Tower of London
The Tower is fast approaching its 1,000th birthday, and remains a jewel in London's tourist crown. Long a royal fortress, the Tower has sheltered monarchs under threat, been a prison for those that offended the monarch, and a last destination for prominent figures condemned to death.
Tudor explorer Sir Walter Raleigh, the future Queen Elizabeth I, and prominent Nazi Rudolph Hess have all been imprisoned in the Tower, and famous executions include those of Anne Boleyn (wife of Henry VIII) and Thomas More.
Today the Tower hosts the Yeoman Warders (known as 'Beefeaters') and the Crown Jewels.
Highlights of any trip to the Tower include:
- The Crown Jewels.
- The White Tower, finished in 1097.
- A guided tour by a Beefeater.
- The Ravens, the most celebrated residents of the Tower, as it is said that should they desert the Tower, the kingdom will fall.
- Tower Green, where prominent prisoners were executed.
- The Bloody Tower, where the two princes 'disappeared' in 1483.
- Traitors Gate, where prisoners (including Elizabeth) entered the Tower by boat.
- The Royal Armouries.
Getting There
Tower Hill EC3. Located on the River Thames, next to Tower Bridge.
Tower Hill tube, Fenchurch Street BR, Tower Gateway DLR, and by river to Tower Pier.
Opening Times and Admission Prices
The Tower is open Mon-Sat 9am to 5pm and 10am to 5pm on Sun (1 March - 31 October).
Admission Charge: £11 for adults and £8.30 for students.
More Information
Check out www.hrp.org.uk/tol and www.tower-of-london.com.
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