What Are the Crown Jewels?
The Crown Jewels are the ceremonial regalia of the British monarchy — a collection of 140 objects set with over 23,000 gemstones that have been used in royal ceremonies since the 1660s. They are not museum pieces in the conventional sense: these are working objects, used at actual coronations (most recently King Charles III's coronation in May 2023) and other state ceremonies.
The collection is housed in the Waterloo Block at the Tower of London and has been on public display since the 17th century. The display was comprehensively updated in 2023 following the coronation.
They are not insured. The collection is considered priceless.
Do I Need a Separate Ticket for the Crown Jewels?
No. The Crown Jewels are fully included in the standard Tower of London admission ticket. There is no additional fee, upgrade or separate ticket required. Any visitor with a valid Tower of London entry — whether purchased online, at the gate, or as part of a package — can visit the Jewel House.
The Crown Jewels are the most popular part of the Tower visit and have the longest internal queue. Head there immediately upon entry, before the Beefeater tour, before the White Tower, before anything else. The difference in queue time between 9:15am and 11:00am can be 30–45 minutes on a busy day.
What's in the Crown Jewels Collection?
The collection spans hundreds of years of royal history. Here are the highlights:
Imperial State Crown
The most recognisable piece in the collection. Made for George VI's coronation in 1937, redesigned slightly for Elizabeth II in 1953, and worn by Charles III in 2023. Set with 2,868 diamonds, 269 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds and 4 rubies. Among the stones: the Black Prince's Ruby (technically a spinel, not a ruby, worn by Henry V at Agincourt); the Stuart Sapphire; and the Cullinan II (317.4 carats).
The crown is worn at the State Opening of Parliament each year. It travels to the ceremony in its own royal carriage.
Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross
Contains the Cullinan I (the Great Star of Africa) — 530.2 carats, the largest cut white diamond in the world. It was cut from the Cullinan rough diamond discovered in South Africa in 1905, a stone so large it was sent to King Edward VII by registered post. The Cullinan I was set in the sceptre in 1910 and has remained there since.
Sovereign's Orb
The golden globe surmounted by a cross, symbolising the dominion of Christianity over the world. Made for Charles II's coronation in 1661. Held in the right hand of the sovereign during the coronation ceremony and returned to the altar immediately after.
Coronation Spoon
The oldest piece in the collection and one of the oldest surviving pieces of English royal regalia. Dating from the 12th century, it survived the English Civil War — according to one account, it was bought for 16 shillings by a royalist who kept it safe and returned it when the monarchy was restored in 1660. Used for the anointing of the sovereign with holy oil during the coronation.
The Crowns of the Queen Consort
The collection includes several crowns made for the consorts of British monarchs, including the famous platinum Crown of Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother), made in 1937 and set with the Koh-i-Noor diamond.
The Koh-i-Noor (meaning "Mountain of Light" in Persian) is a 105.6-carat diamond with a contested history. Originally from India, it passed through Mughal, Afghan and Sikh rulers before arriving in Britain after the annexation of the Punjab in 1849. India, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan have all made claims for its return. It is currently set in the Crown of Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) on display at the Jewel House.
The Jewel House — What to Expect Inside
The Jewel House is located in the Waterloo Block on the north side of the Tower. The exhibition is designed as a one-way journey through a series of galleries, ending at the main display vault where the key pieces are shown on moving walkways.
The approach galleries
Before reaching the jewels themselves, you pass through galleries covering the history of the coronation ceremony — including film footage of recent coronations (Elizabeth II's in 1953 and Charles III's in 2023). These galleries set the context for what you're about to see and are worth taking time over.
The vault
The main display vault contains the key pieces of regalia in large illuminated cases. Visitors move through on a travelator — a slow-moving walkway — which ensures everyone gets a proper view without bottlenecking. You can step off the travelator and stand on the sides to look for longer.
The lighting is designed to show the stones at their best. The Imperial State Crown under the lights in the vault looks different from every photograph you've seen of it — more alive, more present.
Photography in the Jewel House
Photography is permitted throughout, including of the jewels. No flash, no tripods. Mobile phone cameras produce good results; the cases are well-lit enough that autofocus works reliably in most conditions.
How to Avoid the Crown Jewels Queue
The Jewel House queue is the single biggest time variable in a Tower of London visit. Here's how to minimise it:
Strategy 1: Arrive at opening
Head directly to the Jewel House the moment you're through the entry gate. On Tuesday–Saturday at 9:00am, the Jewel House opens with the Tower and the queue at 9:15am is typically 5–15 minutes. By 11am, it's usually 30+ minutes.
Strategy 2: Visit late in the afternoon
In the last 90 minutes before closing, visitor numbers thin out and the Jewel House queue shortens. The risk: if you're visiting in summer and arrived later in the day, you may run short of time. Best used by visitors who arrived early and are doing a second pass.
Strategy 3: Visit on a quiet day
Tuesdays and Wednesdays (outside school holidays) are consistently the quietest days. On a weekday in January, there may be no meaningful queue at any point in the day. See our homepage guide for the full seasonal breakdown.
Crown Jewels FAQs
No — the Crown Jewels are included in standard Tower of London admission. No separate ticket or upgrade is needed.
The Jewel House itself takes approximately 30–45 minutes, including time in the approach galleries and the vault. Queue time is additional — 5–15 minutes if you arrive early, potentially 30–45 minutes mid-morning on a busy day.
The collection is considered priceless and is not commercially valued or insured. The largest individual stone is the Cullinan I (530.2 carats) in the Sovereign's Sceptre. The Imperial State Crown, with over 2,800 diamonds, is the piece most commonly considered the centrepiece of the collection.
Colonel Thomas Blood famously attempted to steal the Crown Jewels in 1671, nearly succeeding. He was captured but — remarkably — pardoned by Charles II, who may have been charmed by his audacity. The original regalia was actually destroyed during the English Civil War (1640s) by Parliament; the current collection was made new for Charles II's coronation in 1661.