8.4/10
Winner
Tower of London
From £36 · 3–4 hours
The Tower of London is one of the best things to do in London full stop. Arrive at opening (9am) to see the Crown Jewels first while queues are short, then join a free Beefeater tour.
Tower of London vs Westminster Abbey: which is worth it?
Side-by-side verdict, prices and tips. We pick a winner — but both have a place if you have time.
The verdict
Winner: Tower of London
If you only have time for one, pick Tower of London. The Tower of London is one of the best things to do in London full stop. Arrive at opening (9am) to see the Crown Jewels first while queues are short, then join a free Beefeater tour. Westminster Abbey is still worth it, just rank it below.
7.6/10
Westminster Abbey
From £30 · 90 mins
Westminster Abbey is worth it if you care about British history. Book the earliest morning slot, allow 90 minutes, and use the included audio guide — it transforms the visit.
Side-by-side
| Spec | Tower of London | Westminster Abbey |
|---|---|---|
| TripScore | 8.4/10 | 7.6/10 |
| Verdict | Worth it | Worth it |
| From | £36 | £30 |
| Value (score per £) | 0.23 | 0.25 |
| Time required | 3–4 hours | 90 mins |
| Setting | Outdoor | Indoor |
| Best time today | 9am opening | 9:30am opening |
| Value for money | 7.8/10 | 6.8/10 |
| Experience | 9.0/10 | 8.4/10 |
| Crowds & wait | 6.0/10 | 6.5/10 |
Who should pick which?
Pick Tower of London if…
- ✓Crown Jewels alone are worth the ticket — second only to the British Museum for must-see London artefacts.
- ✓Free Beefeater (Yeoman Warder) tours included — entertaining and informative.
- ✓1,000 years of history in one site — White Tower, ravens, ramparts, prison cells.
- ✓Plenty of content — easily 3–4 hours of genuine sightseeing, not a tourist trap.
Pick Westminster Abbey if…
- ✓1,000 years of British coronations, royal weddings and royal funerals in one building.
- ✓Famous burials: Newton, Darwin, Dickens, Hawking — Poets' Corner alone is remarkable.
- ✓Jeremy Irons-narrated audio guide is genuinely excellent and included in the ticket.
- ✓Diamond Jubilee Galleries reveal the Abbey's medieval triforium for the first time in 700 years.