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Witness the Ceremony of the Keys - Photos courtesy of © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024 | Royal Collection Trust

Tower of London: VIP After Hours Access & Ceremony of the Keys

The Tower of London has locked its gates every single night for 700 years in the Ceremony of the Keys. Public tickets for this ritual sell out within minutes,…

Operated by The Tour Guy

4.9 (38 reviews)
From $148 /person
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Overview

The Tower of London has locked its gates every single night for 700 years in the Ceremony of the Keys. Public tickets for this ritual sell out within minutes, making after-hours access one of London's most sought-after experiences, and this tour is your only way in. After the last daytime visitors leave, your small group enters the fortress with a resident Beefeater, one of the few people who actually live within its walls. By lantern light, you walk past Traitors' Gate, the White Tower, and the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula, hearing stories drawn from nine centuries of royal power, imprisonment, and intrigue. The evening builds to the Ceremony of the Keys itself. You stand steps from the Chief Yeoman Warder as he challenges the sentry and the bugler plays the Last Post across empty grounds. No crowds, no cameras during the ceremony, just the ritual exactly as it has been observed since the 14th century.

What’s included

  • Exterior views of Traitors' Gate, the White Tower, and the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula
  • Friendly tour host on arrival
  • Expert, English-speaking Beefeater guide
  • Ceremony of the Keys experience
  • Exclusive after-hours access to the Tower of London
  • Lantern-lit walking tour of the Tower's historic grounds

Not included

  • Crown Jewels (not open after-hours)
  • Gratuities (optional)
  • Interior building access

Traveller reviews

4.9
38 reviews
5 star
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4 star
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3 star
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1 star
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Verified traveller reviews from Viator (13) and Tripadvisor (25).

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Photos

Discover the Tower of London after hours! Photos courtesy of © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024 | Royal Collection Trust
Smiles and stories with a Beefeater! Make unique memories at the Tower of London.
Dive into centuries of history as the day draws to a close - Photos courtesy of © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024 | Royal Collection Trust
Two mates, one iconic Beefeater! Capturing a royal moment at the Tower of London with one of its legendary guardians
Where history meets the river — the iconic Tower of London stands proudly along the Thames, watching over centuries of stories.
A royal moment! A crowd gathers around a Beefeater, eager to hear tales from the Tower of London's rich history.

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