This is an incredible opportunity to explore London’s iconic castle and World Heritage Site. In this guide we are going to explain how to get up close to the Crown Jewels in the year of the Platinum Jubilee.
There are different tours and tickets that you can buy to visit the Crown Jewels depending on the websites that you visit. But the regular ticket to visit Tower of London includes the Crown Jewels and that’s the one we recommend in this article as it is an “skip the line” ticket and costs the same than the regular ticket.
The highlights of the visit to Tower of London and the Crown Jewels are the ravens, the public outside areas of the Tower of London, the White Tower, including Line of Kings, Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, Bloody Tower, Medieval Palace, Torture at the Tower exhibition, Fusiliers Museum and the Royal Mint exhibition. Remember that the Yeoman Warder guided tours are also available on a daily basis.
Ticket prices to visit the Crown Jewels
If you are going to visit different attractions while visiting London remember that the visit to Tower of London and the Crown Jewels are included in the London Pass and we have got a 10% discount code for you. You can find out more by visiting our article here: London Pass.
- Members: Free
- Adult: £29.90
- Child: £14.90
If you would like to buy a “skip the line” ticket that includes both, Tower of London + the Crown Jewels, then this is the best option:
Crown Jewels: Opening Times
Winter (1st November 2022 to 28th February 2023)
- Mondays and Sundays: 10.00-16.30. Last admission: 15.30.
- Tuesday – Saturday: 09.00-16.30. Last admission: 15.30.
- Last Yeoman Warder guided tour (included in your ticket): 14.30.
24, 25 and 26 December: Closed
27 December to 31 December
09.00-16.30. Last admission: 15.30.
Last Yeoman Warder guided tour (included in your ticket): 14.30.
01 January 2023: Closed
02 January to 03 January 2023:
09.00-16.30. Last admission: 15.30.
Last Yeoman Warder guided tour (included in your ticket): 14.30.
04 and 05 January 2023: Closed
06 January to 10 February 2023:
- Mondays and Sundays: 10.00-16.30. Last admission: 15.30.
- Tuesday – Saturday: 09.00-16.30. Last admission: 15.30.
- Last Yeoman Warder guided tour (included in your ticket): 14.30.
11 February to 19 February 2023 (Half-term):
- 09.00-16.30. Last admission: 15.30.
- Sunday 19 February: 10.00-16.30. Last admission: 15.30.
- Last Yeoman Warder guided tour (included in your ticket): 14.30.
20 February to 28 February 2023:
- Mondays and Sundays: 10.00-16.30. Last admission: 15.30.
- Tuesday – Saturday: 09.00-16.30. Last admission: 15.30.
- Last Yeoman Warder guided tour (included in your ticket): 14.30.
Summer (1st March 2023 to 30th October 2023)
- Mondays and Sundays: 10.00-17.30. Last admission: 16.30.
Tuesday – Saturday: 09.00-17.30. Last admission: 16.30. - Monday 2 May: 09.00-17.30. Last admission: 16.30.
- Monday 30 May: 09.00-17.30. Last admission: 16.30.
- Last Yeoman Warder guided tour: 15.30
Public Viewing Path opening times (entry to the path by ticket only)
- The path is open daily from 09:00 – 22:30.
- The first time slot is 09:00 to 09:15.
- The last time slot is 21:45 to 22:00.
Getting to the Tower of London & Crown Jewels
The Tower of London, London EC3N 4AB, (see on Google Maps) is located within easy walking distance of several mainline stations, including:
- 10-15 mins walk from London Bridge Station
- 20 min walk from Liverpool Street Station
- 25 min walk from London Charing Cross Station
You can also travel by river boat. Tower Pier is served by river boats travelling from various piers including Westminster and London Eye and is located next to the Tower entrance.
Visiting the Crown Jewels & Tower of London
To give you an idea, the last time that we visited the Tower of London and the Crown Jewels, it took us around 3 hours and 30 min to visit everything. It was a day that it wasn’t too busy, but we had our little ones with us so we walked slowly… 🙂
The Crown Jewels are located in the building known as “Jewel House” (did you expect a different name?) built in 1994 on the specially restored ground floor of the Waterloo Block of the Tower of London, near the centre of the Tower, next to the Chapel of St. Peter Ad Vincula Royal. See Tower of London Map.
During your visit you will spend most of the time visiting the Tower of London and the different buildings around as visiting the Crown Jewels doesn’t take more than 20 mins approx. if it’s not too busy.
Once inside, the display is organised to follow the same order in which the jewels are used in the coronation ceremony. A slow-moving conveyor mechanism around the Jewels prevents overcrowding in front of the display cases containing the precious masterpieces. (Yes, they got tired of asking people to “keep moving, please!”).
When is the best time to visit the Crown Jewels?
Well depends on the moment of the year that you want to visit it. If you are visiting Tower of London during Easter, Summer or Christmas… then it’s better if you arrive early, around 20 mins before they open. You go directly to the Crown Jewels building before visiting all the other parts of Tower of London.
If you can, avoid weekends as it gets busier than during weekdays.
The Crown Jewels: A magnificent world-famous collection of 23,578 gemstones
The Crown Jewels, part of the Royal Collection, are the most powerful symbols of the British Monarchy and hold deep religious and cultural significance in our nation’s history. The mystique and beauty of the diamonds and precious jewels in the royal regalia have always held an unparalleled allure to visitors from across the globe.
From February 2020, HRH The Prince of Wales’s Investiture Coronet is on display in the Jewel House for the first time. The coronet, part of the Royal Collection, has joined the coronets of two other Princes of Wales.
For the investiture as Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle on 1 July 1969, Prince Charles wore the contemporary coronet designed by architect and goldsmith Louis Osman. The coronet is made of gold and platinum and set with diamonds and emeralds with a purple velvet and ermine cap of estate.
Alongside the coronet, the rod used in the 1969 investiture, previously made for the 1911 investiture, is also on display.
You’ll find the Crown Jewels under armed guard in the Jewel House at the Tower of London. These gems are a unique working collection of royal regalia and are still regularly used by The Queen for important national ceremonies, such as the State Opening of Parliament. Make sure to look out for the ‘in use’ signs.
Coronation ceremonies have taken place in Westminster Abbey sin the year 1066, the great church founded by Edward the Confessor. The displays examine how the royal regalia are used during the ceremony and explore the symbolism of each object. The Crown Jewels were destroyed at the Tower after the Civil War and remade for Charles II’s coronation in 1661. They signify the royal authority to lead and protect the nation. (Source: Royal Collection Trust Home – https://www.rct.uk/ )