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Top things to do in London

Buckingham Palace with colorful flower gardens and visitors in London.

Buckingham Palace

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Stage performance of Come Alive Westend

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London Eye overlooking the Thames River at sunset.

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

London To Stonehenge Tours

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

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London Tickets

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Madame Tussauds London

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Westminster Abbey exterior with tourists in London.

Westminster Abbey

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

The View from The Shard

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

SEA LIFE London Aquarium

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

London To Windsor Castle Tours

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White car with artistic designs in Moco Museum London gallery.

Moco Museum London

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

London Dungeon

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Visitors exploring immersive art installation at Frameless London.

Frameless London

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

Paddington Bear Experience

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

Tower Bridge

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Christmas lights and angel decoration on Regent Street, London.

Christmas in London

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

Up At The O2 Climb

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

Heathrow Airport Transfers

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

St. Paul's Cathedral

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Visitors exploring Emirates Stadium in London.

London City Passes

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

National Express Tickets

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

Kew Gardens

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

Hampton Court Palace

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

Downton Abbey

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Statue of Winston Churchill with Westminster Palace in London.

Churchill War Rooms

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

Shrek's Adventure

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

The Clink Prison Museum

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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 most visits around Tower Green
  • Visit duration: 5–10 mins self-guided/10–15 mins with guide or audio guide commentary
  • Best time: First entry slot on a weekday; Tower Green is quieter before guided groups bunch up
  • Restrictions: Exterior viewing only. The Queen's House is an official residence and is not generally open to visitors.
Tower of London with historic stone walls and turrets, United Kingdom.

Why is it called the Queen's House?

Despite its name, the Queen's House was not built as a permanent residence for a reigning queen. The name is thought to reflect its long association with the royal household and senior officials who lived within the Tower of London over the centuries. Today, it continues that tradition by serving as the official residence of the Resident Governor of the Tower of London, making it one of the few historic buildings within the fortress that remains a working home rather than a museum.

How to best experience the Queen’s House

Visit during the quieter morning hours

Plan to reach the Queen's House within the first 90 minutes of your visit, before Tower Green fills with guided groups and independent visitors. A quieter setting makes it easier to appreciate the building's architecture, take photographs, and understand its relationship with the nearby execution memorial and chapel.

How long to spend

Allow around 5–10 minutes if you're visiting independently, or 10–15 minutes with a guide or audio guide. Although you cannot enter the house, a short stop is enough to understand its architectural significance, royal connections, and place within the Tower's Tudor history.

Where it fits in your itinerary

Most visitors encounter the Queen's House around the midpoint of their Tower visit, after exploring the White Tower or Crown Jewels. It pairs naturally with Tower Green, the Execution Memorial, and the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, creating one of the most historically significant sections of the fortress.

Crowd patterns

Tower Green is generally busiest between 11am and 2pm, particularly when Yeoman Warder tours arrive. During these times, the Queen's House can easily blend into the background. Visiting earlier or later in the day allows for clearer views and a more peaceful atmosphere.

Don't miss

Stand on Tower Green and view the Queen's House alongside the nearby Execution Memorial and the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula. Together, these landmarks tell the story of the Tower as both a royal residence and the setting for some of England's most famous state executions.

Common mistakes to avoid

Many visitors assume the Queen's House is a museum or historic home that's open to the public. Instead of searching for an entrance, focus on its exterior architecture and the stories connected to its surroundings. Its significance lies in its location, history, and continued role as an official residence rather than its interiors

Best tickets to experience the Queen’s House

Ticket typeWhy choose it

Tower of London Tickets with access to the Crown Jewels

Best for a flexible self-guided visit that lets you see the Queen's House alongside Tower Green, the White Tower, the Crown Jewels, and other key landmarks.

Tower of London guided tour with skip-the-line access

Ideal if you want expert commentary on the Queen's House, Tower Green, and the Tudor figures connected with this historic part of the fortress.

Tower of London tickets with optional guided tour, Thames cruise, or access to the Opening Ceremony

Perfect if you'd like to enhance your visit with a Beefeater tour, audio guide, Thames cruise, or exclusive access to the Opening Ceremony before exploring the Tower.

Queen's House in your visitor route

The Queen's House sits at the heart of the Tower's Tudor story rather than its military history. Located beside Tower Green, it is usually visited midway through the Tower route and is best explored alongside the nearby Execution Memorial and the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula. While visitors cannot enter the building, pausing here helps bring together the stories of royal life, political intrigue, and some of England's most famous executions.

Nearby attractions

  • Tower Green (1-minute walk): Visit the peaceful lawn where Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, Lady Jane Grey, and other high-ranking prisoners were privately executed.
  • Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula (1-minute walk): See the final resting place of Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, Lady Jane Grey, Sir Thomas More, and other notable Tower prisoners.
  • Bloody Tower (3-minute walk): Continue to learn about the Princes in the Tower, Sir Walter Raleigh, and centuries of imprisonment within the fortress.
  • White Tower (4-minute walk): Explore the oldest part of the Tower of London, home to the Royal Armouries collection and the Romanesque Chapel of St John.

Why it’s worth seeing

Most visitors remember the Tower of London for prisons, jewels, and executions, but Queen’s House shows that the fortress was also a lived-in royal and official residence. The detail many people miss is that this isn’t just a period façade: it remains part of the Tower’s residential life today. If you stop here carefully, you can read the overlap between domestic space, ceremony, and state power within a few steps.

The striking Tudor façade

The Queen's House is one of the Tower of London's finest surviving Tudor buildings. Its distinctive black-and-white timber-framed upper floor, brick lower storey, and steep tiled roof create a striking contrast with the surrounding Norman stone fortifications, reflecting the Tower's transformation from medieval fortress to royal residence.

The setting on Tower Green

Standing beside Tower Green, the Queen's House occupies one of the most historically significant locations within the fortress. From here, visitors can take in the Execution Memorial, the open green where several famous prisoners met their fate, and the nearby Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, where many were buried.

Connection to Anne Boleyn

The Queen's House is closely associated with Anne Boleyn's final hours. Historical tradition suggests that Sir William Kingston, Constable of the Tower, observed her execution on Tower Green from the house before accompanying her body to the nearby chapel. Whether viewed as fact or tradition, this connection has made the building an enduring symbol of Tudor history.

Unlike most of the Tower's historic buildings, the Queen's House has never become a museum. It continues to serve as the official residence of the Resident Governor, preserving its centuries-old role as part of the Tower's working community and explaining why its interior is generally closed to visitors.

Historical and cultural significance

  • A surviving Tudor residence: Built during the Tudor period, the Queen's House is one of the few surviving domestic buildings within the Tower of London, reflecting a time when the fortress served as a royal residence as well as a military stronghold.
  • At the heart of Tudor history: Its position overlooking Tower Green places the house at the centre of some of England's most significant historical events, including the executions of Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, and Lady Jane Grey.
  • A symbol of royal authority: For centuries, the Queen's House has been associated with senior officials responsible for managing and protecting one of the monarchy's most important royal fortresses, reinforcing its role within the Tower's daily life.
  • A living part of the Tower: Unlike many historic landmarks, the Queen's House remains an official residence today. Its continued use preserves an important tradition, reminding visitors that the Tower of London is not only a historic monument but also a working royal site.

👉 Explore the full history of the Tower of London

Notable figures

Anne Boleyn | Queen of England

Although Anne Boleyn never lived in the Queen's House, the building overlooks the site of her execution on Tower Green in 1536. Its close association with her final moments has made it one of the Tower of London's most poignant Tudor landmarks.

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Sir William Kingston | Constable of the Tower

As Constable of the Tower of London during Henry VIII's reign, Sir William Kingston supervised Anne Boleyn's imprisonment and execution. Historical tradition closely associates him with the Queen's House, from where he is believed to have witnessed the events on Tower Green.

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The Resident Governor | Official resident

The Queen's House continues its centuries-old residential role as the official home of the Resident Governor of the Tower of London. This tradition explains why the building remains closed to the public and is one of the fortress's few continuously occupied historic residences.

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Know before you go

  • Opening hours: The Queen's House can be viewed during the Tower of London's regular opening hours on your ticketed day.
  • Best time to visit: Aim to reach Tower Green during the first 90 minutes after opening for quieter surroundings and clearer views.
  • Time in your itinerary: Most visitors arrive at the Queen's House around 60–120 minutes after entering the Tower, depending on their route and Crown Jewels queues.
  • Interior access: The Queen's House is an official residence and is not generally open for public visits.
  • Seasonal note: Opening hours follow the Tower of London's seasonal timetable and may vary throughout the year.

​Detailed timings

Address: Tower of London, London EC3N 4AB, United Kingdom

  • Nearest Underground station: Tower Hill station, approximately a 3–5 minute walk from the Tower's main entrance.
  • Entry point: Access the Queen's House through the Tower of London's main visitor entrance; there is no separate public entrance.
  • Position within the Tower: The building overlooks Tower Green in the Inner Ward and is usually reached midway through the visitor route.
  • Nearby landmarks: The Execution Memorial, Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, Bloody Tower, and White Tower are all within a short walking distance.
  • Finding your way: Follow signs towards Tower Green after visiting the White Tower or Crown Jewels.

​Get directions

  • Exterior viewing only: Visitors experience the Queen's House from the surrounding public pathways, making it one of the Tower's easier historic buildings to appreciate without entering an interior space.
  • Step-free routes: Much of the route to Tower Green can be accessed using the Tower's recommended step-free paths, although some historic surfaces remain uneven.
  • Ground conditions: Expect cobbled walkways, worn stone paths, and occasional gentle slopes around Tower Green. Comfortable footwear is recommended throughout the Tower visit.
  • Accessible visitor support: Tower staff can recommend the most accessible route to Tower Green and advise on any temporary closures or diversions during your visit.
  • Assistance dogs: Registered guide dogs and recognised assistance dogs are welcome throughout the Tower of London where operationally possible.

​Plan your visit

  • Photography: Photography of the Queen's House is permitted from public visitor areas. Please continue to follow Tower-wide photography restrictions inside locations such as the Jewel House and the Chapel of St John.
  • No public entry: The Queen's House is a working official residence, so visitors are not permitted to enter the building except during very rare special heritage events.
  • Respect residential areas: Please remain on designated visitor paths and respect barriers, gates, and any restricted areas surrounding the residence.
  • Large bags and equipment: Large luggage, tripods, selfie sticks, drones, and bulky photographic equipment are not permitted within the Tower of London.
  • Food and drink: Food and drinks should not be consumed inside historic buildings. Dispose of litter responsibly and follow any additional instructions from Tower staff around residential areas.

​Plan your visit

Frequently asked questions about the Queen's House

Yes. Queen’s House sits within the Tower grounds, and no separate Queen’s House ticket exists.