5 Reasons you’ll love the Tower of London Beefeater Tour

There are many iconic sights to see at the Tower of London: ravens, precious jewels and armoury to name but a few, but it’s the massively popular Tower of London Beefeater Tours that are an absolute must-do when you visit!

The Beefeaters (or Yeoman Warders as they’re officially known) are the official guards of the Tower of London, and are also one of its star attractions. Their guided tours of the Tower are legendary, with tales of intrigue, imprisonment, execution, torture and lots of laughs along the way.

Starting every half-hour, with no need to book ahead, here are five reasons a Beefeater Tour is one of the best things to do at the Tower of London:

1. It’s free when you visit the Tower!

Everyone loves a freebie, and the Beefeater tour won’t cost you a penny extra once you’ve entered the Tower of London. The tours definitely aren’t a gimmick merely designed to sell tickets either – you can expect your captivating tour of the tower’s grounds to last at least an hour!

2) It’s your ticket to sealed off areas.

Whilst most areas of the Tower of London are open for you to wander freely, the chapel is not one of them – the only way to get in there is with a Beefeater.

The chapel is definitely worth a visit as it’s the burial place of some of the tower’s most famous prisoners, Anne Boleyn possibly being the most infamous of them all. If not the history, the atmosphere of the chapel will definitely give you chills….

3) It’s a history lesson unlike any you had at school.

Some of the most inspiring teachers are passionate about their subject and that’s certainly true for the tower’s wardens. Did you know they actually live in their own private residences at the tower in the city of London? With bags of personality and humour, the Beefeaters make history interesting and intriguing. You’ll certainly leave wanting to discover more!

4. It’s guaranteed to get your children excited about history!

Beefeater tours are engaging from the start, for all ages! The warden’s language is well-chosen, age-appropriate and perfectly ties in with the Tudor history taught in primary schools today.

With the National Curriculum placing more and more emphasis on the core subjects, these tours are a fun way to supplement your child’s historical knowledge of the Tudor greats (and the grown-ups will have a great time too).

5. It’s entertaining and hilarious

Possibly the best reason of all to take the tour! Sure, we want to feel enriched by the experience and feel like we’ve come away having learned something, but history mixed with humour is a winning combination. With plenty of comic quips thrown in, the Beefeaters expertly manage to bring the tower’s history alive… when you least expect it.

How to get onto a Beefeater Tour?

The Tower of London Beefeater Tours are included for free with all Tower of London tickets. They begin every 30 minutes at the main entrance to the Tower, and last around an hour.

Tip: As the tours are so popular, we recommend arriving early as they can get very busy later in the day

Top Image: flickr.com/photos/averain/

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