The Crown Jewels at the Tower of London

Seeing the Crown Jewels is one of the main reasons people visit the Tower of London — and the collection rarely disappoints. Housed in the Jewel House on the northern side of the Tower complex, the Crown Jewels form the working regalia of the British monarch: these are not replicas or historical curiosities but the actual crowns, orbs, sceptres, and swords used in coronation ceremonies to this day. This guide covers what the collection is, what to expect when you visit, and why a Tower of London guided tour gives you the best way to see them.

What Are the Crown Jewels?

The Crown Jewels are the collection of royal regalia kept at the Tower of London under the guardianship of the Yeoman Warders. The collection contains 23,578 precious and semi-precious gems in total, set across crowns, swords, orbs, sceptres, rings, spurs, and ceremonial robes.

The regalia in use today dates largely from 1661. Oliver Cromwell’s republican government melted down or sold most of the medieval Crown Jewels after the execution of Charles I in 1649. When the monarchy was restored and Charles II was crowned in 1661, an almost entirely new set of regalia was commissioned — which is what visitors see today.

Two items predate the 1649 destruction: the Ampulla (a golden eagle-shaped vessel used to hold the holy oil for anointing during coronations) and the Anointing Spoon, which dates to the 12th or 13th century. These are the oldest objects in the collection.

The Most Important Pieces

The Imperial State Crown

The centrepiece of the collection. The Imperial State Crown was made for the coronation of King George VI in 1937 and is worn by the monarch at the State Opening of Parliament each year. It contains:

• 2,868 diamonds
• 273 pearls
• 17 sapphires
• 11 emeralds
• 5 rubies

Among its stones is the Stuart Sapphire in the band, a large blue gem that has passed through the ownership of multiple British monarchs. The Black Prince’s Ruby — which despite its name is a red spinel, not a ruby — sits at the front of the crown and dates to the 14th century, having been worn by Henry V at the Battle of Agincourt.

The Sovereign’s Orb

A hollow golden sphere topped with a cross, representing the monarch’s role as defender of the faith. The Orb is carried in the right hand of the monarch during the coronation ceremony, then placed on the altar. It weighs roughly 1.32 kg and is set with 375 pearls, 9 emeralds, 9 sapphires, and 18 rubies, along with diamonds and other gemstones.

The Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross

The sceptre held in the monarch’s right hand during the crowning moment of the coronation. It contains the Cullinan I — also known as the Great Star of Africa — the largest colourless cut diamond in the world, at 530.2 carats. The Cullinan diamond was found in South Africa in 1905 and cut into multiple stones; Cullinan I and II are both in the Crown Jewels collection.

St Edward’s Crown

The crown used for the actual crowning moment of the coronation — placed on the monarch’s head by the Archbishop of Canterbury. It is only worn once per reign. Made of gold and set with 444 semi-precious stones, it weighs 2.23 kg and was made for the coronation of Charles II in 1661.

What to Expect in the Jewel House

The Jewel House is a purpose-built vault inside the Waterloo Barracks. Visitors queue to enter — even with a prebooked ticket you may wait during busy periods — and then move through a sequence of darkened rooms displaying different groups of regalia.

The display culminates with the principal crowns and regalia behind thick glass, with a moving walkway that carries visitors past the Imperial State Crown, the Orb, and the Sceptres. You can step off the walkway to view the pieces directly if you want more time, then rejoin the moving platform.

Photography is not permitted inside the Jewel House vault area.

How the Guided Tour Enhances the Crown Jewels Visit

On the guided tour, your guide provides an extensive introduction to the Crown Jewels before you enter the Jewel House. Understanding the context — which monarch commissioned which piece, which stones have a political history, what the regalia is actually used for — transforms the experience from a walk past glittering objects into something genuinely illuminating.

The Beefeaters who guard the Crown Jewels — and who you meet for an exclusive 15 minutes on the guided tour — are intimately acquainted with the collection. They will tell you things about the jewels that no printed guide captures: which stones cause diplomatic complications, which coronation the current crown nearly didn’t survive, and what it means to be responsible for the most iconic collection in British history.

Tips for Visiting the Jewel House

• Arrive early or late. The Jewel House is the most popular stop in the Tower complex and queues build quickly. Arriving when the Tower opens, or in the final 90 minutes before closing, typically offers a shorter wait.
• Take your time on the moving walkway. The walkway stops for you if you step to the side — you are not forced past the display at a set pace.
• Children under 5 enter free to the Tower of London. Children’s activity trails are available at the entrance if younger visitors need engagement beyond the regalia.
• No photography inside the vault. You can photograph the exterior of the Jewel House and much of the Tower complex, but the regalia itself is off-limits for cameras.

Ready to See the Crown Jewels?

The Crown Jewels are included in every Tower of London admission option, from the $50 general entry ticket to the $203 VIP early-access tour. The guided tour at $70 adds prebooked skip-the-queue entry, a private guide’s introduction before you enter the Jewel House, and — uniquely — an exclusive 15-minute meeting with a Yeoman Warder who guards the collection every day.

Check availability and book your tour →