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Visiting the Tower

Essential practical and planning information for making a successful education visit to the Tower of London.

Take advantage of free preliminary tickets to prepare for your visit.

Dressed for Court

Educational visit information

Education admission rates

2 September 2010 - 22 July 2011*

*Excluding weekends, public and school holidays.

In the interest of all visitors there is a daily limit on the number of admissions and we are able to admit a maximum of 100 students per school per day at this reduced rate. Additional students are charged at the standard admission rate. To check availability at the education rates please click here.

Students
  • Under 5s free
  • Age 5 - 15 (KS 1-4)  £3.75
  • Age 16 and over (KS4-and above)  £5.25
Teachers and adult helpers
  
Teachers and adults accompanying groups are admitted free of charge up to the following ratios:
  • Students aged 6 yrs and under: 1:5
  • Students aged 7 to 18 yrs: 1:10

Additional adults are charged at £15.30 each. 

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On-site supervision 

All students must be accompanied by an adult at all times while at the Tower. Groups should contain a minimum of one adult per ten students aged 7-16 years old, and one adult per five students aged 6 and under. 

Groups with an inadequate number of accompanying adults may not be admitted.

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2010-11 term dates

Autumn
2 September to 17 December 2010

  • Half term: 25-29 October

Spring
4 January to 8 April 2011

  • Half term: 21-25 February

Summer
26 April to 22 July 2011

  • Half term: 30 May-3 June

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What is included 

The education admission rate includes access to:

  • the White Tower
  • Jewel House and Crown Jewels
  • Edward I's Medieval Palace
  • The ravens  

Access to the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula is possible towards the end of the day following the final Yeoman Warder tour.

The education admission rate does not include:

  • The Yeoman Warder tours.
  • The 'History where it happened' presentations.

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Sessions and workshops

Education sessions will enhance your pupils' experience of the Tower. Led by expert presenters, all sessions are closely based on the national curriculum, as well as affording opprtunities for cross-curricuar learning.  We also offer bespoke sessions and study days for older students.

All sessions have a maximum capacity of 30 students and are subject to availability during term time. Many run Monday to Friday through the autumn, spring and summer terms, while others are only available at certain times of the year. See individual session listings for full details.

Sessions on the visitor route are mainly outdoors and explore relevant locations around the Tower complex.

Sessions in the Education Centre or the Vaults Learning Centre are able to host object handling and costume sessions and may incorporate use of ITC where appropriate.  

Rates vary between £90 and £100 per session plus admission. CPD events and courses for teachers are £80 per person.

See sessions for schools for more details.

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Facilities at the Tower

For everything from lunch and toilets to shops and cafes go to:

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Access

As with any historic building, access to the Tower can be difficult. Obtain a copy of the Tower's Access Guide by calling 020 3166 6654. Or read more about Tower accessibility.

Wheelchair access
The Jewel House and the Bowyer Tower are completely accessible.

There is a lift between the ground floor and the basement of the White Tower – please speak to the Yeoman Warder on duty on Tower Green to access this.

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Health and safety 

Risks associated with visiting the Tower have been assessed as very low. See our Health and Safety pack (PDF 47KB) for more details, including a risk assessment.

Although extremely unlikely, our warding staff are trained in order to repond to any incident.

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Planning help for teachers

Free preliminary visit tickets
For every booking you'll receive a voucher for two preliminary visit tickets.

Most group leaders find them extremely useful for planning the main visit and we recommend their use in familiarising yourself with the Tower. Tickets are valid for any day up to the date of your visit and are redeemed at the entrance.

Planning your visit: A teacher's guide >
(PDF 60KB)

Risk assessment of the Tower >
(PDF 47KB)
Health and safety information for education visits.

Resources >
Teaching notes and fact sheets for self-guiding.

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