Ceremony of the Keys

What to expect

Ticket holders gather at the West Gate and are escorted in at 9.30pm precisely. In the dark, the Chief Yeoman Warder, carrying a lantern and the Tower's keys, meets an escort of soldiers and locks the main gates. On the way back the party is challenged by a sentry: 'Halt! Who comes there?' 'The keys.' 'Whose keys?' 'King Charles's keys.' The ceremony ends with the Last Post, and visitors are escorted out by about 10.05pm. It is short, solemn and surprisingly moving, especially with the floodlit walls around you.

The story behind it

The Tower has been locked every night for centuries to protect the fortress and, historically, the Crown Jewels and the prisoners held here. The words of the challenge have barely changed, apart from the name of the reigning monarch. It is often said that the ceremony has never been missed; the one famous hiccup came during the Blitz in 1941, when bombs fell nearby and the escort was delayed, and the officer in charge reportedly wrote to the King to apologise.

Getting there and home

The Tower is on the north bank of the Thames by Tower Bridge. Tower Hill Underground (District and Circle lines) and Fenchurch Street mainline station are a few minutes' walk away, and Tower Gateway on the DLR is close by. The ceremony finishes after 10pm, so check late-evening services for your journey home. Driving is not recommended in central London at night, and the Tower has no visitor parking.

Watching, taking part and tips

Tickets must be booked online in advance, with a suggested price of £30 (you choose between £10 and £50). Each month's dates go on sale at 1pm on the first working day of the previous month and disappear fast; there is no waiting list, though cancellations are re-released. Each person can book up to six tickets, the named booker must attend, and tickets are non-refundable. Photography is not allowed, and there are no toilets or refreshments, so plan accordingly. Children can attend, but it is late and requires quiet.

Accessibility and families

Historic Royal Palaces describes accessibility for this event as limited and asks anyone with special requirements to get in touch. Explain what you need — the route, standing, lighting or hearing support — before you commit to the trip. The Tower's daytime access information is helpful background, but a small escorted ceremony after dark is a different matter, and not every entrance, facility or route may be available. Ask about the ceremony itself; a normal visitor ticket's details won't answer your question.

Carers have their own booking process. Book everyone else in your party first, then reply to the confirmation email to request the carer ticket. Do it that way rather than buying an extra ticket on spec and hoping for a refund. For children, weigh up the late finish and the need for quiet attention against their usual bedtime routine; if they're likely to be exhausted by nightfall, a daytime Tower visit may be a better introduction. Make a toilet stop before meeting your escort, and keep the group together so one straggler doesn't hold everyone up.

What to bring and wear

Have your e-ticket ready before you reach West Gate — don't leave yourself hunting for a booking email on a weak signal at the last minute. Save it somewhere you can open easily, and make sure the named booker is with you: HRP requires that person to attend. Keep the ticket with your travel details, and check your phone has enough charge for the journey home as well as getting in.

Dress for standing outside after dark, with comfortable shoes and a layer to suit the forecast. Keep your bag small enough to manage while walking under escort, and avoid a jumble of loose bits you'll be juggling in the dark. Put cameras away before the ceremony begins: photography is banned throughout, even a quick souvenir snap. Switch phones to silent so no notification competes with the spoken challenge. If you're eating out beforehand, leave enough time to pay the bill and walk to the right gate — late arrival simply isn't an option.

Make a day of it nearby

Tower Bridge has its own daytime visitor experience in its towers and Engine Rooms. Book it separately and leave a comfortable gap before the evening ceremony; the Tower escort won't wait while you're stuck in an attraction queue. The bridge's access information covers lifts and more, so check the route that works for your group. You can enjoy the riverside setting without mistaking the paid bridge visit for part of your ceremony ticket.

For a bigger day in the City, St Paul's Cathedral opens the Cathedral Floor, Crypt and Dome Galleries to sightseers on its advertised sightseeing days. Worship and sightseeing work differently, and some areas have their own access considerations. Check the calendar and leave time to travel back to the Tower, eat and find a toilet. Choose one big extra attraction rather than an exhausting tour before a late evening. Both publish their own ticket and closure information, and neither is included in your Ceremony of the Keys booking.

Questions people ask

Where it is

Map pin shows the approximate area where the event happens. Open in OpenStreetMap ↗

Go straight to the source

Independent research. The organiser’s own information always wins — we have not visited or tested the journeys.

• Historic Royal Palaces: Ceremony of the Keys ↗
• Changing the Guard guide ↗
• Historic Royal Palaces: ceremony conditions, access and carer procedure ↗
• Tower Bridge: official visitor information ↗
• St Paul’s Cathedral: ticket and sightseeing information ↗