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Tower of London

Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula

Included with Tower of London tickets

Timings

RECOMMENDED DURATION

3 hours

Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula at the Tower of London with historic stone walls.

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Quick overview

  • Access: Included in all Tower of London tickets
  • Separate ticket: Not required
  • When you'll see it: Midway through the inner ward route, beside Tower Green
  • Visit duration: 15–20 mins self-guided/20–30 mins with guide context
  • Best time: First entry slot on a weekday; the chapel is quieter before Tower Green fills with tours and school groups
  • Restrictions: Quiet behaviour is expected inside this working royal chapel
Tower of London stone entrance with arched gateway and surrounding walls.

How to access the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula

The Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula is included with every Tower of London admission ticket, so no separate entry is required. Located beside Tower Green within the Inner Ward, it is usually reached midway through the visitor route or towards the end of a Yeoman Warder tour. Since it remains an active Chapel Royal and many of its stories are easily overlooked without context, visiting with a guide or arriving early helps you better appreciate the remarkable people buried beneath its floor.

How to best experience the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula

Best time to visit

Visit during the first hour after the Tower opens, particularly on weekdays, when the chapel remains peaceful before guided groups and school visits reach Tower Green. Late afternoon also tends to be quieter, making it easier to appreciate the memorials and reflective atmosphere.

How long to spend

Allow around 15 to 20 minutes if you're exploring independently. Guided visits generally spend 20 to 30 minutes here, providing valuable historical context about the chapel's royal burials, Tudor executions, and continued role as a place of worship.

Where it fits in your itinerary

Most visitors arrive at the chapel after visiting the Crown Jewels or White Tower, making it a natural midway stop. It offers a quieter, more reflective contrast to the Tower's military architecture and spectacular exhibitions.

Crowd patterns

Visitor numbers peak between late morning and early afternoon, when Yeoman Warder tours regularly stop outside on Tower Green. The chapel's intimate interior can become crowded during these periods, so earlier or later visits provide a calmer experience.

What to prioritize if time is short

Head directly to the chancel and study the memorials marking Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, and Lady Jane Grey. Before leaving, pause to read the surrounding wall monuments, which commemorate many lesser-known figures connected to the Tower's history.

Common mistakes to avoid

Many visitors spend only a few minutes inside because the chapel appears modest compared to the Tower's grander buildings. Take time to examine the floor memorials and interpretation panels, where the chapel's extraordinary historical significance truly comes to life.

Best tickets to experience the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula

Ticket typeWhy choose it

Standard entry tickets

Includes full access to the chapel alongside every major Tower attraction. Ideal for independent visitors exploring at their own pace.

Guided Tower tours

Learn the stories behind the royal burials, executions, and memorials through expert commentary that brings centuries of history into sharper focus.

Early-access & Beefeater experiences

Visit the chapel before larger crowds arrive while gaining valuable historical insight from Yeoman Warders throughout your Tower visit.

Combo tickets

Pair your Tower visit with attractions like Tower Bridge, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Sky Garden, or a Thames cruise for greater value.

Why it's worth seeing

Unlike many historic churches that celebrate triumphs and royal ceremonies, the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula quietly preserves the final resting place of some of England's most famous prisoners. Beneath its modest interior lie the graves of queens, nobles, statesmen, and religious leaders whose lives shaped British history. Its understated appearance makes the stories within even more powerful, rewarding visitors who take time to look beyond the architecture.

Royal burial site

The chapel is best known as the burial place of Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, Lady Jane Grey, and several other prominent figures executed within the Tower. Their memorials transform the chapel into one of England's most historically significant royal burial sites.

The chancel memorials

Walk towards the altar and look beneath your feet, where carefully marked floor memorials identify the burial locations of some of Tudor England's most famous victims. These simple inscriptions tell stories that rival any exhibition inside the Tower.

Historic memorial tablets

Along the chapel walls, memorial tablets honour governors, soldiers, bishops, prisoners, and officials connected with the Tower across several centuries. Together they reveal that the chapel's story extends far beyond the Tudor period.

A working royal chapel

Unlike many museum spaces within the Tower, St Peter ad Vincula remains an active Chapel Royal. Regular services and ceremonies continue here today, preserving a centuries-old tradition that connects the building to Britain's living royal heritage.

Historical and cultural significance

Dating back to the Norman period and rebuilt during the reign of Henry VIII in the early 16th century, the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula has served as the Tower of London's parish church for centuries. It became internationally famous as the burial place of prisoners executed on nearby Tower Green, including queens, nobles, bishops, and political figures whose deaths shaped the course of English history. While many visitors associate the Tower with imprisonment and execution, this chapel reminds them that those stories often ended not at the scaffold, but here beneath the stone floor. Today, it continues to function as a Royal Peculiar, serving both as an active place of worship and one of the Tower's most moving historic spaces.
👉 Explore the full history of the Tower of London

Notable figures

Anne Boleyn | Queen of England

Henry VIII's second wife was executed on Tower Green in 1536 before being buried beneath the chapel's chancel. Her rediscovered remains were identified during Victorian excavations and later commemorated with the memorial seen today.

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Catherine Howard | Queen of England

Henry VIII's fifth wife met the same fate as Anne Boleyn in 1542. Her burial beside the chancel has made the chapel closely associated with the dramatic history of the Tudor court.

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Lady Jane Grey | Nine-Day Queen

After ruling England for just nine days in 1553, Lady Jane Grey was executed at the Tower the following year. Her burial here remains one of the chapel's most poignant royal associations.

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Thomas More | Statesman

Executed in 1535 after refusing to recognise Henry VIII as Supreme Head of the Church, Thomas More is commemorated here as one of England's most respected political and religious figures.

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John Fisher | Bishop of Rochester

Executed alongside Thomas More for opposing Henry VIII's religious reforms, John Fisher's association with the chapel reflects the profound religious conflicts that defined Tudor England.

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Know before you go

  • Opening hours: The chapel follows the Tower of London's operating schedule, opening and closing alongside the rest of the fortress each day.
  • Entry timing: Enter the Tower within your booked admission window, then visit the chapel at any point during your self-guided or guided route.
  • Seasonal hours: Opening times vary throughout the year, with extended hours generally available during spring and summer and shorter hours in winter.
  • Service closures: As a working Chapel Royal, occasional religious services or special events may temporarily restrict visitor access without prior notice.
  • Last opportunity to visit: Plan to reach the chapel well before the Tower's closing time, as visitors are gradually directed towards the exit later in the day.

​Detailed timings

  • Within the Tower: The chapel stands beside Tower Green in the Inner Ward, approximately a 10 to 15-minute walk from the main entrance.
  • No separate entrance: Access is only possible after entering the Tower of London, as the chapel cannot be visited independently from outside the fortress.
  • Nearest Underground station: Tower Hill Station is around a two to three-minute walk from the Tower's main visitor entrance, served by the Circle and District lines.
  • Easy to combine: Most visitors naturally reach the chapel after the White Tower or Crown Jewels, making it a convenient stop during the middle of their visit.
  • Well signposted: Directional signs throughout the Tower complex make finding the chapel straightforward, especially once you reach the Inner Ward and Tower Green.

​Get directions

  • Ground-level entry: The chapel itself is largely on one level, making entry easier than several other historic buildings within the Tower complex.
  • Historic pathways: Reaching the chapel involves crossing cobbled paths and uneven medieval surfaces, so sturdy footwear and extra care are recommended.
  • Wheelchair access: Visitors using wheelchairs can access the chapel, although some surrounding areas of the Tower remain inaccessible due to historic architecture.
  • Assistance available: Tower staff can recommend the most accessible routes and provide guidance on navigating areas with uneven ground or limited access.
  • Accessible facilities: Accessible toilets, seating areas, and companion ticket facilities are available elsewhere within the wider Tower of London visitor site.

​Plan your visit

  • Maintain respectful behaviour: As this remains an active Chapel Royal, visitors should keep conversations quiet and respect anyone attending worship or private ceremonies.
  • Photography guidance: Personal photography is generally permitted unless staff advise otherwise during services or within specific areas of the chapel.
  • No food or drink: Eating, drinking, and chewing gum are not permitted inside the chapel to help preserve this important historic and religious building.
  • Restricted items: Large luggage, tripods, selfie sticks, and bulky photographic equipment are prohibited throughout the Tower of London during your visit.
  • Single-entry tickets: Tower admission allows one entry only, so ensure you visit the chapel before leaving the Tower complex for the day.
  • Moderate walking involved: Expect to walk across the Tower complex before reaching the chapel, with mostly outdoor routes linking the major attractions together.
  • Uneven historic surfaces: Cobbled pathways, worn stone paving, and occasional gentle slopes require comfortable footwear and careful footing throughout your visit.
  • Limited seating: Seating inside the chapel is intended primarily for worship and reflection, so most visitors spend their time standing or walking quietly.
  • Compact interior: Although not physically demanding, the chapel's relatively small size can feel busy during peak visiting hours and guided tour stops.
  • Weather considerations: Much of the route to the chapel is outdoors, so carry waterproof clothing or sun protection depending on London's changing weather conditions.
  • Recommended: Modest clothing is appropriate because this remains a working royal chapel
  • Footwear: Comfortable shoes help on cobbles, slopes, and uneven paving across the wider Tower site
  • During worship: Follow staff instructions if the chapel is being used for a service or ceremony

​Plan your visit

Frequently asked questions about the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula

Yes. Entry to the chapel is included with every valid Tower of London ticket. No separate ticket exists.