Climb 116 Steps Inside New London Harbor Lighthouse on Weekend Tours

Climb 116 Steps Inside New London Harbor Lighthouse on Weekend Tours for a rare look inside the historic 1801 tower, with Saturday and Sunday tours taking visitors all the way to the lantern room overlooking Long Island Sound.

The New London Maritime Society is opening New London Harbor “Pequot” Light for 45-minute tours every weekend at noon through Feb. 28, 2027. Groups are deliberately tiny, limited to just five people, turning the visit into something closer to a guided exploration than a typical historic-site tour.

And there’s quite a bit waiting above those 116 steps.

A Lighthouse That’s Been Watching the Harbor for Centuries

New London Harbor Light’s story stretches back to the colonial era. A lighthouse was established here in 1761 under King George III, while the octagonal stone tower standing today was completed in 1801.

At 89 feet tall, it’s the tallest lighthouse on Long Island Sound as well as its oldest. The U.S. Coast Guard still operates the light as an active aid to navigation.

Inside is another survivor: an 1850 fourth-order Fresnel lens that remains in use.

Visitors climb the tower while learning about the lighthouse and the generations of keepers who tended it. At the top, the lantern room opens up a view across New London Harbor, the Thames River and Long Island Sound.

There are lighthouses everywhere you look. From Harbor Light, it’s possible to spot at least seven others, including New London Ledge Light, Race Rock, Little Gull Island, Plum Island, Little Dumpling, Montauk and Avery Point.

And then there’s the traffic below.

New London remains a working maritime port, so the view can include ferries, commercial vessels and Coast Guard traffic moving through the harbor. The Maritime Society makes one thing clear: they can’t promise you’ll see a submarine.

But in New London, you never know.

Part of New London’s Chain of Lights

Harbor Light is one of three historic lighthouses owned and preserved by the New London Maritime Society.

New London Ledge Light, completed in 1909, stands offshore near the mouth of the Thames. Farther out, Race Rock Light Station has guarded the notoriously difficult waters between Fishers Island and Long Island Sound since 1878.

Together with Harbor Light, the three create a chain of beacons leading vessels from the Atlantic into the historic port of New London.

The Maritime Society took ownership of Harbor Light in 2010 through the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act. Money raised through lighthouse tours supports the preservation and restoration of the area’s historic lights.

Before You Climb

This isn’t a lighthouse where visitors can simply walk onto the property.

Tours are limited to five people, and reservations should be made at least 48 hours in advance. Children must be at least 8 years old.

Visitors meet their guide on Pequot Avenue in front of the lighthouse and must wait there for the New London Maritime Society representative. Guests should not enter the lighthouse property or neighboring driveways on their own.

The climb also requires proper footwear. Sneakers or deck shoes are required; sandals and flip-flops aren’t permitted.

Tours are weather dependent, so visitors should check their email before leaving home for any cancellation notice.

More information is available at the Event Website link below.

To purchase tickets, click the Event Ticketing link below.

New London 24 hour Harbor Cam

Details

Dates: Saturdays and Sundays through Feb. 28, 2027
Time: Noon–12:45 p.m.
Location: New London Harbor “Pequot” Lighthouse, New London
Meeting Point: Pequot Avenue in front of the lighthouse
Tour Length: Approximately 45 minutes
Capacity: Maximum of five people per tour
Admission: $35 adults; $30 New London Maritime Society members; $25 children ages 8–18
Age Requirement: Children must be at least 8 years old
Reservations: Reservations should be made at least 48 hours in advance
Climb: 116 steps to the lantern room
Footwear: Deck shoes or sneakers required; no sandals or flip-flops
Food & Drink: Water is permitted; other food and beverages are not. Alcohol is prohibited.
Parking: Street parking is available on the west side of Pequot Avenue, across from the lighthouse
Weather: Tours are weather dependent. Check your email before departing for cancellation notices.
Cancellations: Must be made at least three days in advance. Payments are non-refundable except when a tour is canceled because of weather.
Last-Minute Tickets: Call 203-444-2884 to ask whether space is available.
Important: Do not enter the lighthouse property or neighboring driveways without a New London Maritime Society representative.

Featured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people, location, or activities shown.