Otherwise known as the Tower of London, His Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London is a historic castle in the middle of London on the banks of the River Thames. Originally built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, this stronghold has been a fortress, a royal palace, a prison, a place of execution, and believe it or not even a zoo!
You can opt for a Beefeater tour, where the famous Yeoman Warders (the Kings’ Bodyguards for over 500 years) walk you through the attraction. They give animated tours sharing the Tower’s history which spans over 1,000 years.
We arrived at just after 10am for our 10-10:30 entry and already the queue was long with ticket holders. It’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in London and you definitely have to buy tickets ahead of time to visit. Give yourself plenty of time and get there early.
There is a lot of history here. Henry the VIII greeted Anne Boleyn at the royal entrance. If fact, the Romans had established a town called Londinium in this very spot when they invaded in AD 43. You can still see some of the Roman ruins and remnants including the outline of the original wall.
Exhibits are well marked with numerical guides to match the audio tour and Yeoman Warders are easily found to provide directions and answer questions.
Tower of London Attractions
Key areas like the White Tower and Crown Jewels exhibit had long lines to get in with a 10–15-minute wait (but I’m sure this can be even longer at peak times). We did these popular places first to ensure we wouldn’t miss out.
Crown Jewels
The Crown Jewels exhibit shows replicas of the various crowns and the huge diamonds and precious stones used to adorn them. There is also an impressive collection of gold and various ceremonial artifacts. Have a look at the vault doors as you enter the exhibit. No messing around here with security and no photos allowed.
White Tower
William the Conqueror built the White Tower in 1078. Today, you’ll find an impressive collection of armor and other artifacts and curiosities in this multi-floor exhibit.
Check out the Anglo-Norman Chapel of St John built for Christian worship and prayer which was an integral part of this royal residence. It was originally built as a place of worship for William the Conqueror, but it was only finished after his death.
The chapel has been used for prayer by kings and queens for hundreds of years.
The White Tower was also used as a prison. We read about the first known prisoner (Ranulf Flambard, Bishop of Durham) to have escaped back in 1101. There were also rooms housing instruments of torture known to have been used throughout the medieval years.
The White Tower was also a place of execution where approximately 125 individuals were executed including three queens. Two of them were King Henri VIII’s second and fifth queens: Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. Lady Jane Grey, also known has the Nine Days Queen, was the last queen to be executed at the Tower of London. She was only 17 years old.
The Ravens, Guardians of the Tower
We were amazed at the raven guarding the tower’s staircase without a care in the world for the hundreds of people passing by each hour. He just gave us a quick look, and I guess we passed the threat test.
It is said that if the six ravens ever leave the fortress the Kingdom and the Tower of London will fall.
Bloody Tower
The Bloody Tower has information about the “Princes in the Tower”. The two young princes (12-year-old Edward V and his 9-year-old brother Richard) in line for the throne disappeared at the Tower in 1483. What became of them remains a mystery to this day.
Medieval Palace
Home of the kings and queens this palace contains furniture recreating how the Royal Apartments looked in the 1200s. St Thomas’s Tower was built for King Edward I and Eleanor of Castile, and Wakefield Tower was built for King Henry III, Edward’s father. Most notable was the bedchamber and small chapel.
Battlements
Do take the walk along the battlements as each tower has some exhibits and you get some great views of the city and surrounding areas.
Traitor’s Gate
Take a look at the Traitor’s Gate near the entrance where prisoners were brought through by boat. This is how Anne Boleyn was brought to the tower for her execution.
Royal Mint
The new Royal Mint exhibition showed us how early coins were made. We were amused to hear that many of Henry VIII’s ‘debased’ silver coins actually contained more copper than silver (a cheaper substitute). As the coins wore down with use, his figure the copper shone through his face, and he got the nickname ‘Old Coppernose’.
Tips for visiting the Tower of London:
- Book well in advance
- Get there early to queue up
- Don’t miss the ravens
- Take the Yeoman Warders tour or the audio guide
- Plan at least 2 -3 hours for your visit or more
We finished up our visit and continued our action-packed tour of London after resting our feet in a traditional pub called the “Hung, Drawn, and Quartered”.