There are over 900 years of history surrounding the Tower of London. That’s much too much to write about here. So, I’m not going to go into every detail. But I wanted to write about The Tower of London because it is a must-see if you ever get a chance to visit England’s capital city.
Over those hundreds of years, the Tower served as a royal palace, prison, armory, treasury, the home to the Royal Mint and the Crown Jewels, and even a zoo. Today it’s one of London’s most popular tourist attractions.
Construction started on The White Tower, the huge building in the middle of the site, in 1066 by William the Conqueror. Throughout the years, the fortress was expanded. Other towers, barracks and halls were built by the reigning kings.
One of the best ways to tour the site is guided by one of the famous Yeoman Warders, or Beefeaters. They’re not just tour guides, they’re Tower of London historians and can answer pretty much any question you have about the site. Yeoman Warders have been a part of the Tower since around 1509 and were originally royal bodyguards.
The Crown Jewels of the UK are housed in the Waterloo Barracks building. Though photographs are prohibited, the crown jewels are definitely worth seeing in person.
Fans of military history will enjoy seeing the various suits of armor worn by kings throughout the centuries. And you can see what life was like living at the Tower in the Medieval Palace, residence for many of the kings and queens of England.
In addition to being the famous site of various executions, including those of Henry the VIII’s wives Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, the Tower of London is also home to a small flock of ravens. Legend has it that Charles II said that if the ravens ever left the Tower, the monarchy would fall. The ravens are still there and so is the UK.
Even if you aren’t a history buff, The Tower of London is one of the iconic landmarks in the city and worth taking a look at.
Dates of Visit: May 2005
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