Gallery

The Tower of London in pictures

18/10/2026 20 photos

Beside the River Thames, the Tower of London is a historic fortress whose buildings and defences reflect many centuries of the capital’s history. Its best-known landmark is the White Tower, a distinctive central keep that gives the complex its familiar profile. Views from the river and nearby streets show the fortress in its wider riverside setting, while the surrounding walls and towers reveal how much more there is to explore than a single building.

Allow time to wander through the courtyards and visit the different buildings. Look out for details such as Traitors’ Gate and the old defensive walls, as well as the chapel and the Crown Jewels display. Tower Hill station is a short walk away, making it straightforward to reach the site by public transport. From outside, the Thames and nearby Tower Bridge offer further ways to appreciate the Tower’s setting.

Plan your visit

Getting there
Tower Hill station is a short walk away.
Allow time
The site includes several buildings and courtyards to explore.
Look out
The White Tower is a distinctive feature of the complex.
The Tower of London viewed across the River Thames.
The Tower of London rises above the River Thames, with its historic buildings and defences visible from the water. The riverbank offers a broad view of the fortress. Photo: Bob Collowan / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 · CC BY-SA 3.0
A high view of the Tower of London beside the Thames and surrounding city.
Seen from above, the Tower of London sits amid the dense cityscape beside the Thames. The elevated viewpoint helps reveal the scale and layout of the complex. Photo: Colin / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Tower of London’s western fortifications, including Legge’s Mount and Devereux Tower.
A western view shows the Tower’s layers of fortification, with Legge’s Mount and Devereux Tower visible. Look for the successive walls that defended the site. Photo: Jacob Evans / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 · CC BY-SA 2.0
Northern defensive walls and towers beside the Tower of London’s dry moat.
The northern defences line the Tower of London’s dry moat, showing how the fortress was protected beyond its central buildings. The outer grounds are part of the visit. Photo: Oleg Yunakov / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Tower Bridge behind the moat at the Tower of London.
The Tower of London moat and Tower Bridge share this view, bringing together the fortress and a familiar Thames landmark. It offers a useful angle for exploring the surroundings. Photo: DimiTalen / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (public domain dedication) · CC0 (public domain dedication)
Traitors’ Gate at the Tower of London.
Traitors’ Gate is a waterside entrance within the Tower of London. Its position by the Thames makes it a distinctive detail to look for on a visit. Photo: Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0
The White Tower at the Tower of London.
The White Tower stands at the heart of the fortress, its mass and stonework marking it out among the surrounding buildings. It is a defining feature of the complex. Photo: Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Queen’s House inside the Tower of London.
The Queen’s House is among the historic buildings within the Tower of London. Several buildings and courtyards make up the site, so allow time to explore beyond the White Tower. Photo: Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Waterloo Barracks within the Tower of London.
Waterloo Barracks is one of the buildings inside the Tower complex. Its setting among the fortress’s older defences offers a glimpse of the site’s varied architecture. Photo: Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0
A flag above the south-west tower of the White Tower.
A flag flies above the south-west tower of the White Tower. The view draws attention to the keep’s corner tower and its position within the wider fortress. Photo: Ввласенко / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 · CC BY-SA 3.0
The weather vane on the White Tower, showing a crown and flag.
A weather vane crowns the White Tower, with an ornament depicting the English variant of the Royal Standard. Look up to spot this detail above the stonework. Photo: Martinvl / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 · CC BY-SA 3.0
A lantern at Beauchamp Tower in the Tower of London.
A lantern hangs at Beauchamp Tower, adding a small architectural detail to the fortress’s stone buildings. It is one of the features to notice while exploring the complex. Photo: Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0
The White Tower viewed from inside the Tower of London.
The White Tower is seen from within the grounds, with its stone walls rising above the surrounding courtyard. This viewpoint shows how the central keep sits among the other buildings. Photo: Robert Lamb  / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 · CC BY-SA 2.0
The west wall, moat and Byward Tower at the Tower of London.
From Petty Wales, the west wall and moat frame the outer curtain wall and Byward Tower. This view makes the fortress’s layered defences easy to pick out. Photo: Tristan Surtel / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Tower of London viewed from beside Tower Hill postern.
The Tower of London is seen from beside Tower Hill postern, a viewpoint just outside the fortress. It gives visitors another way to take in the complex’s exterior. Photo: Yuanhsueh / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 · CC BY-SA 3.0
A chapel interior at the Tower of London.
A chapel inside the Tower of London contains the burial places of Queen Anne Boleyn and Queen Katherine Howard. Its interior offers a quieter contrast to the outer defences. Photo: SkyRose18 / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (public domain dedication) · CC0 (public domain dedication)
A Royal Canadian Regiment soldier guarding the Crown Jewels at the Tower.
A soldier from the Royal Canadian Regiment stands guard at the Crown Jewels display. The jewels are one of the notable things visitors can see inside the Tower. Photo: VirtuallyLondonBecky / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0
A raven in the grounds of the Tower of London.
A raven stands in the Tower of London grounds. Ravens are a familiar sight here and add a living detail to the historic setting. Photo: Jeff Hitchcock / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 · CC BY 2.0
The illuminated White Tower seen across the River Thames at night.
The White Tower is lit against the night sky, viewed from across the Thames. From the riverside, the central keep can be seen apart from the surrounding city. Photo: Rafa Esteve / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Tower Bridge behind the Salt Tower and outer walls of the Tower of London.
Tower Bridge appears behind the Salt Tower and the outer curtain walls. This layered view shows how the fortress sits beside the Thames and its landmark bridge. Photo: Oleg Yunakov / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0

All galleries