Family Ticket Price — Is It Worth It?
The Tower of London family ticket covers 2 adults and up to 3 children (aged 5–15) and costs from £96.50 (sourced from hrp.org.uk). Children under 5 are always free.
| Scenario | Without family ticket | With family ticket | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 adults + 1 child | £87.00 | £96.50 | −£9.50 (not worth it) |
| 2 adults + 2 children | £104.40 | £96.50 | Save £7.90 ✔ |
| 2 adults + 3 children | £121.80 | £96.50 | Save £25.30 ✔ |
| 1 adult + 2 children | £69.60 | N/A (needs 2 adults) | Buy individual tickets |
Based on adult price from £34.80, child from £17.40. Source: hrp.org.uk.
The family ticket is only worth buying if you have two or more children aged 5–15. With one child, buy individual tickets. With a toddler (under 5), they're free and don't affect the calculation.
Is the Tower of London Good for Families?
Yes — genuinely. The Tower is one of the few major London attractions where children are actively engaged rather than merely tolerated. Here's what works particularly well for families:
Tower Explorer Activity Backpacks
Available free of charge to borrow at the entrance, these backpacks are designed for children aged 5–11 and turn the Tower visit into an interactive quest. The pack contains activities, puzzles and prompts linked to specific locations around the site. Children who engage with the backpack see significantly more of the Tower and remember the experience much more vividly than those who follow their parents around.
Backpacks are limited in number — ask for them at the main gate upon entry.
The Crown Jewels
Children are typically fascinated by the Crown Jewels — the sheer glittery spectacle of 2,868 diamonds, multiple crowns and orbs and sceptres works regardless of age. The moving walkway format ensures children get a proper view at eye level.
The Beefeater Tour
Children aged 7 and above generally engage strongly with the Beefeater tour. The stories of imprisonment, execution and intrigue are told in an age-appropriate but unvarnished way — genuinely interesting to children, not dumbed down. The Beefeater's uniform alone tends to capture attention.
The Ravens
The Tower's resident ravens are a reliable hit with children. They're large, semi-tame and have individual personalities. The ravens sometimes perform for audiences, have been known to steal food from visitors, and generally behave in a way that photographs well and entertains effectively.
The Armour
The Line of Kings in the White Tower — full suits of armour including pieces made for Henry VIII and his horses — is immediately engaging for most children. The contrast in scale (tiny Tudor child armour vs adult suits vs the giant horse armour) provokes genuine curiosity.
Practical Tips for Families
When to visit with children
School term-time weekdays are the best time for family visits — significantly fewer other children and shorter queues. Weekend visits in school holidays are busier but still manageable with advance planning. The Tower is genuinely suitable for any time of year; the covered galleries provide refuge in rain.
Pushchairs and baby access
Pushchairs can navigate most of the Tower site — the outer ward paths and most galleries are accessible. The White Tower has steep internal stairs and limited lift access, which is the main restriction. Foldable pushchairs are easier to manage on the cobbled paths. Baby-change facilities are available on site.
Food and drink
The New Armouries café inside the Tower serves hot food, sandwiches and drinks. Expect standard café pricing. There are picnic areas where you can eat your own food — the outer ward green is popular with families on fine days. Food and drink cannot be brought inside the Jewel House or White Tower.
How long to allow
With children, allow at least 3.5–4 hours for a thorough visit. Young children (5–7) will set a slower pace than school-age children who engage with the activities. Budget time for the Beefeater tour (60 minutes), Crown Jewels (30–45 minutes including queue), and at least 90 minutes for self-guided exploration of the rest of the site.
Having taken my own children to the Tower three times over the years, my consistent recommendation is: collect the Tower Explorer backpack first, then go directly to the Crown Jewels. The backpack gives children ownership of the experience and keeps them engaged across the full site. Without it, children younger than 10 tend to lose interest quickly after the Jewel House. With it, the Tower becomes a genuine adventure. The Beefeater tour, by contrast, is better suited to slightly older children — under-7s tend to lose focus after the first 20 minutes.
Age Suitability Guide
| Age | Ticket cost | Best activities | Overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5 | Free | Ravens, outdoor spaces, armour (from afar) | Good for a stroll |
| 5–7 | Child rate | Tower Explorer backpack, Crown Jewels, Ravens | Good with activities |
| 8–12 | Child rate | Everything — peak age for Tower visits | Excellent |
| 13–15 | Child rate (under 16) | Full site, particularly history-focused | Excellent |
| 16+ | Adult rate | Full site including more complex exhibitions | Excellent |
Family Visit FAQs
From £96.50 for 2 adults and up to 3 children (5–15). This is only better value than individual tickets if you have 2 or more children. Prices sourced from hrp.org.uk.
There's no minimum age. Under-5s are free. Children aged 7–15 typically get the most from the visit. The Tower Explorer backpacks (free to borrow) are designed for ages 5–11 and significantly enhance the experience.
Yes. Most of the Tower is accessible for pushchairs. The White Tower has steep stairs and limited lift access — this is the main restriction. Foldable/compact pushchairs are easier on the cobbled paths.