide who knows the darkest stories.

A guided tour of the Tower of London with timed-entry tickets, an English-speaking guide, and access to the Crown Jewels and White Tower. The Thames River cruise is optional and valid for one month. The tour lasts around 90 minutes of guided storytelling through the Tower itself, after which you explore the Crown Jewels and White Tower independently, then board your cruise at Tower Pier if you've selected that option. Choose between the Tower alone, the Tower with a flexible cruise ticket, or an extended half-day pairing the Tower with a guided river cruise and Westminster Abbey entry.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Tower of London45m · entry included
2. The Crown Jewels30m · entry included
3. River Thames5m · entry included

Tower of London guided visit and optional cruise

• Meet guide outside Tower of London Gift Shop
• Enter Tower with timed-entry tickets
• Visit Traitor's Gate and Bloody Tower
• Stand on Tower Green
• Enter Jewel House independently
• Explore medieval White Tower
• Optional Thames River 30-minute cruise

The experience

How do you get past the ticket lines at the Tower of London and actually hear the stories behind the stones? You meet your guide outside the Tower Gift Shop with timed-entry tickets already in hand, skip the queue, and walk straight in. Your guide leads you through nearly 1,000 years of royal drama: pausing at Traitor's Gate to explain why Anne Boleyn and others passed through and never returned, then moving to the Bloody Tower for the unsolved mystery of the missing princes and Sir Walter Raleigh's long imprisonment. You stand on Tower Green, where some of England's most famous figures met their tragic ends, before your guide hands you off at the Jewel House entrance.

From there, you step inside independently to see the Crown Jewels up close: coronation crowns, royal scepters, and the dazzling Cullinan diamonds, all still used in British royal ceremony today. You then climb the medieval White Tower that William the Conqueror built in 1078, exploring royal armor, swords, and the chapel of St. John at your own pace. The Tower involves walking, stairs, and uneven terrain, so you'll need a moderate level of fitness. Strollers and wheelchairs are not accessible, though a soft baby carrier works for infants.

If you've selected the cruise option, you walk a short distance from the Tower to Tower Pier and board a boat for a relaxing 30-minute journey along the Thames. You glide past Tower Bridge, the Shard, Shakespeare's Globe, and London's iconic skyline before disembarking at a central pier to continue your day. Your cruise ticket is valid for one month, so you can use it the same day or save it for later. It covers a single one-way journey only, and onward or return travel requires public transportation.

What’s included

• Timed-entry tickets to the Tower of London.
• an English-speaking guide for the Tower's main sites.
• access to the Crown Jewels and the medieval White Tower.
• a 30-minute Thames River cruise ticket valid for one month (if the cruise option is selected).
• the option to explore the Crown Jewels and White Tower independently at your own pace.

Options for this experience

4 options

Tower only, without cruise (max 20)Guide in English · 5 departure times: the first at 08:30, the last at 11:30Covers timed-entry Tower of London tickets, a guide, and access to the Crown Jewels and White Tower. Lasts 1 hour 30 minutes. Excludes the Thames River cruise.

London Tower with Cruise (Max 20)Guide in English · 08:30, 10:00 and 10:30Covers timed-entry Tower of London tickets, a guide, Crown Jewels access, and a flexible ticket for a Thames River cruise. Lasts 1 hour 30 minutes.

Tower only, excluding cruise (max 10)Guide in English · 5 departure times: the first at 08:30, the last at 11:30Covers timed-entry Tower of London tickets, a guide, and access to the Crown Jewels and White Tower. Lasts 1 hour 30 minutes. Excludes the Thames River cruise.

London Tower with Cruise (Max 10)Guide in English · 5 departure times: the first at 08:30, the last at 11:30Covers timed-entry Tower of London tickets, a guide, Crown Jewels access, and a flexible ticket for a Thames River cruise. Lasts 1 hour 30 minutes.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 08:30, the last at 11:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Youth (5 to 15 years) · Child (under 5): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by The Tour Guy

Is this one for you?Book the Tower alone if you want the guided storytelling and Crown Jewels without adding travel time; choose the Tower with cruise if you want to see the Thames landmarks but keep the river journey flexible for later in your trip; pick the extended half-day if Westminster Abbey and a guided boat ride fit your London itinerary and you have the time for a longer outing.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (5 to 15 years); Child (under 5): free.

What exactly happens during the guided part of the Tower of London tour?

Your guide leads you through the Tower's main sites for around 90 minutes, stopping at Traitor's Gate to explain Anne Boleyn and other historical figures who passed through, then moving to the Bloody Tower for the story of the missing princes and Sir Walter Raleigh's imprisonment. You stand on Tower Green where famous executions took place, then your guide hands you off at the Jewel House entrance before saying goodbye.

Do I see the Crown Jewels with the guide or on my own?

The Crown Jewels are explored independently after your guide finishes the main tour and leads you to the Jewel House entrance. You step inside on your own to see the coronation crowns, royal scepters, and Cullinan diamonds up close.

Can I use the Thames River cruise ticket whenever I want, or does it have to be the same day?

Your cruise ticket is valid for one month, so you can use it the same day as your Tower tour or save it for later in your London trip. It covers a single one-way, 30-minute journey only, and you can board at any City Cruises departure point.

Is the Thames River cruise included in every option, or do I have to choose it?

The cruise is optional. You can book the Tower of London tour alone without the cruise, add a flexible cruise ticket to the main combo tour, or upgrade to an extended half-day that includes a guided river cruise and Westminster Abbey entry.

What's the difference between the Tower tour and the extended half-day option?

The Tower tour focuses on the Tower of London, Crown Jewels, and White Tower with a guide for around 90 minutes. The extended half-day pairs the Tower with a guided river cruise along the Thames and entry to Westminster Abbey, giving you more of London's landmarks in a single outing.

Is this tour accessible if I'm using a stroller or wheelchair?

The Tower of London tour involves walking, stairs, and uneven terrain, and strollers and wheelchairs are not accessible. A soft baby carrier is recommended for infants and small children instead.