<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2019-02-26</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001140536</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PLC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WLTW</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001213376</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WICKES GENE H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WILLIS GROUP LIMITED</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>51 LIME STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LONDON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>EC3M 7DQ</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Head of Benefits Deliv &amp; Admin</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Ordinary Shares, nominal value $0.000304635 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-02-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9253</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>64926.836</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Ordinary Shares, nominal value $0.000304635 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2680</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Trusts</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents the number of performance-based restricted share units earned upon the certification of the achievement of certain pre-established performance goals based on relative total shareholder return during a three-year performance period that ended on December 31, 2018, each of which represents the right to receive one ordinary share of the Issuer upon its vesting on March 15, 2019 subject to the terms of the award agreement. This number also includes the number of ordinary shares of the Issuer that are issuable pursuant to the dividend equivalent right under the terms of the award agreement providing for the accrual of dividends in the form of additional restricted share units that vested and are payable at the same time as the underlying performance-based restricted share units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Irrevocable trusts for the benefit of the reporting person's immediate family members as follows: 125 shares - BSW1 Trust; 125 shares - MMW Trust; 125 shares - TSW Trust; 125 shares - JASW Trust; 125 shares - CSW Trust; 125 shares - KAW Trust; 125 shares - BSW2 Trust; 125 shares - MJW Trust; 315 shares - SCW Trust; 315 shares - ETW Trust; 315 shares - CPW Trust; 315 shares - GHW Trust; 250 shares - ESW Trust; and 170 shares - JWW Trust.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gene H. Wickes by Elaine Wiggins, Attorney-in-Fact (power of attorney previously filed)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-02-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
