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England Europe London UNESCO World Heritage Site

Highlights of the Iconic Tower of London

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

The Tower of London, officially known as Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is located on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. The Tower Bridge is also located in the Tower Hill borough, one of the oldest parts of London. It is easily accessible from the Tower Hill station.

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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England Europe London

Experiencing the Iconic London Eye

The London Eye is one of my favorite attractions in London. It is one of the most iconic landmarks in the city and the largest Ferris wheel in Europe. When I visited London, I was a bit hesitant about riding the Ferris wheel because I thought it sounded super gimmicky and I’m not a huge fan of heights. I was pressured into riding it by my friends, and I am super glad that I did. I ended up enjoying it to the point it was one of the highlights of my trip.

Even if you only have a day or two in the city, we strongly recommend visiting! The views from the pods are remarkable. It is a great way to get a birds-eye-view of the city. The modern structure stands amongst historical landmarks, gorgeous churches, and modern buildings. London is the perfect combination of old and new. In a weird way, the eclectic mix works!

Photo by Michael Pearl on Pexels.com

History of the Iconic Structure

The London Eye, also known as the Millenium Wheel is 443 feet tall and 394 feet wide. The wheel opened to the public in 2000 and was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, at the time. Like the Eiffel Tower, The London Eye was just meant to be a temporary attraction. The structure took seven full years to build and a week to erect.

The London Eye, Today

It is the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom and has more than 3 million passengers each year. The wheel rotates so slowly that it takes about half an hour to make one rotation. In fact, it is so slow that you can hop into a pod without it even stopping.

Big Ben from The London Eye

Cost of The London Eye

Tickets can be purchased online in advance for a bit of a discount. A standard ticket costs £24.50 online or £31 in person.

We strongly recommend purchasing your tickets in advance because the line at the attraction can get quite long! There are all kinds of packages available, so be sure to look at all of your options before pre-paying for any of your tours.

River Thames from The London Eye

What Can I Expect from the Ride?

The Eye has 32 air conditioned capsules that offer absolutely incredible views of the city- especially on a clear day! Each of the capsules represents one of the London Boroughs and holds up to 25 people.

There are benches if you’d like to take a seat while you admire the view.

As I mentioned, I was a bit nervous about riding The London Eye, until I saw it in action. I’m not much one for heights or rides, but I ended up loving the attraction. The ride is smooth and super slow, so it wasn’t scary at all. Even for someone like me, who is terrified of heights.

The views from the Eye are great, even on a rainy day. You’ll be able to see the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, the O2 Arena, Battersea Power Station, and Wembley Stadium.

How to get to The London Eye

The London Eye is easily accessible by subway. The closest metro station is Westminster- just a five minute walk away. You can also reach it via the District, Jubilee, and Circle lines.

What else is there to do nearby?

The Ferris wheel is located on the South Bank of the River Thames where there are a ton of things to do!

  • Big Ben
  • Westminster Abbey
  • Tower of London
  • Buckingham Palace
  • Trafalgar Square
  • The Dungeons of London
  • Jubilee Park & Garden
  • Sea LIFE Centre London Aquarium
  • Florence Nightingale Museum

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