Why Visit Both the Tower of London and Tower Bridge?
Tower Bridge and the Tower of London are arguably the two most iconic structures on the River Thames — and they're five minutes' walk apart. Many visitors photograph Tower Bridge from the Tower's wharf without realising they're also standing just outside one of Britain's greatest historical sites. Visiting both in a single day is not only logical but straightforward to plan.
The Tower of London offers 900 years of British royal history: the Crown Jewels, medieval fortifications, Beefeater tours and the stories of kings, queens and prisoners. Tower Bridge delivers something completely different — a masterpiece of Victorian engineering with glass-floored walkways 42 metres above the Thames and the original steam engine rooms. Together, they cover British history from 1078 to 1894 in a single day.
Yes, if you're planning to visit both on the same day. Combination tickets typically save £3–10 per adult compared to purchasing separately at the gate, and you benefit from a single booking process. For a family of four, that saving becomes meaningful.
Combo Ticket: What's Included
| Attraction | What's included | Duration needed |
|---|---|---|
| Tower of London | Crown Jewels, White Tower, Medieval Palace, Beefeater tour, Ravens, Wall Walk | 2.5–3.5 hours |
| Tower Bridge | High-level glass walkways, Tower Bridge Exhibition, Victorian Engine Rooms | 1.5–2 hours |
How to Plan Your Full Day: Recommended Order
The order you visit matters more than most visitors realise. Here's the sequence that works best:
Morning: Tower of London
Arrive at opening — 9:00am Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00am Sunday–Monday. The Crown Jewels queue is shortest in the first 30 minutes after opening. Head there immediately through the main gate, turn left towards the Waterloo Block.
After the Crown Jewels, join the first available Beefeater tour (departs every 30 minutes from near the entrance). The tour lasts about an hour and covers the Tower Green execution site, the Bloody Tower, Traitors' Gate and the White Tower exterior.
After the tour, explore independently: the White Tower, the Medieval Palace, and the Wall Walk offer outstanding views and a genuinely immersive medieval experience.
Lunch break (around 12:30–1:30pm)
The Tower has a café inside (New Armouries). Outside, the area has good options: St Katharine Docks has waterfront restaurants; Butler's Wharf on the south side of Tower Bridge is excellent for a proper lunch before the afternoon visit.
Afternoon: Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is best in afternoon light — the glass floor panels are more visually striking with sunlight coming through from the south. Plan to arrive from 1:30–2:00pm. Allow 1.5–2 hours to see the Exhibition, walkways and Engine Rooms properly.
Check the bridge lift schedule before your visit — if a lift is scheduled for mid-afternoon, being on the walkway when the bridge opens is a genuinely memorable experience.
The Value Calculation
| Tickets | Adult | Child | Family (2+2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tower of London (gate) | ~£34.80 | ~£17.40 | — |
| Tower Bridge (gate) | ~£12.30 | ~£5.60 | — |
| Total separately | ~£47.10 | ~£23.00 | ~£140.20 |
| Combo ticket (typical) | from ~£40–44 | from ~£20 | varies |
Prices approximate — verify current combo pricing via the booking widget. Prices sourced from public information; individual prices from hrp.org.uk and towerbridge.org.uk.
What to Watch Out For
Different admission times
The Tower of London opens at 9am Tuesday–Saturday and 10am Sunday–Monday. Tower Bridge opens daily from 9:30am. If you arrive before Tower Bridge opens, go to the Tower first and work backwards in the afternoon.
The Engine Rooms require a separate walk
Tower Bridge's Victorian Engine Rooms are on the south bank of the Thames, a short walk from the bridge's north tower entrance. Don't leave Tower Bridge without walking across and finding the Engine Rooms — they're the most underrated part of the experience and included in the ticket.
Combine with a Thames river cruise
Several operators offer Thames river cruises that incorporate both the Tower and Tower Bridge on the itinerary. These work well as an alternative to walking between the two sites — particularly for visitors with mobility considerations.
The combination of Tower of London (morning) and Tower Bridge (afternoon) is the best single-day plan in London for anyone with historical interests. Together, they cover the full sweep of London's relationship with the Thames — from medieval fortress to Victorian engineering triumph. The walk between the two, along the north bank, passes through St Katharine Docks and offers some of the best views of both landmarks. Budget a full day and don't rush either site.
Combo Ticket FAQs
Yes, easily. They're 5 minutes apart on foot. Most visitors allocate 3 hours for the Tower and 1.5–2 hours for Tower Bridge, making a comfortable day with time for lunch in between.
Advance booking is strongly recommended, particularly for peak season and weekends. Both attractions can sell out their daily allocations, and booking in advance secures your time slots for both.
Yes. Tower Bridge connects the City of London (north) to Bermondsey/Southwark (south). After visiting Tower Bridge, the south bank walking route west takes you past City Hall, Borough Market and the Tate Modern — excellent for extending your day.