Online fury has erupted over the price of visiting the Tower of London, with one social media user slamming the policy of huge discounts for people on certain benefits. The iconic citadel on the banks of the River Thames dates back to the late 11th century, initially established as a Norman fortress before becoming an infamous prison that hosted figures including Sir William Wallace, Guy Fawkes, and Anne Boleyn prior to her execution. It remains one of the capital's best known and most-visited landmarks.
X user The English Crusader tallied up the cost for a couple with two children, saying the cost comes to "roughly £100". "Two adult tickets and two child tickets at standard price come to roughly £100. Add £40-£80 in train fares and £50-£70 for lunch — that's around £200 for a single Saturday at one tourist attraction in their own capital city."
Ticket price breakdown
Adult tickets are £38.00 without a donation, while a ticket for children aged 5 to 15 costs £19.00. Two adults and two children of that age range would come to £114, though it may be closer to £100 if discounts apply, such as one adult being a senior (£30.30) or one child being between 0 and 4 (free).
The social media user then raged about the cost difference for people getting certain kinds of Government support, including Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, and Jobseeker's Allowance, who only pay £1 per person for up to four people per household. The £1 ticket scheme also includes a 50% discount on children's meals, and hot and cold drinks.
The £1 ticket scheme
"A family on full Universal Credit, living in subsidised housing, paying no council tax, can take the same four people to the same Tower for £1 a ticket — £4 total — under the 'inclusive access' schemes most major UK attractions now run," they fumed. They suggested the family paying that rough £100 figure was effectively covering the £96 "discount" for those on benefits through "taxes".
The Tower of London is managed by Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), an independent charity that runs a number of historical sites in the UK without Government support. The costs are therefore not "taxes" in the literal sense.
"Whatever the original intention of those schemes, this is the structure most UK working families are now living inside," they added. "Pay the full bill, then watch the people next door enjoy the day out you can't take your own kids to."
Reaction online
One person commented: "I never thought going on a day trip would be for Millionaires only!" A second added: "I was in London a couple of months ago and was about to go to the Tower of London, but then I saw the ticket price and was astonished at what a p**s take it is." A third said: "Charges are far too high for these 'attractions'. They could reduce entry fees for all families by letting children go free."
However, some pushed back, questioning the amount cited for the cost of food, and the fact that people on benefits would have to pay for meals and train fare too. One person argued that the £1 tickets are so "unfortunate/impoverished children do not miss out on British history". "You at least can afford a better life, I would be thankful for that." Another took issue with it, saying Universal Credit is "paid to working families; recipients don't automatically pay no council tax or live in subsidised housing".
National Rail's 2FOR1 scheme also allows you to get one adult ticket free if you travel to the landmark using their train services. A spokesperson for HRP said: "Historic Royal Palaces is a charity, and the income we generate through admissions helps us to care for six remarkable places and share their stories. Our £1 ticket scheme allows us to welcome people who might not otherwise be able to visit the palaces. However, we do provide other forms of discounted access, from promotions with partners, to our membership scheme, which gives full access to all of our sites for a year."
