If I had to pick just one “not-to-be- missed” attraction in London, it would be the Tower of London. I may be a bit partial to this landmark, as my ancestor was Lieutenant of the Tower during the Sixteenth Century. While there are a host of great sights to see in this historic city, the rest pale in comparison to this storied fortress. You should not be scared off by the ticket prices, which run in the neighborhood of L23 (or roughly thirty dollars). In comparison, this price is only slightly higher than The Eye, which takes about thirty minutes to complete. However, you can spend an entire day exploring the Tower of London.
The history of the Tower of London dates back to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The White Tower, which occupies the heart of the complex, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078. The site was expanded over the centuries into a sprawling complex of buildings along the River Thames. The site is probably best known as a prison, although it once served as a royal residence. Public executions were, at one time, performed above the Tower on Tower Hill. However, there were also several private executions conducted inside the tower walls. This would include the execution of Lady Jane Grey. In addition to serving as a residence and prison, the Tower has also housed the Royal Mint, zoo, armory and treasury. It continues to house the Crown Jewels, which are among the many highlights of the tour.
The easiest way to get to the Tower of London is by taking the Underground to the Tower Hill station. This will place you above the Tower. I arrived on foot, after crossing the Tower Bridge. From the Tower Bridge, the ticket office is on the far side of the tower complex. The Underground will place you much closer. Adult tickets are L22.70. Children under 16 are L10.75. Concessions (students and elderly) run L18.15. Children under five are free. The online rate will save you about L1 per ticket if you want to purchase in advance. They also have group rates that apply to a minimum of 15 visitors. This will save you a few additional pounds. There are public restrooms available near the ticket office, as well as several eating establishments.
After purchasing your tickets, the main entrance is downhill about 100 yards or so away. The group entrance is on the Thames side of the Tower, near the middle of the complex. After a cursory search of your belongings and presentation of your ticket you enter through a stone archway. The old moat area extends to the left, while an excellent view of the Tower Bridge can be enjoyed to your right. There is a sign at this point that serves as a rally point for the guided tours, which are included in the price of admission. These tours are conducted by the famous “Beefeaters”( who are all military veterans) before serving at the Tower. These tour guides provide an exceptional overview of the Tower history. After an introduction at the entrance, the guides move on to the Traitor’s Gate, the White Tower, the Tower Green (private execution site) and finally, St. Peter ad Vincula. After completing the guided tour, which lasted approximately one hour, visitors are encouraged to explore the rest of the Tower of London on their own.
My next stop after the guided tour was the Crown Jewels, which sits just east of St. Peters. I have always envisioned the crown jewels as a crown with jewels in it. I was partially right. The Jewel House actually contains an extensive collection of royal regalia. This includes a variety of treasures from an impressive collection of scepters to numerous crowns that have been used over the centuries by a variety of monarchs (silly me…it isn’t just one crown…no wonder it takes such a large building to house everything!) The self-guided tour directs visitors through a maze of exhibits, culminating in a large vault where the most precious items are on display.
My next stop was the White Tower, the original structure dating back nearly a thousand years. This is another self-guided tour that allows visitors to walk through history. The tour includes a variety of weapons and armor. The tour includes an interactive exhibit that includes a variety of activities for younger visitors. You can test your accuracy with a bow or test your skills handling a sword. There is even an exhibit of Henry VIII armor, which is most definitely an exaggeration in certain proportions.
After visiting the White Tower, we decided to take a stroll along the East Wall. This included more exhibits and provided a meandering journey through the exterior wall above the Traitor’s Gate, an adjoining building, and then a walk along the actual wall. There are stairs on the wall that lead you back down into the Tower area rather than making you backtrack through exhibits. While standing on the wall, we had the opportunity to witness a reenactment by actors along the side yard of the White Tower. It was an excellent vantage point to relax and enjoy the entertainment. Although the actors were fifty yards or so away, their enunciation was clear, allowing us to hear the sketch from our “birds eye” perch.
Speaking of birds…the Tower once served as a “menagerie.” This is memorialized in a statue of lions near the entrance to the tower. Aside from the zoo animals, the Tower remains home to one sacred animal. The raven. Legend says that the Tower (and the Kingdom with it) will fall if the Ravens ever leave the Tower. For that reason, Ravens are kept as part of the tradition of the tower. Their wings are clipped to keep them from leaving, although their steady diet makes them too fat to fly far anyway. Among the other animals that have lived at the Tower are an elephant, lion, emus, bears, kangaroos, leopards, monkeys and zebras. The vantage point from the Tower Wall offers an excellent view of the Raven pens below the White Tower as well as the bridge.
If you plan to fully explore the Tower of London, I would make two suggestions. Wear comfortable shoes and allow yourself half a day to see everything. There is plenty of walking. The tower is built along Tower Hill, so there are different elevations inside the complex. There are stairs that lead from the Traitor’s Gate to the upper area where you will find St. Peters, the White Tower and the Crown Jewels. If memory serves me correctly, you can walk to the upper area along the far side of the White Tower without navigating stairs.
Hours of operation:
Tuesday – Saturday 09:00 - 17:30
Sunday – Monday 10:00 - 17:30
Last admission 17:00
I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to the Tower of London. I felt a bit rushed at times, considering all there was to see and do. We arrived mid-afternoon and wanted to see as much as we could before closing. In three hours, we were able to squeeze in the majority of the attractions, although we did not see the Royal Mint exhibit or fully explore the grounds. For thirty dollars, the price seems steep, but well worth it for what you get. There are a variety of ways to save a few dollars, such as buying online. If you live in England and take the British Railways to visit, you can also find two-for-one passes to this attraction with proof of your rail ticket. That is a significant savings. You can also bundle attractions or you can join the historical society if you plan on visiting other attractions or live close enough for multiple visits. I would pick the Tower of London for my one “don’t miss” attraction in London, if I could only pick one. Don't miss it.
Raven Pens
View from the adjacent park
All photos are my own. They may be reproduced with prior permission.