With a history that spans over 500 years, Tower of London is one of the most iconic landmarks in London. Whether you’re a history buff or not, it’s an incredible place to visit.
Learn about the royal palace, fortress, prison, arsenal, mint and menagerie as you explore this infamous site. You’ll hear fascinating stories of crime and calamity from your expert guide.
The White Tower
The iconic White Tower is the most recognizable castle keep in the world. Completed in 1100, it was built to awe, subdue and terrify Londoners and foreign invaders.
The Tower is home to a vast collection of world-class artefacts, including a stunning 11th-century Chapel Royal of St John. It also features the historic Line of Kings exhibition.
The Tower’s 1000-year history is full of scary, gruesome and amusing stories. But the real treat is seeing it through the eyes of an expert tour guide who can place it all in context and answer any questions you may have along the way.
The Bloody Tower
For centuries, the Tower of London has been both a symbol and a feared place. This imposing landmark was built to protect and control the city of London, and it has been a prison for anyone deemed to be a threat.
During the Tudor period, people like Elizabeth I, Edward V and his brother Richard (also known as the Princes in the Tower), Ann Boleyn and many others were imprisoned at the Bloody Tower. And even today, there are rumors of ghosts and other paranormal phenomena here.
The Royal Armouries
The Royal Armouries is Britain's oldest public museum and traces its roots to the Tower of London. It houses the UK's National Collection of Arms and Armour, as well as the National Artillery and National Firearms collections.
The museum's displays changed significantly early in the 19th century when they were redesigned to display historically 'accurate' and logically organised weapons, as well as their histories and contexts. The museum is now a non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in the United Kingdom.
The White Tower is home to a branch of the Royal Armouries, displaying armour, swords, guns, plate, canon and all manner of protective gear and weaponry. Highlights include three suits of armour worn by King Henry VIII and one that still has his initials intwined with those of his first wife, Katherine of Aragon.
The Crown Jewels
The Crown Jewels, or the Regalia, are a unique working collection of royal regalia and are regularly used in coronations and state occasions. These gems are kept under armed guard in the Jewel House at the Tower of London, and can be seen by visitors when not in use.
The most ancient gemstone in the Crown Jewels is St Edward’s Sapphire, which was once part of a ring owned by Edward the Confessor (r1042-66). He died in 1066 but his shrine was opened in 1101 and the ring was removed and the sapphire re-set in a crown worn by Henry I.
One of the most remarkable crowns at the Tower is the Imperial Crown of State, which contains a diamond called the Koh-i-Noor or Mountain of Light diamond. Opposing legends ascribe good fortune to this stone, but disaster has been associated with it too.
The Royal Menagerie
From the moment that Henry III started to build the Tower of London, he aimed to create an exotic menagerie for the crown’s kingly beasts. It was a place for keeping and breeding lions, tigers, bears, elephants and many other animals that were more for show than study.
As well as being the home of the royal menagerie, the Tower of London also served as a public record office, a board of ordnance headquarters and a royal mint, among other things. It was a place where gruesome and unsettling events took place such as imprisonment, execution, torture and murder.
The Tower of London Museum
The Tower of London is a fascinating place to explore. It was originally a royal residence, but it also served as a prison, mint, armory and more.
As a result, there are plenty of things to see and do within its 18 acres. You can see a re-created king’s bedroom, walk along the Bloody Tower and visit the Jewel House, to name but a few of its many features.
The best way to see all the major sights is to book a tour, which will take you through the main attractions before the crowds arrive. They’re a great way to avoid the queues and get the most out of your time at the Tower.
