Tower of London VIP After Hours Access and Ceremony of the Keys

4.9 (40 reviews) London, England
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Duration1h 45m
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Group sizeUp to 25 travelers

Overview

The Tower of London has locked its gates every single night for 700 years in the Ceremony of the Keys. Public tickets for this ritual sell out within minutes, making after-hours access one of London's most sought-after experiences, and this tour is your only way in.

After the last daytime visitors leave, your small group enters the fortress with a resident Beefeater, one of the few people who actually live within its walls. By lantern light, you walk past Traitors' Gate, the White Tower, and the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula, hearing stories drawn from nine centuries of royal power, imprisonment, and intrigue.

The evening builds to the Ceremony of the Keys itself. You stand steps from the Chief Yeoman Warder as he challenges the sentry and the bugler plays the Last Post across empty grounds. No crowds, no cameras during the ceremony, just the ritual exactly as it has been observed since the 14th century.

What's included

  • Exterior views of Traitors' Gate, the White Tower, and the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula
  • Friendly tour host on arrival
  • Expert, English-speaking Beefeater guide
  • Ceremony of the Keys experience
  • Exclusive after-hours access to the Tower of London
  • Lantern-lit walking tour of the Tower's historic grounds
  • Crown Jewels (not open after-hours)
  • Gratuities (optional)
  • Interior building access

What to expect

  1. Tower of London
    15m · Admission ticket included
    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.
  2. Tower of London
    10m · Admission ticket included
    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.
  3. Traitors' Gate
    15m · Admission ticket included
    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.
  4. White Tower
    15m · Admission ticket not included
    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.
  5. Church of St Peter ad Vincula
    10m · Admission ticket not included
    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.
  6. Ceremony of the Keys
    30m · Admission ticket included
    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.
  7. Tower of London
    5m · Admission ticket included
    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.

Meeting and pickup

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!

End point

Your tour will conclude in front of the Tower of London following the ceremony of the keys.

Additional information

  • 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.

Cancellation policy

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

Reviews

4.9 (40)
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