The Beefeater Tour at the Tower of London: Meet the Yeoman Warders

Led by the Yeoman Warders, the Beefeater tour leaves from the Bell Tower every 45 minutes, comes with standard admission, cannot be booked ahead and takes in Traitors' Gate, Tower Green and the Chapel Royal.

Visit

Included with admission, not bookable. Tower of London entry tickets.

Location

Tours start at the Bell Tower, near the main entrance.

Visit duration

Fit the tour into two or three hours at the Tower. Plan your visit.

Tour times

Every 45 minutes, from 10:00 a.m. (10:45 a.m. Sunday and Monday) to 3:15 p.m.

What the Beefeater Tour Is

The Beefeater tour is the walking tour of the Tower of London given by the Yeoman Warders, the guards in dark blue and red who have looked after the fortress for centuries. It is part of your Tower of London admission and you cannot reserve a place: you simply join the next group at the Bell Tower. Over the route the Warder tells the stories the Tower is famous for, from William the Conqueror's White Tower to the prisoners brought in through Traitors' Gate, the executions on Tower Green and the burials in the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula.

How the Yeoman Warder Tour Works

Tours leave from the Bell Tower, close to the main entrance, every 45 minutes throughout the day. From Tuesday to Saturday the first tour is at 10:00 a.m.; on Sunday and Monday it is 10:45 a.m. The last tour of the day starts at 3:15 p.m., all year round, and every tour is given in English.

There is nothing to book and nothing extra to pay: the Yeoman Warder tour is included with admission, and places cannot be reserved in advance. Weather and crowds can shorten or cancel a tour, and on days with a 1:00 p.m. gun salute the 1:00 p.m. tour does not run; the next one starts at 1:30 p.m.

The route crosses cobbled, uneven walkways and includes a flight of 21 steps, so wheelchair access is limited. Historic Royal Palaces does not publish a fixed length for the tour, so leave room for it inside the two or three hours the Tower recommends, and plan the Jewel House and the White Tower around it.

Who the Yeoman Warders Are

Yeoman Warders are not actors. Every one of them has served at least 22 years in the armed forces, reached a senior rank and been awarded the long service and good conduct medal before applying. Guarding the fortress, leading tours and keeping its ceremonies going are all part of the job.

They are often confused with the Yeomen of the Guard, the royal bodyguard founded by Henry VII in 1485 and based at St James's Palace. The Tower's own warders were sworn in as Yeomen in 1550, which is why both groups wear similar Tudor uniforms and share the Beefeater nickname, although the Tower warders go without the cross belt.

In 2007 there were 35 Yeoman Warders plus the Chief Yeoman Warder and the Yeoman Gaoler, and that year Moira Cameron became the first woman to join them. One of the Warders is also the Ravenmaster, the person who looks after the Tower's ravens every day.

Why Are They Called Beefeaters?

Nobody is completely sure, but the beef is real. The earliest written use comes from 1669, when a visiting prince of Tuscany noted that the royal guards "are called, in jest, Beef-eaters", because of the generous daily ration of beef they were given. Queen Elizabeth I's guards were already being called "the Queen's Beefs" in the 1570s.

The name started with the Yeomen of the Guard at court and spread to the Tower's warders, who now answer to it as readily as to their official title. It later found its way onto a gin bottle, which is why the word is now known far beyond Tower Hill.

The uniform explains the rest of the picture. The red and gold state dress is kept for state occasions, while the dark blue "undress" uniform with red trim, introduced in the 19th century, is what you see on an ordinary day.

Yeoman Warder Traditions at the Tower

The Ceremony of the Keys

Every night for around 700 years, the gates of the Tower have been locked in the Ceremony of the Keys, with the Chief Yeoman Warder challenged by a sentry: "Halt! Who comes there?". A small number of visitors can watch it by booking in advance with Historic Royal Palaces.

The Constable's Dues

An old tradition still kept by the Warders: the captain of a Royal Navy ship presents alcohol to the Constable of the Tower, and the Yeoman Warders escort it in procession to Tower Green, where the ceremony ends with a barrel of wine delivered to the King's House.

The Ravenmaster

The Ravenmaster is a Yeoman Warder with an extra job: caring every day for the ravens that legend says must never leave the Tower. At least six are kept, plus spares, and the Ravenmaster is often the Warder visitors most want to meet.

Tower of London: An Iconic and Intriguing Location!

Highlights

Explore an iconic landmark steeped in political intrigue and royal history.

Discover the newly restored Medieval Palace showcasing stories of monarchs and their households.

See the Crown Jewels, a highlight of the exhibition.

Admire the White Tower with Henry VIII’s oversized armor and London’s oldest church, St John’s Chapel.

Experience thrilling narratives about the Tower’s past, including imprisonment and executions.

Joining a Tour on the Day

Because the tour is included and cannot be reserved, the only thing to plan is your admission slot. Arrive within your 30-minute window, walk to the Bell Tower and join the next group, then carry on to the Jewel House and the White Tower once the Warder has finished. Remember the ticket is one entry, so see everything before you leave the gates.

Beefeater Tour Questions

Is the Beefeater tour included in the ticket?

Yes. The Yeoman Warder tour is included with standard admission.

Can you book the Yeoman Warder tour?

No. Places cannot be booked in advance. Join the next tour at the Bell Tower.

What time are the Beefeater tours?

Every 45 minutes. The first tour is at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday to Saturday and 10:45 a.m. Sunday and Monday, and the last one starts at 3:15 p.m.

How long is the Yeoman Warder tour?

Historic Royal Palaces does not publish a fixed length, so plan it within the two or three hours recommended for the whole Tower.

Why are Yeoman Warders called Beefeaters?

The name is thought to come from the beef rations given to royal guards. The earliest written use dates from 1669.

How do you become a Beefeater?

You need at least 22 years' service in the armed forces, a senior rank and the long service and good conduct medal.

Are there women Yeoman Warders?

Yes. Moira Cameron became the first woman Yeoman Warder in 2007.

What is the Ceremony of the Keys?

The nightly locking of the Tower's gates, carried out by the Yeoman Warders for around 700 years. Visitors can attend by booking in advance.