Two towering castles in British history stand front and centre in the famous landscapes of London and Edinburgh: the Tower of London and Edinburgh Castle. Both have crazy but rich histories, amazing architecture, and so many stories to tell.
Most people are short on time during their UK trip and might visit both Edinburgh and London. Since both castles can take up the best part of the day to get through you may have to toss up between which castle to visit: Tower of London or Edinburgh Castle.
In this showdown, we’ll pit these two landmarks against each other across key categories, including size, history, things to see, and value for money, to determine which fortress reigns supreme.
Firstly let’s get down to the numbers…
| Tower of London | Edinburgh Castle | |
| Size | 18 acres (including moat) | 7 acres |
| Admission price | £34.80 | 19.50 or £34 with a tour |
| Time needed to visit | 3 hours | 2 hours |
The Tower of London
Standing on the north bank of the River Thames, the Tower of London is a huge fortress right in amongst the modern cityscape of London. It has a huge history spanning nearly a millennium!
Built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, the tower has been many things over time. It served as a royal palace, prison, armoury, and treasury. Its familiar White Tower is surrounded by four smaller turrets, and it dominates the skyline, on the riverside even if buildings surrounding it are getting bigger.
Edinburgh Castle
This castle sits like something out of a Lord of the Rings movie, sitting atop Castle Rock right in the middle of the city. Edinburgh Castle offers stunning views over the whole city of Edinburgh, which are seriously good photo opportunities.
Its history traces back to the 12th century, however, Edinburgh Castle has been lived in since ancient times. The castle is seen as a symbol of Scottish resilience and strength since it has been through countless battles, sieges, and royal ceremonies, it really is an important part of Scotland’s national identity and could have a high-budget Hollywood movie made about the castle alone.
Ok so let’s get into the scoring part of the comparison to see which is better: The Tower of London or Edinburgh Castle?
Size
In terms of sheer size, Edinburgh Castle has a lot of land but it is spread over a mountain top so not a lot of it is walkable. 7 acres is still a decent size for a castle in a city centre. It sprawls across Castle Rock, boasting numerous buildings, courtyards, and gardens, which are split over multiple levels with less large open spaces.
The Tower of London is huge, it covers a larger 18 acres but again a lot of this is a moat area so not all walkable. It has a lot of buildings within the grounds and it does feel like a village within the tower walls along with some nice open green spaces..
Winner: Tower of London
History
Both fortresses have school lesson history highlights right throughout their walls. The Tower of London’s history has plenty of stories of royal power struggles, executions, and the Crown Jewels. From the imprisonment of Anne Boleyn to the daring escape of Colonel Thomas Blood, every corner covers a significant historical moment.
Similarly, Edinburgh Castle has seen huge moments in Scottish history, including the Wars of Independence and the Jacobite uprisings. It houses the Stone of Destiny and the Honours of Scotland, symbols of Scotland’s monarchy.
Winner: Tie
Things to See
Both attractions offer a good number of royal, war-based, and torture sights to see in every room. At the Tower of London, visitors can see the Crown Jewels, which is on quite an impressive conveyor belt. The medieval architecture brings the dark depths of the Bloody Tower and the Traitor’s Gate to life in a historic movie setting. You can view the different torture devices, royal armour, the famous ravens, and the Fusiliers museum.
Meanwhile, Edinburgh Castle is not short of things to see with the Royal Palace, the Great Hall, and the One O’Clock Gun, as well as the National War Museum and St. Margaret’s Chapel, the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh.
The Tower of London does have the more historically significant highlights that will be familiar to most overall though with the crown jewels being a real differential here.
Winner: Tower of London
Value for Money
While both attractions charge pretty high admission fees, the value they offer is hard to measure as it’s a memory for life and a piece of history. The Tower of London grants access to its Crown Jewels, Yeoman Warder tours, and impressive exhibitions, which offer a good step back in time into England’s royal past. I did find this very expensive for the value of the attraction though.
Similarly, Edinburgh Castle offers an impressive journey through Scottish history, with audio guides, guided tours, and interactive exhibits alongside the old war memorabilia, plus the setting and views from the castle itself are hard to compare to. The entry fee is a lot lower here at under £20 so it takes the prize for value for money.
Winner: Edinburgh Castle
Tower of London is best for
- English Crown Jewels
- True world-famous historical moments e.g. Henry VIII
- Torture and gruesome death apparatus
- More space and time required to get around
My rating: 3.5/5
Edinburgh Castle is best for
- Stunning city views
- Underdog war stories
- The amount of wars, battles and learning effective fighting methods
My rating: 3/5
Tower of London Vs. Edinburgh Castle Conclusion
If I was going to choose one I’d have to say the Tower of London for the sheer prominent history and space inside along with the amount of things to see. It is extortionately priced though so consider that.
Each fortress stands as a real part of British and Scottish history, offering visitors an educated insight into the past. If you’re a fan of the regal splendour of London’s Tower or the rugged beauty of Edinburgh’s Castle, one thing is for sure both landmarks are good for history buffs or curious tourists.