Attending the Ceremony of the Keys with children: everything you need to know

Did you know that the Tower of London is the location for a nightly ceremony that takes place after the Tower of London closes and is over 700 years old? Even better is that a limited number of visitors are invited to witness it. This is the Ceremony of the Keys. For families with older children, this is a special opportunity to witness history in action, but you need to decide whether attending is the right choice for your family. This guide will provide you with everything you need to know about attending the Ceremony of the Keys with children.

The Ceremony of the Keys: the essentials

What is the Ceremony of the Keys?

The Ceremony of the Keys is the historic ritual and process of locking up the Tower of London each night.

The ceremonial process of locking up the Tower of London has been taking place in some form for over 700 years, but it has evolved over time. The origins of the ceremony in its current form originated from the Duke of Wellington in 1826 who set the time for locking up the Tower at 10pm.

The Ceremony of the Keys is open to a limited number of ticketed visitors to watch each night. With visitors limited in number, the Ceremony of the Keys provides a glimpse into British history and tradition that few get to experience in London. The experience of being within the grounds of the Tower of London after hours when nobody else is, is a truly unique experience.

Where does the Ceremony of the Keys take place?

The Ceremony of the Keys takes place within the walls of the Tower of London, after hours and once it is closed to the public.

You meet at the main entrance of the Tower of London. Once you have passed through some security checks, you will be met by a Yeoman warder. The main part of the ceremony takes place at the main gates of the Tower of London, before it moves up Water Lane in front of the Bloody Tower. The ceremony then moves into the Inner Ward, right at the foot of the White Tower, where it concludes.

How much does it cost to see the Ceremony of the Keys?

Attending the Ceremony of the Keys costs £5 per person.

Do you need tickets for the Ceremony of the Keys?

Tickets are required for the Ceremony of Keys and as they are limited in number, they are very popular.

Tickets for the Ceremony of the Keys are released on a rolling monthly basis. For example, April’s tickets will be released at the beginning of March. Tickets are released at 16:00 on the first working day of the month, unless it is a Friday, then they will released be the following Monday.

Book tickets here.

When does the Ceremony of the Keys take place?

The actual Ceremony of the Keys takes place promptly at 9.53pm and lasts until just after 10pm. However, guests need to arrive at 9.30pm and will leave the Tower of London some time around 10.20pm. It is critical to arrive on time as latecomers cannot be admitted.

As the ceremony is held late in the evening, take into account your children’s ability to stay up late and the impact on their bedtime and your next day’s plans when deciding whether or not to attend. Don’t forget to factor in travel time home and any jet lag, if visiting from abroad.

Getting to the Ceremony of the Keys

What is the nearest tube to the Tower of London?

The nearest Tube station to the Tower of London is Tower Hill (Circle Line and District Line). The DLR station Tower Hill Gateway is also nearby.

Do I have to queue for the Ceremony of the Keys?

As the Ceremony of the Keys takes place after the opening hours of the Tower of London, those attending will need to wait at the meeting point to be let in. The meeting point for the Ceremony of the Keys is at the main entrance of the Tower of London. Look out for a small plaque on the wall. There are then some security checks to go through. The whole process is very quick though. There are benches nearby if you arrive at the Tower of London a bit too early. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t near the front of the queue as once you move into the Tower of London you will find your own space once in.

At the Ceremony of the Keys

What happens at the Ceremony of the Keys?

Once you have been let in and have gone through security checks, you will be met by a Yeoman Warder (or ‘Beefeater’). They will be your guide and will participate in the ceremony. You will be taken through to the gates of the Tower of London. Here you will be given some history about the Tower of London and its gates and their features.

From there you will move to the first viewing spot of the evening. Here you will receive a bit of history on the ceremony itself and an explanation of what you will see during the ceremony and how it will work. You will be told what to do and not do and you will also be instructed on the move to the second location (which takes place during the ceremony).

The ceremony then starts. Without wanting to spoil the detail, you will stand in your first location and watch the gates being locked up. Then an interaction takes place in front of you. You will then be given a signal by your Yeoman Warder to move to the second location. From here you will then watch the second part of the ceremony.

Throughout the ceremony, visitors observe the ceremony in silence.

Once the ceremony is over you will likely have the chance to ask your Yeoman Warder any questions you have. You will then be escorted to the gates in order to depart.

What facilities are there for children when attending the Ceremony of the Keys?

As an after-hours event, there are no facilities available to any visitors either before, during or after the ceremony. Therefore, children should be old enough and able to go without the need for any facilities such as toilets or snacks.

How long does the Ceremony of the Keys last?

The ceremony itself takes less than ten minutes. However, the total time you will spend at the Tower of London for the Ceremony of the Keys is around 50 minutes from the time you are admitted to the time you leave.

What is the dress code for the Ceremony of the Keys?

There is no set dress code for the Ceremony of the Keys. But, there are a few things to keep in mind when deciding what to wear for the Ceremony of the Keys.

The whole ceremony is held outside, regardless of weather conditions. Therefore, ensure that you wear clothes appropriate for the weather forecast (including rain gear if that might be a possibility). Keep in mind that the ceremony is held late in the evening. The temperature usually drops at night, so you may need to wrap up warmer than you did in the day.

There is no seating throughout the ceremony. Wear shoes that you are comfortable standing in for an extended period of time.

As a general rule, people attending will be wearing the same sort of clothes you see people wearing during the day in London. People do not generally dress up for the Ceremony of the Keys, and this is not expected. Focus on comfortable clothes appropriate for the nature of the ceremony.

Can you eat during the Ceremony of the Keys?

No. But there are lots of places nearby where you can have dinner before you arrive. See our post on where to eat with kids in Tower Hill.

TOP TIPS for attending the Ceremony of the Keys

• Make sure that if you are taking children to see the Ceremony of the Keys that they are old enough to understand the nature of the ceremony and that they will be required to be quiet and stand still throughout.

Is there a question you have about attending the Ceremony of the Keys with children that we haven’t answered here? Let us know in the comments and we’ll do our best to address it.