As an impressionable person, the Tower frightened me and attracted me with its extraordinary and rich history. I got into it not on my very first visit to London. I have already seen these light brick walls during a river walk along the Thames and somehow put off my trip here. However, the Tower was an obligatory item in my program, and one cloudy morning I still went to the walls of this fortress by metro. But the weather in London is terribly changeable, and what was my surprise when, after leaving the subway half an hour later, my eyes opened up to a view of the castle and a green lawn flooded with sun ...
At the word "Tower" many draw a dark tower, forged bars and groans of prisoners. Well, that's not far from the truth. The Tower of London was indeed a prison for most of its existence. However, not only the dungeon. The gray towers of the castle served the English kings as a home, a mint, an arsenal, and even a menagerie.
From the history of the Royal Fortress
If you look at the Royal Fortress (the second official name of the castle) from the Tower Bridge, then many will have questions: “What is this fortress?”, “Here the kings kept the defense?” or "Is this the most secure place in town?" In fact, now against the backdrop of skyscrapers and just high buildings surrounding the castle, the Tower looks almost like a toy. However, these cute domes of turrets terrified the townspeople from time immemorial. "To the Tower of him!" - the favorite phrase of Henry VIII, when he once again got rid of a relative, courtier or annoying wife.
The history of the Tower of London begins with a Roman fort located on the north bank of the Thames.
In 1066, King William I erected a square stone building on the site of a wooden building, later called the White Tower. London grew rapidly, and poor quarters began to appear around the Tower, so the royal family moved to the Palace of Westminster.
The first prisoner appeared in the fortress in 1190. From that moment on, the fortress became a prison for high-ranking persons for many years. The kings of Scotland, and the kings of France, and members of their families, and priests who fell out of favor, languished here. The Duke of Orleans, nephew of the French king, spent about 25 years in the Tower until he was ransomed for an incredible amount. King Henry VI was strangled here, and the sons of Edward IV, the famous "princes from the tower", disappeared here. In the Tower, in her youth, Elizabeth I spent several terrible weeks in anticipation of her fate.
The last beheading took place in 1747, and since then executions have practically ceased here. However, during the First and Second World Wars, German spies were kept in the tower. The last prisoners in 1952 were the gangster brothers Cray.
However, the Tower of London is an amazing place. Prisoners were kept here, even when the king lived in the castle. From the 13th century until 1830 there were cages with monkeys, elephants and lions (later the animals were sent to the zoo). Moreover, under Elizabeth I, the menagerie becomes public.
Since ancient times, the Royal Treasury has been located here. Right there, in the Tower, along with members of their family, the famous Yomen Warder, popularly known as beefeaters or "meat-eaters", live. However, the fortress is guarded not only by them, but also by the royal guards, whose changing of the guard can also be observed in the fortress, albeit not as colorful as around.
How to get there
You can get to the Tower by metro, bus or river boat.
- Metro: Art. Tower Hill (District and Circle lines), then 5 minutes on foot, following the signs.
- Bus: routes No. 15, 42, 78, 100, RV1. All city sightseeing buses also stop here.
- Motor ship: You can take a river transport near Big Ben (Westminster pier) or at Charing Cross station and raft down the Thames to the Tower (Tower Pier pier). Boats going to Greenwich and back also make a stop here.
- Route trip Westminster - Tower Pier will cost:
An adult ticket is 11.6 EUR (10 GBP), a child ticket is 5.8 EUR (5 GBP), a reduced ticket (students, people over 60) is 8.12 EUR (7 GBP); - Drive Westminster - Tower Pier - Westminster will cost:
An adult ticket is 16.24 EUR (14 GBP), a child ticket is 8.12 EUR (7 GBP), a reduced ticket is 11.4 EUR (9.8 GBP). (But it’s not a fact that you will again want to swim along the river back).
- Route trip Westminster - Tower Pier will cost:
In my opinion, the metro and the ship - the best ways to get to this castle.
When you exit the subway, your eyes will see the light gray brick walls of the Tower, surrounded by a green lawn, which was once a defensive moat. Right behind the Tower there will be the River Thames, so no skyscraper will spoil your first impression of this attraction.
Sailing to the fortress on a boat, you will, of course, see the castle from the other side, but the line of your eyes will be below the coast line, so the impressions are also guaranteed.
Opening hours
The royal fortress is open:
- in winter(November 1 - February 28)
Tuesday - Saturday from 09:00 to 16:30, Sunday, Monday from 10:00 to 16:30; - Summer(March 1 - October 31)
Tuesday - Saturday from 09:00 to 17:30, Sunday, Monday from 10:00 to 17:30.
The last opportunity to enter the castle is half an hour before closing. But since on average it takes three hours to visit the Tower, it is better to come here in the morning.
And my advice to you, do not leave the Tower for the day off. In the UK, outings are very popular in schools and colleges, and huddling around on narrow spiral staircases is not very fun.
Cost of visiting
If you buy tickets on the spot, then the ticket offices of the castle are located in the Welcome Center opposite the entrance to the fortress. There is also the largest souvenir shop. In fact, the history of the Tower of London begins already here, because the Welcome Center is located on Tower Hill, where, in fact, all the executions took place.
So tickets:
- Adult- 29 EUR (25 GBP), online - 26.8 EUR (23.10 GBP);
- Preferential- full-time students, disabled people, people over 60 - 22.6 EUR (19.50 GBP), online - 20.4 EUR (17.60 GBP);
- Children from 5 to 15 years old- 14 EUR (12.00 GBP), online - 12.2 EUR (10.50 GBP), children under 5 years old are free, but accompanied by an adult;
- family ticket(1 adult and no more than 3 children) - 52.2 EUR (45 GBP), online - 48 EUR (41.30 GBP).
For groups of more than 15 people there are discounts, see information. With this ticket, you can visit all the internal buildings of the Tower, the exhibitions located in them, the Treasury, the Museum of the Royal Shooters, as well as join the tour of the territory conducted by a real beefeater and the White Tower tour, as well as all historical entertainment.
If you bought London Pass, then the entrance is free for you and without a queue. Usually a separate entrance, marked with a London Pass or Fast track sign.
London Pass - tourist card for 1, 2, 3 or 6 days. On it you can visit more than 60 museums and attractions, for example, Westminster Abbey, Kensington Palace, London Zoo, go to the Globe Theater, take a city tour by bike. If the entrance to the museum is free, then for LP you can get tea or go to a paid exhibition. And also in most places to avoid the queue. The cost of an adult ticket for 6 days is 150 EUR (129 GBP), a child ticket is 103.5 EUR (89 GBP). Often 15% discount on the card. If you are in London for a week, then it is very convenient and profitable. At Windsor, she allowed us to avoid a two-hour queue in the rain and not get wet. You can also “sew” a transport card here and wear it constantly around your neck. Details .
Audio guide and castle tours
Audio guide in the Tower is available in many languages, including Russian. Its cost: 4.7 EUR (4 GBP) for adults, 3.5 EUR (3 GBP) for children and preferential categories.
If you are learning English, then it is better to choose an audio guide in English. Firstly, this is a good training on the ground (audio + video), and secondly, unfortunately, as practice shows, an audio tour in Russian is very often in a shorter program than in the main language of the museum.
However, you can take the Russian version, and strain your ears on Yeoman Warder Tour. The fact is that the famous beefeaters still guard the Tower, look after the crows, and also conduct excursions around the territory of the Royal Fortress.
The yeoman guard is dressed in a blue and red uniform, on holidays - in the famous red, embroidered with gold cords. Believe me, to learn traditions and legends from the mouth of the one who lives in the Tower is worth a lot. Each of them is charismatic and talkative. Even those who simply stand on duty in patios Tower. Once I accidentally got into a conversation with one beefeater. He was very flattered that I was in his homeland, in Birmingham, and in general a girl from Russia has an idea where it is))). The tour starts from the main entrance every half an hour. Last collection at 14:30 in winter and 15:30 in summer.
White Tower Tour- This is a separate tour of the White Tower and the Church of St. John the Evangelist. Included in the main ticket.
Tower at night
The English are notorious for being scared, so it's no surprise that the Tower has several evening tours. The Tower of London breaks records for the number of cases of ghosts. Castle guards continue to see Anne Boleyn walking with her head under right hand(exactly how she was buried), wandering navigator Sir Walter Reilly, execution scenes appearing here and there to the night watchmen. However, evening excursions are usually short and take place under the reliable gaze of yeomen.
Ceremony of the Keys- the procedure of closing the Tower for the night, which has more than 700 years. And, although the monarchs no longer live here, the Royal Treasury is still located in the Tower, so closing the castle at night still makes sense. On the night of November 5, 2012 (the night of Guy Fawkes or the failed Gunpowder Plot), a thief stole a box of keys right from under the noses of the guards. No damage was done to the Treasury, but several thousand pounds had to be spent to replace all the locks in the fortress.
Time of the Key Ceremony: 21:30–22:00. At 22:05 you need to leave the Tower. Access to facilities and the right to take photographs during the action itself are not provided. Entrance is free (1 GBP symbolic contribution for administrative expenses), reservations are personal only. The ceremony is very popular: on November 1, 2016, all places were booked until August 2017!!!
night watchers tour- an hour-long activity game around the castle "Night watchers". Peace secret service since the time of Elizabeth I, people-observing skills, heightened senses… All this is available for 23.2 EUR (20 GBP) starting at 18:15 (multiple sessions daily) for people over 16 years old.
Tower Twilight Tour- Evening exclusive tour of the Tower. It takes place on Sundays from 19:00 to 20:30. Your guide will be a charismatic guard who will lead you through the territory of the Tower and in the silence of the deserted courtyard will tell the most interesting and terrible stories about the Bloody Tower and Traitor's Gate. It's no secret that this fortress is reputed to be a habitat for ghosts. Perhaps someone will meet you … Price: 31.3 EUR (27 GBP), available from 12 years old.
If you are with children
The museum understands that it is problematic to go around the entire fortress in one day with children, so there are annual family tickets (details). There is something for kids to do in the Tower: they can fight in medieval armor, draw a fictional animal or create their own helmet.
If a child is lost
Before entering the Tower, parents should contact the Welcome Center, where they will be given free electronic bracelets for children, on which the parent's phone number is recorded. The Lost will be looked for in a special center near the West Gate. In order to avoid roaring losses, the Tower urges parents to explain to children that a yeoman is a person who can be trusted and who needs to be approached and asked for help if something happens. Yeomanry can also provide first aid.
Tower as it is
It will take you approximately 3 hours to walk around the entire Tower. In detail, of course, a little more. It is worth remembering that this is a medieval building, so in some places the courtyards are paved with huge cobblestones, and you will need very comfortable shoes to walk here.
All buildings and routes around the fortress are divided into three degrees of difficulty. Let's say the Treasury, where the conveyor belt takes you past the royal tiaras, is the lightest object. White Tower, where you need to climb to the 4th floor of the exhibition, but there is an elevator - an average level of difficulty. The walls of the fortress are the most complex objects. In front of the entrance, there are signs on the walls with a reminder of the steepness of the steps and a request to assess your strength adequately. For people with limited mobility, the Tower is not an easy place to visit, but nevertheless, 50% of the objects can be seen.
Children's performances usually take place at the beginning of the path, in the former defensive moat and in the area Waiting Pointt, a gathering place for excursions led by beefeaters and the issuance of audio guides.
My advice: even if you have the most primitive English - follow the guard! They usually tell in their faces, with jokes and jokes. Sometimes even with good English you can not catch some local joke, but it does not matter. The main thing is communication, as well as the opportunity to get into Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula, which is open to the public only during the morning service and one hour in the afternoon, but where you can get along with the yeoman. You will be seated on benches and in the silence of light stone walls they will tell the history of the temple ... And you won’t even realize that this is exactly the church where the night guard saw a procession of ghosts in medieval clothes leaving behind the altar, behind which more than 200 decapitated people were later found buried in Tower.
Just next to the church is Scaffold Site- the place where, according to assumptions, Anne Boleyn laid down her proud head. In general, they were executed outside the fortress, on Tower Hill. The guilty person was cut off his head, which was sent to the stake for public viewing and intimidation. Only seven of those executed managed to avoid public disgrace: two men and five women. Of the five lucky women, three were queens: Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Jane Grey. The first two were sent here by the husband of Henry VIII, the latter suffered at the hands of his daughter Mary the Bloody, who fought for the throne. Now at this place there is a monument made of light turquoise glass in the form of a pillow with a dent from the head.
Tower Green- a small lawn and a habitat for ravens. Since ancient times, there has been a legend that as soon as the ravens leave the Tower of London, the British crown will fall. There are currently six birds in the fortress. They are on state pay, like soldiers, they are smart and can even repeat the words spoken by the Ravenmaster. Birds are marked with ribbons different color, and in order to avoid escaping, they cut their flight wings. However, this does not exclude cases of AWOL: one raven got out into the city, the second bird was caught right in Greenwich.
white tower- the first stone building that appeared on the territory of the Tower and served as a home for the royal family, a prison and a warehouse. Now the tower hosts interactive exhibitions. One of them (Dressed to kill) is about the history of weapons and armor, where you can see what kind of armor Henry the Eighth wore or feel the real weight of the club by lifting it. The tower has four floors, and getting to the very top is, in general, not so easy. To get to the stairs to the exit, you have to go through a long dark corridor. Believe it or not, I was alone in this corridor. And although it was a white day outside, the semi-darkness and a dim lamp at the end of the path made me cringe. Of course, I didn’t see a ghost, but, probably, because I ran all the way to the stairs)))).
Baeuchamp Tower and Bloody Tower- towers in which prisoners were also kept. In the first tower, you can still see wall paintings scratched by prisoners. The Bloody Tower is famous for the fact that two princes, the sons of Edward IV, were kept here. The children were hidden in the Tower by their uncle, Richard III, after whose coronation they disappeared. Later, the skeletons of two boys were found under the stairs of the tower. At one of the tower exhibitions, a poll is still being held: do you believe that the remains found under the stairs belong to the princes? Do you believe that their uncle killed them, or was it unprofitable for him?
Jewel Tower
Symbols of power, scepter and orb… a gilded coronation spoon, which is over 800 years old… An imperial crown sparkling with the most ancient diamonds, emeralds and rubies. I have never seen such richness and brilliance in any other museum in the world. precious stones.
Many exhibits still serve their purpose. When I got to the Treasury on Holy Thursday, I did not see the huge gilded dishes from which the kings served alms on this day for centuries. There was a "In use" sign next to it. If you come here on the opening day of Parliament, you will not see the Imperial Crown. She will be on the head of her owner, the queen.
Crown of the Queen Mother with the famous Koh'i'Noor diamond, crown of St. Edward, Queen Victoria's coronation ring - all these things are collected in a long showcase, past both sides of which you can slowly drive on a conveyor belt. However, the look and brilliance of diamonds sometimes affects visitors too strongly, and there are often cases of quarrels from scratch.
Fusileur Museum- the Museum of Riflemen, located in the building where the Streltsy Corps was actually stationed. Here are battle maps, portraits, medals and photographs of officers dating back to the late Victorian era.
Medieval Palace- part of the ancient palace, where the bedroom of the medieval king was restored, inspired, oddly enough, by the legends of Merlin. Since everything is real, then get ready for the fact that these rooms are very cold and damp, and the look of a fur cape on a royal bed will beckon you to itself))). You can see scenes from the life of the medieval palace daily from 11:00 to 12:30 and from 13:30 to 15:30.
wall walk is a walk along the walls of the Tower, starting from the Medieval Palace. You will climb narrow winding ladders, go to the wall, reach the next tower and again up and down the stone steps. There are signs along the way, reminding you of the difficulty of the route, asking you to evaluate your capabilities. At the beginning of the route, you will come across a torture museum (you don’t have to go down especially sensitive, but with an abundance of medieval surroundings, feelings, I must say, become a little dull). At the end of the path, on the northern wall, there is an exhibition of Royal Beasts (“Royal Beasts”).
Where to eat
If you are visiting the fortress on a sunny day, there are a couple of soda and ice cream stalls at your disposal. If it’s raining and it’s cool, you’ll want to eat doubly.
You can eat at New Armory Cafe. This cafe has the slogan: "Eat like the Tudors." It is arranged on the principle of a dining room, where you pick up your own food. For example: coffee costs 2–3.2 EUR (1.8–2.75 GBP), a cake costs an average of 3.5 EUR (3 GBP). Hot dishes will cost 8–14 EUR (7–12 GBP). However, it is not a fact that “good English food” will be to your taste. My gray sausages and grated boiled beets without a drop of mayonnaise gave a feeling of satiety and the Middle Ages, but not a sense of satisfaction.
Just behind the Tower wall on the waterfront there is a snack kiosk apostrophe and a restaurant Perkin Reveller(average bill 23–29 EUR (20–25 GBP)).
However, the Tower is located in the City of London area, which is full of cafes like KFC and Nero (analogous to our "Chocolate Girl") and all kinds of restaurants.
souvenir shops
I have already said that the souvenir shops of London palaces are themed. That is, in the Tower you will mainly find the famous Anne Boleyn necklace and tapestry pillows.
- Tower of London- a fairly large gift shop on 2 floors, which is located outside the fortress in the Welcome Center. That is, you do not need a ticket here. Which is convenient, because if you decide to find a medieval souvenir the next day after visiting the Tower, then you are definitely here. The queen's "favorite" teas for 12.76 EUR (11 GBP), medieval toy armor for 23 EUR (20 GBP), tapestry cushions with knights, beautiful ladies and heraldic lions for 46 EUR (40 GBP).
- Beefeater shop located next to the audio guide point and inspired by the Tower guards. Toy yeomen for 17.4 EUR (15 GBP), guidebooks from 5.8 EUR (5 GBP) and other souvenirs at your service.
- Jewel House shop located next to the Royal Treasury. Boleyn pearl necklace for 58 EUR (50 GBP), recently available with any letter of the alphabet, gilded Tudor rose pendant for 29 EUR (25 GBP), Elizabeth's coronation earrings (Swarovski crystal) for 46 EUR (40 GBP) - ladies there is where to spend an extra hour in the fortress.
- white tower shop more focused on children: toys, books, coloring books, armor and swords - all from 11.6 EUR (10 GBP).
- Ravens shop is located near Tower Green, the habitat of ravens, and, accordingly, is full of souvenirs with them. Toy black birds, pencils with feathers, books about crows from 1.74 EUR (1.5 GBP). Buy a mug with a smart bird as a keepsake for 17.4 EUR (15 GBP) and don't forget the "magic mirrors". These are two screens in which you are reflected as in a real mirror, only in one you will be given a crown, and in the other - knightly armor. It is not very convenient to take a picture of yourself, but it is very funny and a great free souvenir!
Finally
Despite its sinister history, the Tower of London is quite an interesting and picturesque place. After walking around the castle, you can go to the green embankment to the pier and have a bite to eat, watching from the bench for a fairly dense traffic along the Thames. If you still have strength, you can climb the Tower Bridge.
Of course, from the height of the bridge, the Tower may seem like a toy fortress, lost among glass skyscrapers and dark red Victorian buildings, but for you, who managed to immerse yourself in the world of medieval London in these few hours, it will never be just a small castle of light bricks.
.Have something to add?
The Tower of London (in English “the Tower of London”) is one of the most outstanding architectural monuments in Great Britain. For several centuries of its existence, it was an arsenal, a treasury, a place for storing royal jewels, but it became the most famous for its prison. Behind its high thick walls, the lives of an infinite number of people ended, among which were kings and dukes, rebels and rebels. And each of them knew the truth - who owns the Tower, owns Britain. We invite you to plunge into the history of the great rise and fall of the monarchy.
Panorama of the Tower of London
History of the Tower of London
The history of this place is almost a thousand years and goes back to the time of the Norman conquests. The Tower was built in 1078 as a fortress of the Duke of Normandy, and then the British King William the Conqueror. After his victory over King Harold at the Battle of Hastings, he took the royal throne. However, troubled times and the constant fear of English reprisals forced the king to create a reliable fort that would provide him with peace. With the coming to power of Henry III, in the 13th century, the Tower of London turned from a gloomy fortress into a full-fledged residence. He gave orders to create a treasury, a church and an office. Gardens and walking paths appeared on the territory. And it was at this time that the Tower of London was painted in its already familiar white color.
Drawing with a view of the old Tower During the reign of King Henry, the Tower began to be used as a prison, but during the same period it served as a palace in which important guests were received. Often they visited the monarch with gifts in the form of living creatures. It was for her that Henry III ordered the construction of the Lion Tower - a mini-zoo, where even leopards, donated by the French king, lived.
Another grandiose building adjacent to the castle is the bridge. It is distinguished by its design: suspended with an adjustable part. This year marks the 124th anniversary of its construction. During its existence, it has repeatedly become the cultural center of the city, because art exhibitions are held in special pedestrian corridors of the twin towers, and there is also a permanent exhibition dedicated to the history of the building. So the Tower of London and the bridge became the face of the capital.
Panoramic view of Tower Bridge Tower of London today
Although the history of the prison ended at the end of the 20th century, the fortress keeps most of its traditions today. One of them is the key ceremony. Every morning the palace is opened for visitors by beefeaters - the guards of the Tower of London. They received this unofficial name due to their history of serving the royal family. The guards who guarded the king received a significant advantage - they could eat the same meat as he. This is where this strange phrase “beef eater” (in English “beef eater”) comes from - one who eats beef. These men also stood out for their appearance: bright red uniforms, similar to Tudor era clothing.
Beefeaters - Guardians of the Tower Another integral part of the Tower of London is the ravens, the guards of the kingdom. One of the local legends says that the British Monarchy will exist as long as these birds live in the Tower. That is why a separate security worker takes care of the winged family here. Crows even have their wings clipped to prevent them from flying away in search of another home.
The crows behind the legend guarding the Tower After the gates are closed, the building begins to live its normal life, becoming a cozy home for the guards and her family. However, can a place that has become a dungeon for hundreds of people be completely calm?
In the evening, an atmosphere of watchful silence hangs over the castle, from time to time it is broken by the cawing of crows. Add horror to the Tower of London descriptions of its guards. They talk about ghosts and spirits that they have seen over the years of work. The legends of the Tower of London disturb the sleep of the locals. Beefeaters even assure that after dark they try not to get into certain places of the fortress.
How many guilty and innocent souls remained forever in the stone walls of this castle? How many are buried within these walls? Despite all the publicity of the tourist place, how much the Tower hides interesting facts? Many, and we will share a few of them with you.
Postcard depicting the Tower from the early 16th century The castle became Anne Boleyn's life prison. The queen beheaded here, who was accused of treason during her lifetime, continues to wander the corridors even after her death. They say that her ghost periodically goes to the church where Anna was reburied.
Visitors are intimidated by ghost bears. The guards say that from time to time guests are frightened by the ghost of a bear that once got out of the zoo and scared one of the inhabitants of the castle to death.
The photos disturb the peace of visitors to the Tower, in which the ghosts of two little boys appear. At the end of the 15th century, two princes, aged 10 and 12, disappeared from the fortress. Almost a hundred years later, their burials were discovered, and recently scientists found out that their relative King Henry VI became the murderer of the royal heirs. Restless souls still walk around the Tower.
The last execution in the castle took place less than 80 years ago. During World War II, the German spy Joseph Jacobs was shot in the fortress. And although Great Britain abandoned the death penalty almost twenty years later, in the 60s of the last century, the bloody history of the Tower ended there.
Great Britain almost lost its symbol during the German bombardment. In 1940-1941, London suffered devastating destruction from Nazi bombings. At the same time, all the ravens that lived in the Tower, except for one, died from stress. According to the legend, the fortress, and at the same time the monarchy, were on the verge of falling.
Night view of the Tower Where is the Tower located: address, opening hours and excursions
The Tower of London is located at St Katharine's & Wapping, London EC3N 4AB. You can get to it by metro. The nearest station is Fenchurch Street, 5 minutes from the fort, London Bridge station, 15 minutes walk.
The tower is open from 09:00 to 17:30 on weekdays and from 10:00 on weekends. However, please note that tourists are allowed to enter until 17:00.
Entrance tickets can be bought online and printed out by yourself. E-tickets are cheaper than those bought directly on the spot. The entrance fee for adults is about 23 pounds, for children from 5 to 16 years old - 11 pounds. Children under 5 years of age can enter free of charge. There are also discounts for students, people with disabilities and the elderly.
Hanna Koval
share:
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress (Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress)
, better known as the Tower of London (historical name - Tower), is a historical monument located in the center of London, in England, on the north bank of the Thames. It is located in the London area of Tower Hamlets and is separated from the eastern part of the City of London by the undeveloped area of Tower Hill.
The Tower of London is often confused with the White Tower, a square fortress built by William the Conqueror in 1078. However, the Tower as a whole is a complex consisting of several structures located within two concentric rings formed by protective walls and a moat.
Initially, the tower served as a fortress, royal residence and prison (especially for noble prisoners and members of the royal family, such as the "Princes in the Tower" (Princes Edward and Richard) and the future Queen Elizabeth I).
This last function of hers led to the phrase "sent to the Tower" (meaning "imprisoned"). In addition, at different times it housed an armory, a treasury, a zoo, the Royal Mint, the British State Archives, an observatory, as well as executions and torture. Since 1303, the Tower of London has housed the British Crown Jewels.
Video tour of the Tower of London - Tower of London
Construction history
white tower
In the center of the Tower of London stands the Norman White Tower, built in 1078 by William the Conqueror (reigned 1066-87) in the southeastern part of the city walls adjacent to the Thames. This huge tower protected the Normans from the inhabitants of the City of London, as well as London itself from outside invaders. The architect of the tower, on the orders of Wilhelm, was Gandalf, Bishop of Rochester. Excellent Cayenne stone, brought from France, was used to form the corners of the building and decorate the doors and windows, while most of the building was built from Kentish basalt. According to legend, the mortar used in the construction of the structure was diluted with the blood of animals. Another legend attributes the construction of the Tower not to William, but to the Romans. William Shakespeare in his play "Richard III" claims that it was built by Julius Caesar.
The height of the White Tower is 27 m, and the thickness of its walls is 4.5 m at the base and 3.3 m at the top. Four turrets rise above the battlements; three of them are square, and the one in the northeast is round with a spiral staircase. Under Charles II, it housed the royal observatory for some time. In the south of the Tower, the defensive structure is limited to the courtyard of the castle.
In the 1190s, King Richard the Lionheart (reigned 1189-99) added curtain walls to the White Tower, dug a moat around it, and filled it with water from the Thames. The Roman city wall erected earlier in the east was used by Richard as part of the fence. Part of the wall he built, later included in the defensive wall of Henry III, is still preserved in the area between the Bloody Tower (Bloody Tower) and the Belfry (Bell Tower), also appeared during his reign. In 1240, Henry III ordered the building to be whitewashed, which is how it got its name.
Courtyard (Inmost Ward)
In the early 13th century, Henry III (reigned 1216-72) placed the main royal residence in the Tower and built luxurious buildings within the Castle Courtyard south of the White Tower. The now ruined Coldharbour Gate led to this Courtyard on the northwest and was bounded by a wall fortified on the southwest by the Wakefield Tower, on the southeast by the Lanthorn Tower, and on the northeast - now destroyed by the Wardrobe Tower. The well-appointed Wakefield Tower and Lantern Tower were integral parts of this new royal palace, adjoining the now ruined Great Hall between them. The tower remained a royal residence until the time of Oliver Cromwell, when some of the old luxurious buildings were destroyed.
Inland territory
The White Tower and the Courtyard are in the Inner Territory, protected by a massive curtain wall built by Henry III in 1238. Despite the protests of the citizens of London and even supernatural predictions (according to the chronicler Matthew Paris), it was decided to expand the city wall to the east.
Thirteen towers are built into the wall:
Wakefield Tower is the largest tower in the curtain wall.
Lantern Tower
Salt Tower
Broad Arrow Tower
Constable Tower
Martin Tower
Brick Tower
Bowyer Tower
Silicon Tower (Flint Tower)
Deveraux Tower
Beauchamp Tower
The Bell Tower is the oldest tower in the enclosure, built in the 1190s as part of the fortifications of Richard I and later incorporated into those of Henry III. It is named after the bell located in it, in which the evening curfew was beaten for more than 500 years.
Bloody Tower (or Garden Tower), named after the legend of the princes killed in it.
Outer Ward
From 1275 to 1285, Edward I (reigned 1272-1307) built an outer curtain that completely connected the inner wall, resulting in a circular double defensive structure. He filled the old ditch with water and dug a new ditch around the new outer wall. The place between the walls is called the Outer Territory. There are five towers in the wall, located on the side of the river:
Byward Tower
St Thomas's Tower, built in 1275-1279 by Edward I as an additional royal residence.
Cradle Tower
Well Tower
Develin Tower
On the outside On the north wall there are three semicircular bastions: Brass Mount, North Bastion and Legge's Mount.
The water passage to the Tower is often called the Traitor's Gate, since it is believed that prisoners accused of treason, such as Queen Anne Boleyn and Sir Thomas More, were transported through them. Henry III's Gate at the Tower of Blood Behind the Traitor's Gate in the pool was an engine that was used to pump water into a cistern located on the roof of the White Tower. The device was adapted to run gun-carrying mechanisms and was dismantled in the 1860s.Above the large archway of the Traitors' Gate is a Tudor Timber Frame, built in 1532 and reconstructed in the 19th century.
West entrance and moat
The now dry moat that surrounds the entire structure is crossed from south to west by a stone bridge leading to Byward Tower from the Middle Tower, the gate that previously served as the outer fortification, which was called the Lion Tower.
Today, the Tower is predominantly a tourist attraction. In addition to the buildings themselves, its exposition includes the British Crown Jewels, a fine collection of weapons from the Royal Armories and the remains of a Roman fortress wall.
Yeomanry gatekeepers (beefeaters) of the Tower act as guides and provide security, while they themselves are a tourist attraction. Every evening when the Tower closes for the night, the gatekeepers participate in the Key Handover Ceremony.
Tower (Great Britain) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Reviews of tourists, photos and videos.
- Hot tours to the UK
- Tours for the New Year Worldwide
Previous photo Next photo
The Tower of London has become a symbol not only of London, but of the whole of Great Britain. It occupies a special place in British history, so now the Tower is one of the most visited architectural and historical sights in the world.
In essence, the Tower is a fortress. It stands on the north bank of the Thames, is one of the oldest buildings in England and the historical center of London. The history of this fortress is varied: initially it was built as a defensive castle, and then it served as a zoo, a mint, an arsenal, a prison, an observatory, and a repository of royal jewels.
The size of the Tower is 32 by 36 meters, the height of the towers is 30 meters.
History of the Tower
The Tower was built in 1078, and in 1190 the first prisoner was imprisoned in the fortress. Only 7 executions took place in this prison for high-ranking people and royal persons, among the victims of Henry VIII's wife Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, as well as the "Queen of the Nine Days" Jane Gray. From the first years of its existence, the Tower began to acquire all sorts of rumors and legends, sometimes very sinister. Some of them can be heard during tours of this famous fortress.
Museum
Today, the Tower of London looks almost the same as in the 11th century. Its main purpose is a museum with a rich collection and an armory, where the treasures of the British crown are kept. Officially, the fortress continues to be considered one of the royal residences. There are several private apartments in which service personnel and sometimes distinguished guests live. The Tower offers excursions where the guides are beefeaters - English guards. They are dressed in dark blue Victorian uniforms, and on holidays - in luxurious Tudor costumes, which causes additional interest among tourists in the fortress.
Events at the Tower
In addition to the traditional viewing of exhibits and interiors, you can also have fun in the Tower: for example, from December 27 to December 31, New Year is celebrated here in medieval costumes. Tourists are met by King Richard III, knights and minstrels. Even if you don't know how to skate, don't miss the opportunity to have fun at the Tower Ice Rink. People come here in the morning, as a fitness at the beginning of the day, and in the evening, when you want romance: the fortress is illuminated by lights that are reflected in the ice. The skating rink is open from November 17 to January 2, ticket prices are from 10.5 to 14.5 EUR. Prices on the page are for March 2019.
Practical information
Website (in English)
Schedule
- from Tuesday to Saturday 9:00 - 17:30,
- from Tuesday to Saturday 09:00 - 16:30,
- Sunday and Monday 10:00 - 17:30.
The museum is closed every year from December 24 to 26 and January 1. Entrance to the Tower is possible half an hour before closing. It is recommended to take at least 2-3 hours to visit the Tower.
Entry tickets
Tickets can be bought on the Tower website, it is much cheaper, or at the box office. Below are the online prices:
- Adults - 24.7 GBP,
- children from 5 to 15 years old - 11.7 GBP, children under 5 years old - free of charge,
- tickets for students (from 16 years old), disabled people and pensioners (from 60 years old) - 19.3 GBP,
- family ticket (2 adults + up to 3 children) - 62.9 GBP,
- family ticket (1 adult + up to 3 children) - 44.4 GBP.
How to get to the Tower of London
Nearest underground station: Tower Hill (Entrance to the Tower of London 5 minutes walk). Nearest station: Fenchurch Street or London Bridge. Buses No. 15, 42, 78, 100, RV1. In addition, there are river buses and high-speed catamarans from Charing Cross, Westminster and Greenwich to the Tower Pier every 20 minutes.
Britain is one of the most significant and great powers in world history. She always amazed with her canonicity and tolerance, confidence and grandeur. Its towers, castles, cathedrals and bridges are favorite destinations for tourists on their tour of Europe. And, of course, you can't come to London and not visit the legendary Tower of London.
Situated on the north bank of the Thames, this truly grand complex rises against the grey, often overcast London skies. In size, reaching 32 meters in length and 36 meters in width, it consists of a number of different buildings. There are 20 towers 30 meters high, 2 bastions, casemates, the Church of St. Peter, the Museum of the Fusiliers, a hospital, the Queen's house, armories, barracks. As well as a beautiful green meadow and a jetty on the banks of the Thames.
This impromptu tourist town eventually developed cafeterias and souvenir shops that visitors often use as shelter from the constant British rains.
Prison or defensive fortress?
The construction of the Tower is attributed to William I, Duke of Normandy and King of England, who ruled from 1066. He is the organizer Norman conquest England, built defensive fortresses throughout the kingdom. It was in this context that the presently standing Tower appeared.
At the beginning it was a simple wooden fort, which was later rebuilt into a stone massif with the possibility of defensive actions. The follower of William I - King Henry III, continued the construction and strengthening of the Tower, erecting 9 new towers (at the moment 7 of them have survived), the courtyard and adapting the Tower to public life. So, bows and arrows for the knights of the royal army were made in the tower of the Archery Master, and one of the towers was used as a lighthouse. By order of Henry III, the walls were whitewashed, from which the fort was called the White tower - the white tower. Later, the building was simply called the Tower.
There is another thought - that in 1077 the Bishop of Rochester Gandalf erected the first white tower, which laid the foundation for historical construction. But this version is less popular and does not agree on dates with the historical data of world history.
In 1190, the Tower began to be used as an official prison - the first prisoner appeared here. It is noteworthy that only monarchs or representatives of the highest nobility were prisoners of the tower's cells.
Video - History of the Tower of London and its captives
King Edward I built a second line of walls in the Tower and equipped the main entrance. And only since the reign of Henry VIII, the prison began to fully justify its purpose. Real and imaginary traitors to the king, rebels and conspirators served their sentences here. In the Tower itself, two wives of Henry VIII were executed: Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, who were accused of treason. Also, in subsequent years, several more people were executed here, including: Jane Grey, Henry XI and Edward V.
Sometimes people were tortured within the walls of the prison. So, the legendary Guy Fawkes, under severe torture, betrayed his accomplices in the coup attempt.
In the XIII century, a moat was dug on the borders of the Tower, and three centuries later two bastions were built - Ledges Mount and Brass Mount.
At the beginning of the 18th century, the tower-bastion complex was used as a nursery, where they kept lions, leopards, elephants and even polar bears. Anyone wishing to visit the makeshift zoo had to pay the entrance fee or bring a cat or a dog as a "reception" for the inhabitants of the enclosures.
In 1843, the Tower experienced its first full-fledged reconstruction and landscaping. About ten years later, the entrance to the territory became paid, since tourist excursions to the mint and the tower with royal regalia were already in full swing here. Tower Bridge itself was built in 1894.
During the Second World War, prisoners of war were kept here. In 1940, after a bomb hit, the architectural heritage was reconstructed for several years.
The last prisoners who had to serve their sentences in a London prison were the Kray brothers - the leaders of a criminal group in the East End of London, in 1952.
Now the Tower is only a tourist and historically important object of London, within the walls of which there are museums and several apartments for accommodation of staff.
London Walls hoaxes
Like most castles in England, the Tower is legendary. A favorite theme of locals and tourists is the ghosts of the towers. There are dozens of them, but it is worth mentioning only the most famous and popular stories.
The most talked about ghost of the Tower is the spirit of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket. He was close to King Henry II, but after a conflict with the ruler, he was captured and brutally executed in Canterbury Cathedral. It is said that his spirit haunts the castle to this day and frightens visitors.
by the most scary ghost believed to be Margaret Paul. She was the Countess of Salisbury and became objectionable to the ruling dynasty because of her family tree. In fear that the countess might interfere with the royal family, it was decided to execute her. And so, in 1541, the 70-year-old countess was brought to the chopping block, but, for unknown reasons, they could not be beheaded immediately. She died only after the third blow of the executioner. Keepers of the castle gossip that the spirit of Margaret returns to the walls of the Tower every anniversary of her death with a desire for revenge.
How to get there and what to see?
More than two million tourists visit the Tower every year. If you want to join them, take care of your visa as well.
You will need: both passports, one photo, an application form, a document of solvency, a certificate from a place of work or a university, a document for movable / immovable property, a marriage / divorce certificate, confirmation of the place of residence or the booked tour.
For a mandatory visit to the Tower, you will have to pay, for example, about 340 dollars for 3 days.
If you go to the foggy capital on your own, then you will visit the Tower at a time that suits you. Moving around London on foot is not always convenient, as frequent rains and fog cause discomfort. Therefore, you can use a taxi (50-100 pounds) or the subway (0.7-4 pounds).
In summer, the complex is open from 10 to 17, in winter - from 10 to 16.30. For lovers of New Year trips, it should be noted that on December 24-26 and January 1, the entrance to the fortress is closed.
Admission is £24.5 for adults, £11 for children and £18.7 for students and seniors. You can use group tours, but more often tourists use an audio guide, which even in Russian tells fascinating stories about the Tower. The cost of such a guide is 4 pounds.
Passing through the fortress, one cannot help but look into various expositions and museums. The most popular expositions are two of them - "Row of Kings" and "Kings and Coins".
A number of kings are 10 equestrian statues in full uniform, collected back in 1688, as an attempt to raise the status of the Stuart dynasty.
Kings and Coins tells about the history of the coinage and shows rare coins that were created during the operation of the mint in 1279-1812.
Experienced tourists are advised to take a closer look at the ravenmasters - caretakers who take care of the eight ravens living on the territory of the Tower. The British believe that if the ravens leave the Tower, England will fall. Birds are watched and cared for with special diligence. For a month, about 100 pounds are allocated for each bird. Every day, the crow receives 200 grams of meat, and once a week, raw eggs and rabbit meat. Even pets of the most loving owners will envy such content.
Tourists go to London with interest to see with their own eyes the subject of legends and disputes. To wander around the towers and feel like a part of British history. To take a few photos with the guards in colorful uniforms or witness rare cannon blasts. Yes, and the British themselves say: "If you have not seen the Tower, then you do not know anything about Great Britain."
