Tower of London 2 for 1 — National Rail Discount

What Is the National Rail 2-for-1 Offer?

The National Rail Days Out Guide 2-for-1 scheme is a long-running partnership between the UK rail network and hundreds of British attractions, including the Tower of London. The principle is simple: travel to London by National Rail on the day of your visit, download the free Tower of London voucher from the Days Out Guide, and get two adult admissions for the price of one at the on-site ticket kiosk.

At 2026 prices, this means two adults pay from £34.80 total instead of from £69.60 — a saving of up to £34.80. No other discount scheme available to the general public matches this saving. It's the best value Tower of London discount by a significant margin, provided you're travelling by train.

The scheme is available year-round and has no blackout dates for the Tower of London. It applies on bank holidays, in school holiday periods, and on weekends.

What You Need — Checklist

Before you set off, make sure you have both of the following:

1. A valid National Rail ticket — a train ticket for a journey that brings you into (or through) London on the day of your visit. This includes:
   • Day return or single from any UK station into a London terminus
   • Advance, off-peak, or anytime tickets
   • National Rail season tickets (weekly, monthly, annual)
   • National Rail journeys paid via Oyster or contactless (where the service is a National Rail train, not just Underground)
2. The Days Out Guide Tower of London voucher — downloaded free from daysoutguide.co.uk. The digital version on your phone is accepted. You can also print it. The voucher alone is worthless — it must be presented alongside the train ticket.

Step-by-Step: How to Redeem the 2-for-1

1. Before you travel: Visit daysoutguide.co.uk and search for "Tower of London". Download or screenshot the Tower of London voucher. Save it to your phone or print it.
2. Travel to London by National Rail: Keep your train ticket — you'll need it at the Tower. If you're on an e-ticket, have it ready on your phone.
3. Arrive at the Tower of London: Head to the ticket kiosk (not the online booking desk). The kiosks are near the Byward Tower main entrance.
4. At the kiosk: Tell the staff you have a 2-for-1 voucher. Present your valid National Rail ticket and the Days Out Guide voucher simultaneously. Staff will verify both.
5. Pay for one adult ticket: You'll be charged the standard adult admission price (from £34.80) and receive two adult tickets.
6. Enter: Both adults use their tickets to enter through the timed-entry gates. No pre-booking needed — you simply enter on the day.

Which Train Tickets Qualify?

What Counts as a National Rail Service?

National Rail services are mainline trains operated by train operating companies such as Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Greater Anglia, LNER, Northern, Southeastern, Southern, South Western Railway, Thameslink, TransPennine Express, and others. Arriving at stations such as London Victoria, London Bridge, Paddington, Euston, St Pancras, Charing Cross, Liverpool Street, Waterloo, or Cannon Street on one of these services qualifies.

If in doubt, the Days Out Guide website confirms exactly which journeys qualify and lists current terms and conditions.

Important Conditions & Common Mistakes

The Offer Cannot Be Used Online

This is the most common misunderstanding. The 2-for-1 is exclusively redeemable at the on-site ticket kiosk on the day of your visit. You cannot apply the voucher to an online booking in advance. If you've already booked online at full price, you cannot retrospectively apply the voucher.

One Voucher Per Train Ticket

One Days Out Guide voucher can only be used once per visit. If four adults travel together with two separate train tickets, theoretically two separate vouchers could be used — one per train ticket. But you cannot use a single voucher for more than two adult admissions.

Not Valid for Children's Tickets

The 2-for-1 discount applies to adult admission tickets only. Children's tickets (from £17.40, ages 5–15) are not included in the 2-for-1 offer. Under-5s are free regardless.

Both Adults Must Visit on the Same Day

The two admissions from a single 2-for-1 voucher must be used simultaneously — you cannot bank one ticket for a later date.

The Voucher Must Be Valid

Days Out Guide vouchers have expiry dates — typically 31 December of the current year. Download a fresh voucher each year to ensure it's valid. Do not use vouchers from previous years.

How the Saving Compares

The numbers make clear why the National Rail 2-for-1 is so valuable: a 50% saving on adult admission for anyone who travels to London by train — which covers the vast majority of visitors arriving from outside London.

Can I Combine 2-for-1 with Other Discounts?

No — the National Rail 2-for-1 cannot be combined with other discounts such as the student/concession rate, Historic Royal Palaces membership benefits, or other promotional vouchers. You must choose one discount per ticket. For two adults, the 2-for-1 is almost always the better option unless one of the other discount categories offers a deeper cut (which is extremely unlikely at standard prices).

The Days Out Guide — What Is It?

The Days Out Guide (daysoutguide.co.uk) is a free service run by National Rail that offers 2-for-1 entry to over 200 UK attractions for train travellers. It was previously distributed as a printed booklet on trains but is now entirely digital. You download vouchers by attraction directly from the website, which is free to use without registration.

Other notable London attractions that participate in the National Rail 2-for-1 scheme include the London Eye, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace, and several others. If you're planning a multi-day London trip by train, checking the Days Out Guide before each day out is a worthwhile habit.

Where to Book Tower of London Tickets (Without 2-for-1)

If you're not travelling by National Rail but still want to visit the Tower of London, the best options for online booking are:

• GetYourGuide — real-time availability, instant mobile tickets, flexible cancellation on many options
• Tiqets — specialises in same-day and last-minute availability
• Official Historic Royal Palaces website (hrp.org.uk) — book directly, all ticket types available
• Trip.com — competitive pricing, particularly for international travellers