Tower of London, 35 Tower Hill, London EC3N 4DR
Lanthorn Tower
Tower
Place photograph
6.3
Wildland
Allow at least 2 hours for the Tower of London as a whole
Time
Paid
Cost
Atmospheric
Feel
Why it's Wildland
6.3Inside Lanthorn Tower, objects associated with the households of Henry III and Edward I bring the medieval royal palace into close focus.
This is a worthwhile, detail-rich stop within the Tower of London rather than a standalone destination. Its strength is the intimate encounter with medieval royal life: a pair of tower rooms where surviving objects make the palace’s history tangible.
Atmospheric · Historic
Find your way
Open mapTower of London, 35 Tower Hill, London EC3N 4DR
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The experience
Visit Lanthorn Tower as part of a Tower of London visit. Take time with the medieval objects described in the Historic Royal Palaces virtual-tour transcript, then continue along the official Wall Walk if the route is open and accessible for you.
Things to do
See the medieval objects in Lanthorn Tower
Look for the Saintonge jug, Andalusian bowl and portable altar piece described in the Historic Royal Palaces virtual-tour transcript. The transcript gives dates for the objects and identifies their museum loans.
Allow time to view the rooms during your Tower visit.
Walk the Tower’s battlements
Explore the sections of the Wall Walk that are open, following the Tower’s one-way system. Historic Royal Palaces describes views over the Tower, the Thames and the City.
Look for the two concentric curtain walls
The Tower’s defences include the Inner and Outer Curtain Walls. Historic Royal Palaces dates the Inner Curtain Wall to Henry III’s fortification work of 1240–60 and the Outer Curtain Wall to the expansion under Edward I.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · About 1 hour within a wider Tower of London visit; allow at least 2 hours for the full site.
Quick Escape: Find the medieval rooms
- 01
Enter the Tower of London with valid admission and check the current visitor route.
- 02
Follow the signed route to the Medieval Palace and Lanthorn Tower, if open.
- 03
Spend time with the objects described in the Historic Royal Palaces virtual tour: the Saintonge jug, Andalusian bowl and portable altar piece.
Half day · Half day
Half Day: Lanthorn Tower and the Wall Walk
- 01
Begin with Lanthorn Tower and the Medieval Palace, taking time to examine the objects described in the virtual-tour transcript.
- 02
Continue onto the Tower’s Wall Walk and explore the battlement sections that are open on the day.
- 03
Pause for the documented panoramic views over the Tower, Thames and City of London.
- 04
Use the Tower’s on-site food options if you want a break during the visit.
Verified history
Historic Royal Palaces says the Inner Curtain Wall was built during Henry III’s fortification of the Tower between 1240 and 1260; the Outer Curtain Wall was added during expansion under his son Edward I. Its account of the Medieval Palace describes St Thomas’s Tower, the royal apartments above the archway now known as Traitor’s Gate, and Wakefield Tower as presented as Henry III’s throne room. A Historic Royal Palaces virtual-tour transcript identifies objects in Lanthorn Tower associated with the time of Edward I and Henry III, including a Saintonge jug dated 1275–1350, an Andalusian bowl dated 1250–1450 and a 13th-century portable altar piece.
Hidden details
A portable altar for a travelling royal household — The Historic Royal Palaces transcript describes a small 13th-century portable altar piece and explains that such an object could be carried with the royal household.
A bowl linked to far-reaching medieval connections — The transcript describes an Andalusian bowl dated 1250–1450 and notes that it may have been used in England by Edward I’s Spanish wife, Eleanor of Castile. The proposed royal association is presented as a possibility, not a certainty.
When to go
· Check the Tower’s current opening times and plan to arrive with enough time for the wider site.
The supplied sources establish no seasonal advantage. Access depends on the Tower’s opening and current route arrangements.
The Tower’s surfaces can be uneven, worn and sometimes slippery. Wear appropriate footwear and check current visitor information.
What to look for
In the Lanthorn Tower rooms, look for the Saintonge jug dated 1275–1350, the Andalusian bowl dated 1250–1450, and the small portable altar piece described in the Historic Royal Palaces virtual-tour transcript. The transcript identifies these as loans from the Museum of London and British Museum.
The story
Medieval royal palace and fortress; Henry III and Edward I
Best time to go
Any time the Tower of London is open; check current opening details before visiting.
Plan around the Tower’s current opening times and allow at least two hours for the wider site. Check for temporary route closures before setting out.
How long to spend
Allow at least 2 hours for the Tower of London as a whole; Lanthorn Tower is one part of that visit.
Perfect for
History lovers · Visitors to the Tower of London
Before you go
Address
Website
Listed hours
- Monday: 10am-5:30pm
- Tuesday: 9am-5:30pm
- Wednesday: 9am-5:30pm
- Thursday: 9am-5:30pm
- Friday: 9am-5:30pm
- Saturday: 9am-5:30pm
- Sunday: 10am-5:30pm
Check before visiting.
Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
Lanthorn Tower is part of the Tower of London visitor experience. Tower admission is required; check the official site for current tickets, opening information and any route closures.
Check before visiting
Parking
Check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Toilets
The Tower of London lists toilets, including a Changing Places toilet, in the ground-floor lobby of the New Armouries building.
Food & drink
The Tower of London lists food options inside the site and on Tower Wharf.
Dogs
Check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Accessibility
The battlements route has no lift or ramp access. The Tower has uneven, worn and sometimes slippery surfaces; check the official accessibility information for current options.
Check before visiting
Cost
Paid
Water
Thames nearby; no water activity permission established.
Gallery
Place photographsKeep exploring
Around Lanthorn Tower
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
