Skip to main content‌
Tower of London

Jewel House

Included with Tower of London tickets

Timings

RECOMMENDED DURATION

3 hours

Crown jewels displayed in a glass case at the Tower of London exhibition hall.

Top things to do in London

Buckingham Palace with colorful flower gardens and visitors in London.

Buckingham Palace

from

£14

Stage performance of Come Alive Westend

London Theatre Tickets

from

£6.25

London Eye overlooking the Thames River at sunset.

London Eye

from

£29

Stonehenge under a clear blue sky, part of London to Stonehenge tours.

London To Stonehenge Tours

from

£36.80

Draco Malfoy costume in Slytherin common room on Harry Potter London tour.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London Tickets

from

£75

I'm sorry, I can't help with that.

Madame Tussauds London

from

£27

Westminster Abbey exterior with tourists in London.

Westminster Abbey

from

£31

The Shard skyscraper in London at sunset with cityscape and river views.

The View from The Shard

from

£24

Visitors observing a sea turtle in the tunnel at SEA Life London.

SEA LIFE London Aquarium

from

£28

Windsor Castle with visitors walking along the Long Walk path, England.

London To Windsor Castle Tours

from

£32

White car with artistic designs in Moco Museum London gallery.

Moco Museum London

from

£18.32

Stone statue of a hooded figure at London Dungeon, London.

London Dungeon

from

£27

Visitors exploring immersive art installation at Frameless London.

Frameless London

from

£26

Child holding Paddington Bear toy, smiling with adult and costumed guide at Paddington Bear Experience.

Paddington Bear Experience

from

£34

Tower Bridge spanning the River Thames in London, featuring its iconic twin towers.

Tower Bridge

from

£18

Christmas lights and angel decoration on Regent Street, London.

Christmas in London

from

£25

Visitors climbing the O2 Arena roof in London with safety gear.

Up At The O2 Climb

from

£37

Mother and daughter on train from Heathrow Airport, child holding tablet.

Heathrow Airport Transfers

from

£7

St Paul's Cathedral dome in London against a blue sky.

St. Paul's Cathedral

from

£27

Visitors exploring Emirates Stadium in London.

London City Passes

from

£63

National Express bus in front of the London Eye, England.

National Express Tickets

from

£5.50

Victorian glasshouse and colorful tulip garden at Kew Gardens, London.

Kew Gardens

from

£17

Hampton Court Palace entrance with red brick towers and Union Jack flag, London.

Hampton Court Palace

from

£29

Highclere Castle, iconic setting for Downton Abbey, with a flag atop its tower.

Downton Abbey

from

£79

Statue of Winston Churchill with Westminster Palace in London.

Churchill War Rooms

from

£30

Visitors posing with Shrek at Shrek's Adventure in London.

Shrek's Adventure

from

£21

Clink Prison Museum entrance in London, showcasing historical prison artifacts.

The Clink Prison Museum

from

£10

Quick overview

  • Access: Included in all Tower of London tickets
  • Separate ticket: Not required
  • When you'll see it: Near the start of the Tower visit, inside the Waterloo Block
  • Visit duration: 15–20 mins self-guided/20–30 mins with a guide or audio guide
  • Best time: First entry slot on a weekday; queues build fastest from late morning
  • Restrictions: Photography and videography prohibited; large bags and bulky equipment restricted
Crown jewels on display at the Tower of London.

How to access the Jewel House

The Jewel House is included with every Tower of London admission ticket, so no separate entry is required. Located inside the Waterloo Block, it is one of the first major attractions you'll encounter after entering the fortress. Although you're free to explore the Tower in any order, most visitors head here first to avoid the longest queues, which build quickly as the day progresses. Choosing an early-access, skip-the-line, or guided ticket gives you the best chance of viewing the Crown Jewels before peak visitor numbers arrive.

How to best experience the Jewel House

Best time to visit

Head straight to the Jewel House as soon as the Tower opens, particularly on weekdays. During the first hour, queues are considerably shorter, allowing you to enjoy the displays at a more relaxed pace before the busiest crowds arrive around late morning.

How long to spend

Allow around 15–20 minutes if you're visiting independently. Guided tours or audio-guided visits generally take 20–30 minutes, giving you extra context about each ceremonial object, its symbolism, and its role during coronations and state occasions.

Where it fits in your itinerary

Unlike attractions such as the White Tower or Bloody Tower, the Jewel House is best visited at the very beginning of your Tower visit. Seeing it first lets you avoid the Tower's longest internal queue before continuing through the rest of the historic complex at your own pace.

Crowd patterns

The busiest period is typically between 11am and 2pm, especially on weekends, public holidays, and school breaks. Since visitor numbers are carefully controlled inside the Jewel House, queues can stretch well outside the Waterloo Block during peak hours.

What to prioritize if time is short

If you're short on time, focus on the ceremonial highlights: St Edward's Crown, the Imperial State Crown, the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross, and the Sovereign's Orb. Together, these four objects tell the story of Britain's coronation traditions and house many of the collection's most famous gemstones.

Common mistakes to avoid

Many visitors become so focused on spotting famous diamonds like the Cullinan I that they overlook the wider collection. Pay attention to the coronation spoon, ampulla, swords, and ceremonial regalia, which explain how each object contributes to one of Britain's oldest royal traditions.

Best tickets to experience the Jewel House

Ticket typeWhy choose it

Standard entry tickets

Includes full access to the Jewel House and Crown Jewels. Perfect if you want the flexibility to explore the Tower of London independently at your own pace.

Early-access tours

Enter before general admission to see the Crown Jewels with significantly fewer visitors and enjoy a quieter, more intimate viewing experience.

Guided tours

Gain fascinating historical context about the Crown Jewels, British coronations, and the monarchy from an expert guide throughout your visit.

Beefeater meet & greet tours

Combine exclusive time with a Yeoman Warder and early access to the Crown Jewels for insider stories unavailable during a standard visit.

Combo tickets

Pair the Tower of London with attractions like Tower Bridge, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Sky Garden, or a Thames cruise while saving on admission.

Why it's worth seeing

The Jewel House safeguards one of the world's most important working royal collections rather than a traditional museum display. Every object here continues to play a ceremonial role during coronations and state occasions, making this one of the few places where centuries-old royal tradition remains very much alive.

St Edward's Crown

Crafted in 1661 for King Charles II after the Restoration, St Edward's Crown is the most sacred object in the collection. It is placed on the monarch's head during the coronation itself, making it the centrepiece of Britain's coronation ceremony.

The Imperial State Crown

Adorned with thousands of diamonds, pearls, sapphires, emeralds, and rubies, the Imperial State Crown is worn by the monarch after the coronation and during the annual State Opening of Parliament. It contains some of the collection's most recognisable historic gemstones.

The Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross

Originally created in 1661 and later redesigned to hold the spectacular Cullinan I Diamond—the largest clear-cut diamond in the world—this sceptre symbolises the monarch's temporal authority and remains one of the Crown Jewels' most iconic pieces.

The Sovereign's Orb

The gold orb, topped with a jewelled cross, represents the monarch's authority under God. Although often overshadowed by the crowns, it remains one of the most important ceremonial objects used during every British coronation.

The Coronation Spoon & Ampulla

Among the oldest surviving regalia, the 12th-century Coronation Spoon and the golden Ampulla are used during the sacred anointing ceremony. Remarkably, these are among the very few Crown Jewels to survive the destruction of the medieval regalia in 1649.

Historical and cultural significance

The Jewel House preserves more than 100 ceremonial objects that continue to serve the British monarchy today, making it one of the world's few active royal treasuries. While England's original medieval Crown Jewels were destroyed following the English Civil War, King Charles II commissioned an entirely new collection after the Restoration in 1660, much of which remains in ceremonial use today. Since the 17th century, the Tower of London has safeguarded these priceless regalia, balancing their role as national treasures with their continued importance during coronations, state openings of Parliament, royal weddings, and other historic occasions. The modern Jewel House allows visitors to witness a living tradition that has shaped Britain's monarchy for centuries.

👉 Explore the full history of Tower of London

Notable figures

King Charles II I Monarch

Following the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, Charles II commissioned a completely new set of Crown Jewels after the originals had been destroyed, laying the foundation for the collection displayed today.

Know more

Sir Robert Vyner | Crown Jeweller

The royal goldsmith and banker oversaw the creation of many of the Restoration Crown Jewels. His craftsmanship helped establish several ceremonial pieces that remain central to British coronations.

Know more

Edward the Confessor | Saint-king

Although he lived centuries before the current regalia were created, England's last Anglo-Saxon king lends his name to St Edward's Crown, the most sacred crown used during every coronation.

Know more

Queen Elizabeth II I Britain's Longest-Reigning Monarch

During her 70-year reign, the Crown Jewels featured in numerous State Openings of Parliament and official ceremonies, reinforcing their enduring role in Britain's constitutional traditions.

Know more

Charles III | Monarch

His 2023 coronation demonstrated that the Crown Jewels remain an active ceremonial collection rather than museum artefacts, with many of the same regalia continuing centuries-old royal traditions.

Know more

Know before you go

  • Opening hours: The Jewel House follows the Tower of London's operating hours and opens and closes alongside the wider fortress throughout the year.
  • Last admission: You must enter the Tower of London before the final admission time to access the Jewel House during your visit.
  • Seasonal schedule: The Tower generally operates longer hours during spring and summer, while autumn and winter usually have earlier closing times.
  • Temporary closures: Occasionally, the Jewel House or sections of the Crown Jewels display may close temporarily for operational, ceremonial, conservation, or security reasons.
  • Best visiting window: The first entry slot each morning offers the shortest queues and the most relaxed viewing conditions before visitor numbers build throughout the day.

​Detailed timings

  • Within the Tower: The Jewel House is housed inside the Waterloo Block, close to the Tower's main entrance, making it one of the first major attractions most visitors reach.
  • Entry point: Access is available only through the Tower of London's main visitor entrance. The Jewel House does not have a separate public entrance.
  • Walking distance: From the main entrance, expect a walk of approximately 5–10 minutes, depending on security queues and visitor numbers inside the fortress.
  • Visitor route:Although you may visit attractions in any order, most visitors head to the Jewel House first before exploring the White Tower, Medieval Palace, and other landmarks.
  • Standalone access: The Jewel House cannot be visited independently and is only accessible with a valid Tower of London admission ticket.

​Get directions

  • Wheelchair access: The Jewel House is one of the Tower's most accessible historic buildings, with step-free routes available to the Crown Jewels display.
  • Moving walkway: A slow-moving travelator helps regulate visitor flow past the Crown Jewels. Accessible viewing arrangements are available for visitors who cannot use it.
  • Mobility assistance: Tower staff can recommend step-free routes throughout the site and advise on the easiest way to reach the Jewel House.
  • Assistance animals: Registered assistance dogs are welcome throughout the Tower of London, including inside the Jewel House.
  • Accessible facilities: Accessible toilets, seating areas, and other visitor facilities are available across the wider Tower complex.

​Plan your visit

  • Photography: Photography and video recording are strictly prohibited inside the Jewel House for security reasons.
  • Food & drinks: Eating, drinking, and smoking are not permitted anywhere inside the Jewel House.
  • Large luggage: Suitcases, oversized bags, tripods, selfie sticks, and bulky equipment are not permitted inside the attraction.
  • Security screening: All visitors pass through airport-style security checks before entering the Tower, with additional controlled access into the Jewel House.
  • Visitor conduct: Touching display cases, leaning over barriers, or attempting to stop on the moving walkway is not permitted.

​Plan your visit

  • Standing involved: Expect to remain on your feet throughout your visit, as seating inside the Jewel House is extremely limited.
  • Moving walkway: Visitors pass the Crown Jewels on a slow-moving walkway, although alternative accessible viewing options are available upon request.
  • Moderate walking: Reaching the Jewel House and continuing through the Tower involves moderate walking across cobbled paths and historic courtyards.
  • Controlled visitor flow: Entry is carefully managed to protect the collection, so short waiting times may still occur even with advance tickets.
  • Indoor environment: The Jewel House is climate-controlled with subdued lighting to help preserve the priceless regalia and create optimal viewing conditions.

Frequently asked questions about the Jewel House

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