peace tower tour

Peace Tower

Ottawa Canada Visitor Information and Guide

The Peace Tower is one of Canada's most emblematic symbols.  Visitors to Ottawa can climb the historic tower and enjoy a spectacular view of the city.

If you visit Parliament Hill between September and June, you can enjoy a carillon performance from noon until 12:15 on weekdays. There is a one hour recital beginning at 11 AM during the summer months.

The Peace Tower Carillon was inaugurated on Canada Day (July 1) in 1927.  It was built to commemorate the Armistice of 1918 and Canada's 60th anniversary of Confederation.  The carillon has 53 bells.

Visitors wising to visit the Peace Tower only must obtain a ticket in advance.  The free passes are available at 90 Wellington Street in Ottawa on a first-come first-serve basis.

Tickets are not required if you visit the centre block on a guided tour.

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Tours inside canada’s parliament.

Discover the history, functions and art of Canada’s Parliament with a guided tour of the interior of the Parliament buildings, or explore one of the self-guided options.

Discover Parliament Hill

Explore Parliament Hill’s beautiful grounds and monuments with a guided or self-guided tour.

Live debates

Watch proceedings in the Senate and the House of Commons, available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Carillon concerts

Discover a unique musical experience: the 53 bells of the Peace Tower Carillon.

Winter Lights Across Canada

Experience the hundreds of thousands of multi-coloured lights that brighten the national capital and other wintery capitals across Canada during the holiday season.

Canada's Parliamentary Precinct

Learn about the rehabilitation and the day-to-day operations of Canada's parliamentary buildings and grounds.

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Peace Tower Parliament Hill Ottawa Canada

By: Author Susan Moore

Posted on Last updated: October 29, 2022

On my third attempt I enjoyed a visit to the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill during my solo trip to Ottawa Canada . My first attempt failed due to a scheduled protest on Parliament Hill in the afternoon.

My second attempt I arrived too near closing time but I did receive some useful information from the staff, who told me to arrive 10 minutes or so before opening time at 9:00 am in order to have the best chance of being first in line.

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Peace Tower – Centre Block at Parliament Hill Ottawa

A tour of the Parliament Buildings does require a ticket, which is free for the asking on a first-come first-served basis. Tickets are distributed from the tourist information center at 90 Wellington West – directly across the street from Parliament Hill.

For more information check the Visitor Information section of the Parliament of Canada website.

Peace Tower view of Gatineau Quebec and Library of Parliament (right) – Ottawa Canada

The Gothic style Peace Tower, dedicated on July 1, 1927, replacing the Victoria Tower, completed in 1878 but destroyed in a fire in February 1916.

The fire destroyed Center Block of the Parliament Buildings except for the Library of Parliament. Heavy iron safety doors closed by a staff member saved the Library.

Peace Tower Ottawa Parliament Hill – Memorial Chamber

Stained glass at Memorial Chamber – Peace Tower Parliament Hill

What is the purpose of the Peace Tower?

The Peace Tower was created as a memorial to the men and women who died serving their country.

There are seven books of remembrance listing the names of every Canadian who died during military service to their country.

For more details of the Memorial Chamber visit the Veterans Affairs Canada website.

Peace Tower Carillon and Bells

The bells of Peace Tower Carillon were cast at the Gillett and Johnston foundry in Croydon England. The Carillon consists of 53 bronze bells weighing in at 66 tonnes in total.

The bells cover 4 1/2 octaves and during July and August the carillon plays from 11 am to noon on weekdays.

From September to June the Peace Tower Carillon plays from noon to 12:15 pm on weekdays.

More information and photos of the Peace Tower Carillon are available at the Parliament of Canada website.

Peace Tower arched entrance – lion carving completed 1937 – 1938

Peace Tower Parliament Hill Ottawa – unicorn on the east side of arched entrance

I arrived at 8:45 on a Saturday and first in line to visit the Peace Tower. It was  beautiful summer day in Ottawa. I chatted with the staff and other people in line while waiting for the 9:00 am opening time.

There is a security check point at the entrance and afterwards an elevator to the observation deck which is located just below the clock face of the Peace Tower.

Clock of the Peace Tower

The clock was modeled after the clock tower known as Big Ben at the British Parliament in London England.

Ottawa Parliament Hill Peace Tower ‘You are here’

The chime for the clock plays on 5 out of the 53 bells of the carillon. The largest bell, known as the bourbon, strikes the hour.

Peace Tower Parliament Hill Ottawa – observation deck below the clock face

I enjoyed wonderful views from the Peace Tower observation deck. I could even see the giant spider sculpture Maman in front of the National Gallery of Canada.

View of Ottawa River from the observation deck of Peace Tower Parliament Hill

In 2014 I also enjoyed a bird’s-eye view of the construction site for the restoration of West Block Parliament Building. Although the scheduled completion date was in 2017 the actual occupancy date was in 2018.

Peace Tower Parliament Hill view West Block construction in 2014

The observation deck of the Peace Tower is off-limits during the Changing of the Guard ceremony on Parliament Hill so I took the elevator back down around 9:45 in order to view the Memorial Chamber.

Afterwards I attended the Changing of the Guard ceremony for the second time. Standing on the steps of the Peace Tower offered a better view than trying to see through the crowd of people. For the best view arrive early – the ceremony begins at 10:00 am during late June through late August.

Mother Beaver sculpture at Peace Tower Parliament Hill

Changing of the Guard Ottawa Parliament Hill

I visited the Peace Tower and Memorial Chamber at 9:00 am, followed by the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Parliament Hill at 10:00 am.

By 11 am I was wandering around ByWard Market then enjoying some brunch before visiting the National Gallery of Canada to view the contemporary art collection .

Peace Tower visitor info Parliament Hill Ottawa Address 111 Wellington St Phone Number +1-(613)-992-4793 Hours CLOSED for renovations (Normal hours: Open daily: 9 am – 4:30 pm) Admission Cost Free; first-come, first-served basis. Tickets available at 90 Wellington St, across from Parliament Hill Tours Guided tours and self-guided options. More info available on tours of Parliament here . How to Get There Bus #1 or #7

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Getting Here

• Guided tours of Parliament are offered at separate locations starting in February 2019, and during Centre Block's closure:
• Senate Tours are offered at the Senate of Canada Building (2 Rideau Street) . The building is located one block away from Parliament Hill, between the Château Laurier and the National Arts Centre.
• House of Commons Tours are offered at West Block (111 Wellington Street) on Parliament Hill. The public entrance is located at the new Visitor Welcome Centre, between the Centre Block and West Block buildings.
• East Block Tours are offered from July to early September at East Block (111 Wellington) on Parliament Hill. The public entrance is at East Block, located to the right of the Peace Tower.
• Public transportation: Parliament is served by several bus routes. Please consult OC Transpo for routes in Ottawa or the Société de transport de l'Outaouais for routes from Gatineau.
• Parking: There is no parking available on Parliament Hill or at the Senate of Canada Building, but several private and city parking lots are located nearby.
• Tour buses: There are drop-off areas along Wellington street and Queen street, and parking is available in designated areas throughout the city of Ottawa .

Hours and Admission

• Opening hours vary depending on the location, day and time of your visit. Consult the calendar for Senate guided tours and House of Commons guided tours for availability.
• Guided tours are not available when the Senate or House of Commons are sitting, and on December 25 th , January 1 st and July 1 st .
• Due to parliamentary activity, access to the buildings cannot be guaranteed and tour schedules are subject to change without notice.
• Visitors are encouraged to reserve tickets in advance. A limited number of same day tickets may be available at each site on a first-come first-served basis.

Security & Bag Restrictions

• All visitors are required to go through security scanning when entering the buildings. Line-ups are to be expected. Please arrive 20 minutes before the time shown on your ticket.
• Only one (1) bag smaller than 35.5 cm x 30.5 cm x 19 cm (14” x 12” x 7.5”) is permitted per visitor. Visitors carrying any item that exceeds these dimensions will be denied entry. There will be no bag check available. Loose items from the cargo areas of strollers or wheelchairs are not permitted.
• Participating in any form of demonstration inside the buildings is prohibited.
• Alternate security arrangements can be made upon arrival at tour locations for pregnant women, visitors with pacemakers and other medical needs.

Accessibility

• All facilities are wheelchair-accessible.
• Arrangements can be made in advance to transport visitors to the West Block entrance. Please contact Tenant Operations at 613-943-4300 or [email protected] to provide your vehicle information at least 24 hours before your visit.
• To request American Sign Language (ASL) or Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) interpretation, please call 613-996-0896 at least two business days before your visit.
• Please call the Tours Reservation Office at 613-996-0896 if you require further accommodations or assistance.

VISITING VIÐEY TO SEE IMAGINE PEACE TOWER

The island of  Viðey in Kollafjörður Bay, just outside Reykjavík Harbour is a historic place. Archaeological investigations on the island in recent years have revealed evidence of settlement as early as the 10th century. The ‘father of Reykjavík’ Skúli Magnússon built the mansion and the church on the island in the late 18th century.

The Icelandic Government presented the City of Reykjavík with Viðey on the city’s 200th Anniversary on August 18th, 1986.

Viðey Website

WHERE TO GO

When to come.

It is lit from roughly 1 hour after sunset until midnight – except John and Yoko’s birthdays and New Year’s Eve, when it is lit until sunrise. On October 9th and March 20th, it lights at 8pm.

IMAGINE PEACE TOWER RELIGHTS OCTOBER 9TH

Unfortunately due to the COVID-19 virus, access to the island is not possible this year, so we encourage people to watch safely (and observing Social Distancing rules) from the mainland, when the IMAGINE PEACE TOWER is lit and take a moment to IMAGINE PEACE.

From 10th October

From 10th October, IMAGINE PEACE TOWER guided tours start running every evening from Skarfabakki for approximately 1.5 – 2 hours. They unite history, art and nature in an interesting manner and give a deep insight into this magnificent work of art. The price for the IMAGINE PEACE Tour is 5.000 ISK per person and pick up from hotels and guesthouses in Reykjavík area is complimentary, and occurs 45 mins before the ferry departs.

Ferry times from Ægis­garður are 8pm (Oct 9-Dec 8, Feb 18) , 6pm (21,22,27,28,30 Dec), 4pm (31 Dec) and 8pm (20-26 March).

For bookings call +354 555 3565 no later than 16:00 the same day.

Our winter schedule offers trips to Viðey on Saturdays and Sundays.

Viðey House Café is open according to the schedule for our guests to enjoy lovely refreshments after walking around the island.

Walking paths in Viðey are easy for all and hikers have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful view over Reykjavik City and surroundings. On the eastern part of the island the history of the village and the fishing company placed there a century ago is made accessable and alive with information posters.Two magnificent works of art can be found on the west part of the island; Richard Serra´s Afangar and Yoko Ono´s IMAGINE PEACE TOWER.

For more information, go to the  Elding website .

On the map of the Earth planet, Iceland is a country situated in the northern most part of our world. It is an ideal location from which to cover the Earth with enlightenment and love.

Iceland is a magical and beautiful country. The electrical energy source for the country and for the IMAGINE PEACE TOWER is geothermal – water, instead of oil. No pollution. No war. This is just one of the incredible situations that creates the magic of Iceland.

Right now, light is what the world so desperately needs, since, in varying degrees, we all live in darkness of fear and confusion of the polluted world.

This column of light in Iceland will not be extinguished. It is the eternal flame we send out to the world and the universe to give light and warmth, and the hope and conviction that our dreams can come true.

I hope the IMAGINE PEACE TOWER will give light to the strong wishes of World Peace from all corners of the planet and give encouragement, inspiration and a sense of solidarity in a world now filled with fear and confusion.

Let us come together to realize a peaceful world.

I dedicate this tower to John Lennon. my love for you is forever.

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Peace Tower Ticket Price, Hours, Address and Reviews

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Peace Tower

• Address: Peace Tower, 111 Wellington St, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6, Canada Map
• Phone: +1-6139924793
• Time Required: 00:30 Mins
• Tags: Landmark, Family And Kids , Tower

The Peace Tower was added to the Parliament Buildings in the 1920’s and today it is one of the finest examples of Gothic design with a number of gargoyles, friezes and other stone sculptures that adorn the tall tower.

The Memorial Chamber dedicated to the Canadians who sacrificed their lives during the Great War, has a collection of all the names of the fallen soldiers in the Books of Remembrance. The view of the city from the Peace Tower, invites locals and tourists alike and is the highlight of the place. 

Peace Tower Travel Tips

• Other contact detail:+1 8665994999

Entrance Ticket Details For Peace Tower

• You do not need a ticket to access the Tower. 

Peace Tower Hours

• It is best to visit the place at 9.00 am. (reach the place a few minutes early).
• The bells cover 4 1/2 octaves and during July and August, the carillon plays from 11.00 am to 12.00 pm on weekdays.
• From September to June the Peace Tower Carillon plays from 12.00 pm to 12:15 pm on weekdays.
• Recommended time of arrival is at 8.45 am.

How to Reach Peace Tower

• By Bus: Pl. Confed. Sq
• By renting a Car/ Bicycle.

Love this? Explore the entire list of places to visit in Ottawa before you plan your trip.

Fancy a good night's sleep after a tiring day? Check out where to stay in Ottawa and book an accommodation of your choice.

• Peace Tower Address: Peace Tower, 111 Wellington St, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6, Canada
• Peace Tower Contact Number: +1-6139924793
• Time required to visit Peace Tower: 00:30 Mins
• Try the best online travel planner to plan your travel itinerary!

31.62% of people who visit Ottawa include Peace Tower in their plan

• 10 AM - 11 AM

47.13% of people start their Peace Tower visit around 10 AM - 11 AM

People usually take around 30 Minutes to see Peace Tower

58.23% of people prefer to travel by car while visiting Peace Tower

People normally club together Changing Of The Guard and Ottawa Locks while planning their visit to Peace Tower.

Peace Tower Reviews & Ratings

Attractions Nearby

• Parliament Hill
• Rideau Canal
• Canadian War Museum
• Byward Market
• National Gallery Of Canada
• Canadian Museum Of Nature
• Canada Aviation And Space Museum
• Brockville Regional Tackaberry Airport
• Lombard Glen Golf & Country Club
• High Falls Conservation Area
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Restaurants near Guy's Tower

Cuisine (20 of 141), 1000 restaurants available nearby, 1. hawksmoor borough, 2. lobos meat & tapas - borough, 4. tīng restaurant and lounge, shangri-la the shard, london, 5. côte brasserie - hay's galleria, 6. gaucho tower bridge, 7. boro bistro, 8. gŏng, shangri-la the shard, london, 10. afternoon tea at ting, shangri-la the shard, london, dining near guy's tower at a glance.

Updated on 7/5/2024

Most popular restaurant

Pedro's Wine Bar

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• OT OpenTable Diner Dallas - Fort Worth • 2 reviews 5.0 Dined 1 day ago Absolutely amazing. Exceeded my expectations. The sharing menu portions were incredibly generous and unsurprisingly delicious. Last, but by no means least, the service was impeccable. More info TĪNG Restaurant and Lounge, Shangri-La The Shard, London £££ £ Price: Expensive • Contemporary British • London Bridge • 4.3
• DB DavidB London • 23 reviews 5.0 Dined 1 day ago Hawksmoor is a great meat (and fish) experience in a very relaxed setting. Quality is good; service is good; wine is good and a great ambience. It is essentially the same experience at each branch although the Borough Market environment hangs together with this branch. My only criticism is that the place seems noisy even if it is not full. Having been there several times I have noticed that some parts of the restaurant are worse than others for noise. More info Hawksmoor Borough £££ £ Price: Expensive • Steakhouse • London Bridge • 4.6
• MC MarcoC London • 5 reviews 5.0 Dined 2 days ago Tasty food! Nice Spanish selection of tapas. Very friendly staff! Highly recommended! More info LOBOS Meat & Tapas - Borough ££ ££ Price: Moderate • Spanish • London Bridge • 4.4
• OT OpenTable Diner London • 4 reviews 5.0 Dined 4 days ago Waitress that served our table was really good, unfortunately I have mislaid her name but hopefully someone from Cote will find this review and track her down - thanks again More info Côte Brasserie - Hay's Galleria ££ ££ Price: Moderate • French • London Bridge • 4.3
• SL StanL London • 3 reviews 5.0 Dined 5 days ago Took my mum to lunch at Roast for her birthday after having a wonderful time here previously. As always the food was impeccable and the service was outstanding. The person serving us (Akash) was a gentleman and very friendly. He went out of his way way to make us feel very welcome and can't thank him enough. The rest of the staff were also very accommodating. Can't fault the service. My family throughly enjoyed the food, desserts especially delicious! It was a nice gesture from Roast presenting my mum with a little dessert for her birthday. Now one of my favourite places to dine in London and will visit again very soon no doubt. Thank you. More info Roast £££ £ Price: Expensive • British • London Bridge • 4.2

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