The rest of my party had interest in the Tower of London, so we scheduled it into our trip. I did not know what to expect, but wow, I was surprised! It was the best tour we took during our stay in the city. Upon arrival, we learned about the guided tours and joined one on the spot. While waiting, we explored the Tower's Mint, close to the entrance, which displayed the process of coin making. There are interactive components placed throughout this section for all to enjoy. The tour group was quite large, but the Beefeater projected well so there was minimal trouble hearing. The tour contains a fair amount of information, and much of it is heavy due to the grim events that have taken place at the tower, but do not let that discourage you from joining one. The guides do their best to include lighthearted elements and keep it entertaining. Once the tour ended, visitors were able to explore the site on their own. I highly recommend walking through the Beauchamp Tower. It has a narrow, winding staircase leading to the higher level, but at the top you'll find graffiti carved by a multitude of prisoners mainly during the 16th and 17th centuries. While the Crown Jewels and ceremonial objects were magnificent to see, learning about the extensive rich history made the Tower of London a truly valuable visit!
A few notes: Not sure the exact length of the tour but at least an hour. Tours commence every 30 minutes. No photography in the church or when viewing the jewels.