Absolutely everyone knows about the Tower of London, right? The capital city’s oldest landmark and home to the UK’s most prized possession (the crown jewels, of course); this medieval fortress has been perched proudly on the north bank of the River Thames for almost 1000 years. What you might not be so familiar with, however, is the fact that some rather fortunate folk can snap up a ticket to the Tower of London for just £1.
The legendary landmark certainly has its fair share of stories to tell. It started its life as a castle, built by William the Conqueror to deter anybody sailing up the Thames from invading. Over the years, it’s been used as a royal residence, a spot to store weapons, a zoo (yes, really), a prison, and the site of many high-profile executions. But nowadays, it’s a historical hotspot, bursting at the seams with almost a millennium’s worth of history for Londoners to discover.
The Tower of London also once marked the furthest eastern point of the city. Obviously that’s no longer the case, but it does act as a doorway to one of the capital’s eastern boroughs: Tower Hamlets. Encompassing the likes of Shoreditch, Bethnal Green, Mile End, and Canary Wharf; Tower Hamlets is the most densely populated borough of London. And it’s the many lucky Londoners that reside within the busy borough that get to access the Tower of London (and all of the history crammed inside it) for less than the price of a London bus-ride.
How to snap up a £1 community ticket to the Tower of London
Residents of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets can visit the Tower of London for £1 all year round (subject to availability). Visitors will need to be able to provide proof of residency to qualify for the £1 community tickets (the likes of a utility bill, council tax bill, or driving license will do the trick). Tickets can only be purchased from the ticket office on the day for the next available slot, and only one ticket per adult can be purchased per day (but adults can purchase additional tickets for up to three children for £1 too). Now, that’s some decent bang for your buck.
