Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London | What it is, Why it’s special, + Review
Whether you think you’ve already done the Tower of London or you’ve not yet set foot within its hallowed walls, the Ceremony of the Keys is something worth knowing about. This ancient military ritual’s history stretches back many centuries, and takes place every single night.
Book a Ceremony of the Keys tour and you’ll enjoy exclusive access to the Tower of London, as well as seeing the ceremony itself. You’ll also get to know your Yeoman Warder guide, perhaps better known as one of the Tower’s famous Beefeaters.
This guide shares all the info you need about the Ceremony of the Keys. Including what happens, exactly why it’s so special, what it’s really like (as I’ve taken it twice myself), and how it compares to the Opening Ceremony.
At the end, we also tell you how to get cheap tickets to the ceremony, just in case you want to do it yourself. Or perhaps combine it with an organised Opening Ceremony tour.
Read on to find out all about the Tower of London’s Ceremony of the Keys!
🏆 Recommended Small Group Tours of the Tower of London
🗝 VIP Tower of London: After Hours Tour & Ceremony of the Keys
✨ Tower of London Tour with Crown Jewels & Thames River Cruise
What is the Ceremony of the Keys?
The Ceremony of the Keys is the oldest military ritual on earth. In fact it’s taken place every evening since the 1340s – around seven centuries ago. Despite the passage of so much time, the ceremony is just the same as it was back then.
You’ll see the black and red uniformed Beefeaters saying their lines as they pass the keys to the Tower’s Chief Warder. The Warder is responsible for securely and officially locking up the Tower for the day.
“Halt, who comes there?”
“The keys.”
“Whose keys?”
“King Charles’ keys.”
“Pass then, all’s well.”
Visitors are escorted from the West Gate at the Tower of London’s main entrance at 9.30pm, and the Ceremony of the Keys concludes just after 10pm.
Why the Ceremony of the Keys Tour is So Special
By day, the ever-popular Tower of London is packed with visitors from all over the planet. The first thing making the VIP Ceremony of the Keys tour stand out is that it takes place once the general public have left the grounds.
Secondly, your guide for the tour is one of the Beefeater Guards that the Tower is famous for. With their smart, distinctive black and red uniform, a Yeoman Warder (as the Beefeaters are officially known) will lead you around the site as the ceremony takes place.
Your Yeoman Warder guide is, unsurprisingly, an expert on the Tower, and as such can share its secrets with you. Including why at least half-a-dozen ravens and the Crown Jewels are kept there, what the building was originally intended for, how it became both the most forbidding prison in history and a menagerie, and former royal residents who are said to still haunt the place as ghosts.
The tour begins with passing through Traitor’s Gate, as past prisoners did en route to their execution. During the 90-minute tour if you are lucky you’ll also visit inside the Church of St Peter ad Vincula, where Anne Boleyn and other prominent historical figures are buried. The tour also passes Execution Square, and the exterior of the Bloody and White Towers.
It’s not only the sites visited and the ceremony that makes the VIP tour special. The Beefeaters themselves are worth more than a mere mention here. Yeoman Warders must each have at least 22 years of military service under their striped, gold-buckled belts. These guards must also have been decorated with the Medal for Good Service and Good Conduct, and have reached the high military rank of Warrant Officer.
They live within the Tower walls, though many also have homes elsewhere for when they’re off-duty. This means they know the Tower and its secrets better than anyone. What a place to call home!
Review of the Ceremony of the Keys Tour
I’ve done the Walks VIP Ceremony of the Keys tour twice during recent visits to London (once in summer and once in winter). So I hope you’ll agree that I’m well qualified to review it!
The first thing I’ll say is that the tour truly is a VIP experience. While the ceremony itself is also open to people who hold standard tickets, the tour beforehand is something special.
As there’s a maximum of 20 participants, your small group can get to know your Yeoman Warder personally. I’ve now been guided around the Tower by two of them. One took us right inside the chapel, where we spent about 20 minutes.
All of the Beefeaters tend to tell anecdotes about their lives, so you can expect to find out a bit about who they are. Before it begins, they will also explain the ceremony and its history in much greater detail.
During the Ceremony itself, more members of the public who hold standard tickets will join you. But the tour beforehand is what really makes it so worth it. You get the VIP treatment from your Yeoman Warder, along with the benefit of their vast experience. Sharing your Beefeater with only 19 others (or less) means they get to tell you things that simply wouldn’t come across when addressing a large crowd.
The Ceremony of the Keys vs the Opening Ceremony
The Ceremony of the Keys isn’t the only ceremony – or exclusive tour option – at the Tower of London. An alternative is the Opening Ceremony. In terms of organised tours, you can experience this one as part of a package that also includes early access to the Crown Jewels, plus a sightseeing river Thames cruise ticket.
Of course there’s nothing to stop you doing both tours. Or you could do the Opening Ceremony and Crown Jewels tour, for instance, and book standard £5 tickets for the Ceremony of the Keys at night (find more on that below).
I’ve also done and reviewed the Opening Ceremony tour. If you really want to tour the buildings at the Tower of London and see the crown jewels, then it might be best to do the Opening Ceremony in the morning first.
The Opening Ceremony at the Tower of London
So what does the Tower of London Opening Ceremony entail? Well, you get to witness the historic Opening Ceremony itself, of course, and as part of a small group. Like the Ceremony of the Keys, this is also among the world’s oldest military rituals.
If you book the Take Walks Opening Ceremony Tour, you also get to enter the Tower of London before the general public gets access. Guests also benefit from early VIP entry to Jewel House, so you can see the Crown Jewels before the crowds descend, and a tour led by a certified Blue Badge Guide.
During your exclusive tour you’ll see the historic execution site, the Torture Chamber, the Bloody Tower, and even a reproduction of Edward I’s 13th century bedroom before ending up at the White Tower and its museum. Here you can explore as you wish, seeing exhibits including suits of armour and period clothing.
Once you’ve had your fill of the Tower, you can take to the Thames for a one-way sightseeing cruise. A ticket is included as part of the deal, and boats depart every 30 to 40 minutes from a number of piers, including the nearby Tower Millennium pier.
Cheap Tower of London tickets
£5 Ceremony of the Keys tickets
If you’re not taking an inclusive tour, then you must pre-book your Ceremony of the Keys tickets in advance. You can book online only, and places fill up very fast.
Tickets for the Ceremony of the Keys become available the month before you’d be booking for. So on the first working day of each month at 4pm, tickets are released for the following month. The exception is when the first working day of the month falls on a Friday, in which case Ceremony of the Keys tickets are released on the following Monday.
For example, if you want to book a ticket for May, you can book this from 4pm on the first working day of April. Unless this is a Friday, in which case you’d need to wait until the Monday after that.
If you do book this type of ticket, be sure to arrive on time. You’ll be escorted to the Tower at exactly 9.30pm, and latecomers will be refused entry. Meet at the West Gate at the Tower of London’s main entrance, and make sure you have your e-ticket ready to show Tower staff. Also keep in mind that you cannot access toilets, and to bring a drink if you need one.
The Ceremony of the Keys concludes just after 10pm.
£1 Tower of London tickets
Visiting the Tower of London is expensive. Even if you opt for standard tickets, rather than a tour. But if you’re a UK resident who’s struggling to afford the entry fees, there is some good news.
At the time of writing (March 2025), Historic Royal Palaces (HRC) are offering entry to the Tower of London for just £1 per person.
Eligibility
To qualify, you’ll need to show documents proving you receive one of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
What you do and don’t get
Up to six people per household can get tickets for £1 each, and only one needs to provide supporting documents. Children under five go free, and don’t need a ticket.
These tickets will get you into the Tower only, and don’t include the Opening Ceremony or the Ceremony of the Keys.
You cannot buy both £1 tickets and standard admission tickets in one same booking. However if you do want to combine tickets, HRP recommends booking your £1 tickets first, and then separately purchasing any other tickets – such as Ceremony of the Keys tickets.
How to book £1 tickets
These special tickets are available via online bookings only. On the day of your visit, you can collect them from the ticket office. You must bring proof of eligibility as listed on the HRC website, such as a letter from the DWP or HMRC, plus an additional form of ID.
Will You See the Ceremony of the Keys?
If you want to become part of the city’s history for one night, then surely there’s no better way to do so than to witness the Tower of London being locked up securely.
Take a Ceremony of the Keys tour and you can also spend time at the Tower of London after the gates have closed to the general public. You could also talk to your very own Beefeater Guard while you’re touring. These guys know the premises better than anyone, as they live right there on site. Not to mention being decorated, experienced, and immaculately turned-out military personnel.
Such an experience is priceless, and one you’re sure to remember for the rest of your life.
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