Five golden admission tickets labeled 'my return ticket'.

VERDICT: WE GAVE 5 OUT OF 5 TICKETS AND HERE’S WHY!

This guide forms part of our complete UK Travel Guide, featuring scenic road trips, iconic destinations, practical travel advice and honest first-hand travel experiences from across the United Kingdom.

This article is part of our 3 Days in London: Ultimate Guide. We explored St Paul’s Cathedral, Churchill War Rooms, British Museum, Tower Bridge and Tower of London, experienced Frameless Immersive Art, visited Abbey Road Studios and stayed at the Park Plaza Hotel. Follow our personal experiences and practical visitor tips. Highly Recommended – 5 Ticket Rated. Read the complete three-day London guide here:

If you only have a short amount of time, make sure you check out our guide to 24 Hours in London.

From William the Conqueror and Traitors’ Gate to the Crown Jewels and London’s Famous Victorian Bridge

We’ve had the privilege of visiting the Tower of London and Tower Bridge several times over the years, yet somehow every visit manages to tell us a slightly different story.

That’s one of the things we love about this part of London.

There is simply so much history here that it would be almost impossible to absorb everything during a single visit. Each time we return, we hear another story, notice something we missed previously or pick up another fascinating snippet of history from one of the Tower’s famous Yeoman Warders, better known as Beefeaters.

Whether London gives us sunshine or its more traditional rain, we never seem to get bored exploring here.

Two London Icons Side by Side

Standing side by side on the River Thames, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge tell two very different chapters of London’s story.

The Tower of London, founded by William the Conqueror following the Norman Conquest of 1066, represents almost 1,000 years of royal authority, defence, imprisonment, execution and intrigue.

Next door, Tower Bridge, completed in 1894, represents an entirely different London, a city transformed by industry, engineering and international trade.

Together, they demonstrate how important the Thames has been throughout London’s history. What began as a strategic position for controlling the city eventually became part of one of the world’s great commercial capitals.

For visitors, the best part is that you can experience both landmarks within the same compact and very walkable area.

Walking Through Nearly 1,000 Years of History

Every time we approach the Tower of London, its sheer scale reminds us just how imposing this fortress must have appeared centuries ago.

The massive stone walls, towers and ramparts dominate the riverfront.

At the heart of the complex stands the White Tower, commissioned by William the Conqueror in the late 11th century as a powerful symbol of Norman authority over London.

Over the centuries, the Tower expanded far beyond its original purpose. It became a royal palace, fortress, prison, armoury, treasury and place of execution.

Kings and queens walked these grounds, prisoners waited here uncertain of their fate, and some of the most dramatic events in British history unfolded within these walls.

The Beefeater Tours

One of our favourite parts of returning to the Tower is joining a tour led by one of the Yeoman Warders.

The Beefeaters are an attraction in themselves.

They bring the history of the Tower to life through stories of kings, queens, prisoners, executions, betrayals and some of the more unusual events that have occurred here over the centuries.

Even after visiting several times, we always seem to hear something new.

One guide will emphasize a particular prisoner or execution, while another might tell a completely different story about royal life inside the fortress. Those extra snippets are one of the reasons we continue to enjoy returning. The history never changes, but somehow, the story does.

Traitors’ Gate

One of the most atmospheric locations for us is Traitors’ Gate. The water entrance was originally created during the reign of Edward I, allowing access to the Tower directly from the Thames.

It later became associated with prisoners accused of treason who were brought to the Tower by river.

Standing beside it today, it’s difficult not to think about the famous prisoners who entered the Tower uncertain whether they would ever leave.

Figures associated with imprisonment at the Tower include Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, Lady Jane Grey, Sir Thomas More and the future Queen Elizabeth I.

It is one of those locations where the stories we’ve heard during our tours suddenly become much easier to imagine.

The Chapel and Stories of the Tower

We also make time to visit the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula, one of the most historically significant places within the Tower.

The chapel is the final resting place of several famous people executed at the Tower, including Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Lady Jane Grey.

It is considerably quieter than many other parts of the complex, but knowing who lies beneath the floor gives the chapel an extraordinary atmosphere.

This is one of the things that makes the Tower so fascinating to us. Around almost every corner there is another connection to a person or event we’ve previously encountered in British history.

Seeing the Crown Jewels

Of course, no visit to the Tower of London feels complete without seeing the Crown Jewels.

The collection represents centuries of British monarchy and includes some of the most important ceremonial objects associated with the Crown.

Among the highlights are spectacular crowns, sceptres, orbs and other royal regalia used during coronations and major state occasions. Regardless of how many times we’ve visited, seeing the Crown Jewels remains impressive.

Unlike many historical objects displayed in museums, these aren’t simply relics of the past. Many pieces remain part of the working Royal Collection and continue to play a role in British ceremonial life.

Walking Towards Tower Bridge

After exploring centuries of medieval and royal history, it takes only a few minutes to walk from the Tower towards Tower Bridge.

The contrast is remarkable. Where the Tower represents medieval royal power, Tower Bridge represents the extraordinary engineering ambition of Victorian Britain.

Completed in 1894, the bridge was designed to provide another crossing of the Thames while still allowing ships to access the busy docks farther upstream.

Its famous central sections, or bascules, can be raised to allow tall vessels to pass underneath.

More than 130 years later, the bridge remains operational and continues to open for river traffic.

Exploring Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is impressive from almost every angle, but walking across it provides another perspective of the Thames.

Visitors can also explore the Tower Bridge Exhibition, including the elevated walkways connecting the two towers.

From above, there are excellent views along the river and across the surrounding London skyline.

The experience also tells the story of how the bridge was constructed and explains the Victorian engineering required to operate such an ambitious structure.

For us, one of the great pleasures is simply standing beside the Thames and looking back towards the Tower of London.

Within one view, you can see centuries of London history sitting almost side by side.

Medieval London Meets Victorian London

Exploring these two landmarks together creates a fascinating timeline.

The Tower takes us back to the aftermath of the Norman Conquest, when William the Conqueror needed a fortress capable of both defending and controlling London.

Tower Bridge takes us forward more than 800 years to a period when London had become one of the world’s most important industrial and commercial cities.

Between them flows the Thames – the historic lifeline that helped make London what it is today. Royal authority, defence, imprisonment, trade and engineering all intersect within this relatively small stretch of riverfront.

Why We Keep Coming Back

We’ve now explored the Tower of London and Tower Bridge several times, and yet neither attraction feels finished to us. There is always another story.

Another room. Another view. Or another wonderfully delivered piece of history from a Beefeater that we somehow hadn’t heard before.

Walking along the ramparts, standing beside Traitors’ Gate, visiting the chapel, seeing the Crown Jewels and then heading towards Tower Bridge remains one of our favourite ways to experience London’s extraordinary history.

For first-time visitors to London, we would strongly recommend seeing the Tower of London and Tower Bridge together. They are close enough to comfortably combine, yet each provides a completely different perspective on the development of the city.

And despite having visited several times ourselves, we always seem to leave thinking exactly the same thing:

We’ll be back again!

🏰 Tower of London & 🌉 Tower Bridge

The Essential Visitor Guide: My Return Ticket

Visiting the Tower of London and Tower Bridge together is one of the most rewarding experiences in London. These two landmarks sit side by side yet represent two very different eras of British history; Medieval Power and Victorian Innovation.

✅ Best Order of Visit (Highly Recommended)

1️⃣ Tower of London (first – morning)

Start here while energy is high and crowds are lighter. This site requires time, focus, and walking.

2️⃣ Tower Bridge (after lunch)

Shorter, lighter, and more visual — the perfect follow-up.

🏰 TOWER OF LONDON: COMPLETE VISITOR GUIDE

📜 History & Purpose

Founded in 1066 by William the Conqueror, the Tower of London was built to:

Assert Norman control over England
Defend the city of London
Serve as a royal palace, prison, fortress, and treasury

Over nearly 1,000 years, it became a place of power, fear, and symbolism.

Was the Tower often attacked ?

Surprisingly, no.
The Tower was rarely attacked directly because:

Its position on the Thames made supply and defence easy
Its walls, moat, and guards were formidable
Fear of royal authority kept rebellion limited

Most prisoners entered the Tower through politics, not war.

👑 Royalty & Famous Names Associated with the Tower

Monarchs who lived or ruled from here:

William the Conqueror
Henry III
Edward I

Prisoners & victims:

Anne Boleyn – executed
Catherine Howard – executed
Thomas More – executed
Guy Fawkes – imprisoned and tortured
Elizabeth I – imprisoned before becoming queen

⚔️ Beheadings & Heads on Spikes

Executions were rare but symbolically brutal.

Beheadings were usually carried out on Tower Green (inside the walls) for nobility
Common criminals were executed at nearby Tower Hill
Heads of traitors were displayed on spikes above Traitors’ Gate as a warning

Anne Boleyn’s execution in 1536 remains the most famous.

💎 The Crown Jewels (Do Not Miss)

The Crown Jewels are still used today by the monarchy.

You will see:

St Edward’s Crown (used for coronations)
The Imperial State Crown
Sceptres, orbs, and ceremonial regalia

💡 Tour tip: Visit the Crown Jewels immediately on entry or late afternoon to avoid queues.

🧍‍♂️ The Beefeaters (Yeoman Warders)

The Beefeaters are not actors.

They are:

Former senior members of the British Armed Forces
On site 24/7, many living within the Tower

Their free guided tours (included in admission) are humorous, blunt, and historically accurate — highly recommended.

⚰️ Who Is Buried in the Tower?

Within the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula:

Anne Boleyn
Catherine Howard
Thomas More
Other executed nobles

This quiet chapel is one of the most powerful parts of the visit.

🎟️ Admission & Time Needed

Adults: ~£33.60
Children: ~£16.80
Time required: 2.5–3 hours minimum

📸 Best Photo Spots:

Tower walls with Tower Bridge behind
Traitors’ Gate from the river side
White Tower courtyard

🌉 TOWER BRIDGE: VISITOR GUIDE

🕰️ History & Purpose

Completed in 1894, Tower Bridge was built to:

Allow road traffic across the Thames
Keep river access open for tall ships heading to the Port of London

Its bascule system (lifting roadway) was originally powered by steam hydraulics.

👀 Exhibition Highlights

If you enter the bridge:

Glass floor walkways (42 metres above the river)
Victorian engine rooms
Panoramic skyline views

🕒 Time needed: 45–60 minutes

🎟️ Admission: ~£12.30 adult

📸 Best Photography Locations. South bank at sunset, River level beneath the bridge, Glass walkway on the Bridge (looking straight down) Early morning = fewer crowds.

🚇 Getting There

Tower Hill Station – District & Circle Lines
London Bridge Station – Northern & Jubilee Lines

🎯 Final Tour Guide Advice

This pairing works because:

The Tower explains power, punishment, and monarchy
Tower Bridge explains engineering, trade, and modern London
Both are walkable, visual, and deeply memorable

If short on time:

Do Tower of London only

If you want the full experience:

Do both — they complement each other perfectly.

Continue exploring London

Nearby London attractions

Planning Your Trip?

Before you go, don’t forget to book the essentials:

With every trip, we offer feedback to travel companies along with honest views for you, the reader. We rate adventures on a scale of one to five tickets, judged on quality, service, memorability, and price. A perfect ‘Ticket Rating’ of a five-ticket score means the experience was flawless and we’d eagerly return. Your desire to go back is the ultimate measure of a trip’s worth. Exclusive to My Return Ticket.

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