The Tower of London is one of the city’s most imposing sights, rising above the River Thames since the medieval period. William the Conqueror built it in 1078, and throughout history, it acted as a prison, a treasury and even a home for exotic animals.
Today, the Tower is an essential part of any London trip. Let’s look at how to travel to this must-see attraction, whether you’re coming from the city or visiting from further afield.
Read on to find the best Tower of London tube station to use on your visit. If you’re getting the train into the city, there’s also advice on which station to transfer from.
Planning your trip to the Tower of London
Located in the heart of London, the Tower sits on the banks of the Thames. It faces the famous Tower Bridge and the Shard, so it’s a great place to kick off your long weekend in the city.
Did you know the Tower of London has welcomed tourists since the Restoration era? It’s now one of the most popular tourist attractions in the United Kingdom, and the very first ticket office opened way back in 1851.
There’s plenty to see and do on the Tower grounds. When planning your visit, make sure you give yourself several hours to explore.
The Crown Jewels exhibition alone can take up to an hour to enjoy, and tours by the resident Yeoman Warders are not bookable in advance. These run every 30 minutes, so arriving in plenty of time ensures you’ll get the best experience possible.
What to expect when visiting the Tower of London
It’s important to note that the Tower of London has seasonal opening hours. To avoid disappointment, always check the opening times on the day of your visit.
Generally, the Tower operates on the following schedules:
Winter opening hours:
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Sundays and Mondays: 10:00 am to 4:30 pm
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Tuesdays to Saturdays: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
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On these days, the last Yeoman Warder tours will be at 2:30 pm
Summer and half-term opening hours:
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Daily: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
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Last admissions are at 3:30 pm
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On these days, the last Yeoman Warder tours will be at 3:30 pm
How to get to the Tower of London
Thanks to its central location, the Tower is easy to reach by public transport, particularly the London Underground. There are several tube stations near the Tower of London.
The nearest tube to the Tower of London
You can reach the Tower in under five minutes from Tower Hill underground station. This stop is on the Circle and District lines, with step-free ground-level access. The Circle line stops at major train stations, including Liverpool Street and King’s Cross.
If you’d like to visit the Shard and Tower Bridge first, stop at London Bridge station. This stop is about a 15-minute walk from the Tower of London.
Bank is another option when looking for a Tower of London tube station. It’s around a 15-minute walk to the north of the Tower in the heart of the City of London.
The Central, Northern and Waterloo & City lines serve the Bank station. You can also take the DLR line here if you’re travelling from the east.
The nearest train station to the Tower of London
The Tower of London is also handy for rail travel. London Bridge and Fenchurch Street stations are both within walking distance. You’ll reach the Tower of London in 10 to 15 minutes from each station.
Fenchurch Street has services running between East London and South Essex. London Bridge Station has trains from the following destinations:
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East & West Sussex
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Surrey
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Kent and Hampshire
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Bedfordshire
Both are well-connected to the London Underground if you’re planning a longer day trip to the city.
Train routes to the Tower of London
Getting the train to the Tower of London from outside the city is simple. Many major routes will stop at London Euston Station, where you’ll transfer onto the London Underground for the rest of your journey.
Manchester to Tower of London
If you’re visiting the Tower of London from Manchester, first take the train from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston. Arriving in a little over two hours, this is a direct route.
During the week, trains run between 5:05 am and 8:15 pm. At the weekend, you can travel to London from 8:05 am.
From here, you can take the tube from Euston to Bank via the Northern line. With a walk of around 15 minutes, this is perfect for seeing the sights along the way.
Birmingham to Tower of London
As one of Avanti’s most popular routes, there are plenty of trains between Birmingham and London Euston. Taking around an hour and a half, you’ll reach the city with plenty of time to spare.
Trains run between 4:27 am and 10:56 pm during the week, with services running from 8:26 am on the weekends.
From London Euston, you can transfer to Bank as described above.
Alternatively, if you want to head to the nearest tube to the Tower of London, you can walk in five minutes to Euston Square station. This is on the Circle line, reaching Tower Hill underground station in around 16 minutes.
Liverpool to Tower of London
Trains from Liverpool to London will arrive in under two and a half hours. With an onboard shop and WiFi in your coach, you can make the journey part of the day trip experience.
You can catch a train from 4:25 am during the week, with services finishing at 8:51 pm. On the weekends, trains from Liverpool to London begin at 5:25 am.
From London Euston, head to Bank via the London Underground, or walk to Euston Square and take the tube to Tower Hill. If you’d prefer to take a train, you can walk from Euston to St Pancras International in 13 minutes. Then, take a Thameslink service to London Bridge station.
This puts you next to both London Bridge and Tower Bridge, so it’s an excellent option for first-time visitors to the city.
Visiting the Tower of London by train with Avanti
Now that you know about the rail and tube stations near the Tower of London, plan your visit to save on rail fares. You can book up to 12 weeks before your journey, leaving you more money for on-the-day treats.
