The Tower of London is one of the most popular tourist attractions in London. Honestly, visiting the town of Bath and the historic tower were the highlights of my time in England.
Over the last 900 years, the Tower has served as a royal palace, a fortress, a prison, a mint, a treasury, an armory, a royal observatory, a zoo, and a handful of other things. This iconic structure represents some of England’s most prestigious, bloodiest, and tumultuous times.
A visit to the Tower of London is an absolute must, whether your traveling solo, as a couple, or as a family. It’s one of those places where everyone can appreciate.
Most visitors head straight to the Waterloo Barracks, which contains the magnificent Crown Jewels.
The Construction & History of the Tower of London
The Tower of London rose from nothing to greatness just like the man who dreamt it. William the Conqueror faced a ton of adversity as he was growing up because he was born a bastard. However, he still managed to rise above the adversity and become England’s first Norman king in 1066.
When William came into power, London was a large willed city. William built fords to help protect (and control) the city. Like most leaders of the time, William wanted to build a palace to show how important and powerful he was. Soon, the construction of the White Tower began.
Over the next few centuries, a handful of Henry’s and Edward’s expanded the palace and fortress. They added extravagant features like a moat, towers, a chapel and luxurious apartments.
Things weren’t always glamorous at the Tower. The Tower was used as a prison and execution site. There was also an ill-attempt to use the location as a zoo- however, the zookeepers were not very knowledgeable about taking care of animals such as lions and polar bears.
Location
Highlights of the Tower of London
Yeoman Warder (Beefeater) Tour
The best way to get to know the Tower and it’s deep, rich history is to take the Yeoman Warder (Beefeater) tour. The Yeoman Warders are super informative and often quite funny! The tours are included in the price of your admission. They leave every 30 minutes started at 10 AM and depart from near the entrance. The tours last about 45 minutes and are well worth it!
Not only do these fellows serve as tour guides, but they are also part of the British Armed Forces! They live on site and help to protect the Crown Jewels which contains one of the biggest cut diamonds in the world.
The Crown Jewels
Did you know the Tower is home to the Crown Jewels? These jewels would put the Kardashian’s collection to shame! Tucked safely behind the Tower’s walls is the world-famous collection of 23,578 gemstones including pieces that are used in modern-day royal ceremonies. Many of these pieces are iconic symbols of the British monarchy.
The Crown Jewels have been stored and displayed at the Tower of London since 1661. At the heart of the collection is the Coronation Regalia- a group of highly symbolic objects used since 1661 to crown sovereigns of England. These pieces include St. Edward’s Crown, The Sovereign’s Orb, and The Sovereign’s Sceptre and Rod.
Photography and videos of the photography is not allowed. There are quite a few staff members hovering around enforcing these rules.
Bloody Tower
The Tower was the most dreaded prison in medieval times. The Tower of London now has 22 different towers but none is more famous than The Bloody Tower. The Bloody Tower is most known for being the location of the murder of 12-year old Edward V and his younger brother, Richard in 1483. The boys were taken to the Tower and never seen again. Their Uncle Richard was later crowned king. The incident is one of the most infamous events associated with the Tower of London.
The Tower also held many other high-status prisoners (in various towers) such as Anne Boleyn, William Wallace, James I of Scotland, David II of Scotland, Richard II of England, Elizabeth I of England, Guy Fawkes, Sir Walter Raleigh, and more.
The White Tower
The White Tower is the heart of the Tower of London. This late 11th-Century 90-foot structure would have dominated the skyline when it was built. The Tower was one of William the Conqueror’s most proud accomplishments. It contains a dungeon, the Royal Armouries, a banquet hall, state apartments, and a chapel of St. John the Evangelist.
The Ravens & Tower Green
It is said that the kingdom and the Tower of London will fall if the six resident ravens ever leave the fortress. Today, the fortress is home to seven ravens- the mandatory 6 plus an extra one…just in case. Jubilee, Harris, Gripp, Rocky, Erin, Poppy, and Merlina are the current residents. The ravens are free to roam the Tower grounds during the day.
Execution within the Tower Grounds was reserved for only the most important captives. These included high ranking officials and members of royalty. In total, 10 people were beheaded on Tower Green. These include Henry VIII’s second and fifth wives (Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard).
The Royal Armoury
Even if you aren’t a huge history nerd or a war buff, this collection is pretty impressive. Many of those fancy tournament suits of armour once believed to Henry VIII himself. There are also several pieces that belonged to Charles I.
Be sure to check out Henry’s laughable 1540’s suit of armor with a rather sizely “Crown Jewel” protector- for a lack of a better phrase. *wink, wink*
Tower Bridge Views
The iconic Tower Bridge looms over the River Thames just outside of the walls of the palace. The walls of The Tower of London offer some of the most phenomenal views of the Tower Bridge.
Ceremony of the Keys
Another cool thing to do at the Tower is to participate in the the Ceremony of the Keys. Visitors can participate in this special ceremony to lock up the Tower of London nightly. Tickets are free but must be booked months in advance.
The sentry cries out, ‘Halt, who comes there?’ The Yeoman Warder replies, ‘The keys.’ ‘Whose keys?’ ‘Queen Elizabeth’s keys.’ ‘Pass then, all’s well.’
Aside from the monarch’s name, this is the exact exchange that has been spoken for centuries and forms part of the traditional ‘locking up’ of the Tower of London.
Ticket Information
Adult: £25.00
Children: £12.50
Address: St Katharine’s & Wapping, London EC3N 4AB, UK
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 09:00-4:30, Sunday-Monday: 10:00-4:30
Tube stop: Tower Hill or London Bridge
The queues to buy tickets can be absolutely ridiculous. We’re talking Disney World proportions. We strongly suggest buying Online Tickets. Not only is this way quicker, but it is also a few pounds cheaper.
Additional Information for your Visit to the Tower of London
- Wear good walking shoes, there are tons of cobblestones and stairs.
- It will probably take you around 3 or 4 hours to get around the Tower of London.
- The last entry is 30 minutes before closing.
- Book online tickets to save money and avoid long lines.
- The Tower is closed December 24th-26th and January 1st.
- The Tower Bridge spans the Thames just outside of the palace’s walls. It’s well worth a trip, while you’re there.
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