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 river walk along the Thames and somehow postponed her trip here. However, the Tower was a mandatory 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 castle) from the Tower Bridge, then many will have questions: “What is this a 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 tall 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 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.
- Underground: 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: sit on river transport you can 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 - better ways 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, of course, you will 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, field trips are very popular in schools and colleges, and crowding on narrow spiral staircases 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 Fusiliers, as well as join the tour of the territory conducted by a real beefeater and the tour of the White Tower, 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 sign or fast track.
London Pass- tourist map 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 Theatre, take a tour of the city 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 studying English language, 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 guard in the courtyards of the 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 her 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". Secret service world since Elizabeth I, people-watching skills, heightened senses… All of this is available for 23.2 EUR (20 GBP) starting at 18:15 (multiple sessions daily) for people over 16 years of age.
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 you the most interesting and horror stories about Bloody Tower and Traitor's Gate. It's no secret that this fortress is reputed to be a haunt of ghosts. Perhaps you will meet someone ... Cost: 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 kids, 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 bright 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 the 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. AT this moment there are 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 of different colors, and in order to prevent escape, 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 museum of torture (you can’t 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 story, the Tower of London is quite interesting and beautiful 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.
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Everyone who comes to London wants to plunge into the atmosphere ancient city to feel its spirit. It is best for these purposes to visit castles, which are countless in London. After all, these ancient buildings are witnesses of the life of the state from the first days of its existence. The ancient castles of the capital and its environs are very large and impressive. Trying to tell about everyone at once is impossible - it's like retelling thousands of years of British history.
The most popular and visited castles in London
You can talk about the beauty and splendor of each of these castles for hours.This London castle ranks first in popularity among all architectural and historical buildings in all of Europe. At the mention of the Tower, the image of Great Britain immediately arises.
The castle is located on the picturesque banks of the River Thames. Initially, it was built as a fortress and the center of government of the country, but during its existence it had to act as a museum, a zoo, a mint, and an arsenal. There was a time when the castle served as a prison for the nobility. Three queens were executed here, and it is believed that their ghosts can still be found in the castle today.
During its long and colorful history, the Tower has changed many times. Today, walking through its luxurious halls, tourists can see particles different eras millennium. The White Tower is the oldest building of the complex, it houses the collections of the armory and the treasures of the British Empire. Each visitor can see the Chapel of St. John, within the walls of which eminent prisoners prayed before the execution, and pass through the gates of the "traitors".
Tower Castle is located a few minutes from the Tower Hill subway station. You can also get here by bus from Fenchurch Street or London Bridge stations (No. 15, 100, 42) or by river trams that depart every 20 minutes from the piers: Westminster, Charing Cross and Greenwich.
It is the main home of the British royal family. The first stone buildings were built in 1170 by Henry II. Later, an extensive reconstruction was made, imitating Palace of Versailles in France. A huge number of shady alleys have been laid. In the 19th century, the ancient castle was rebuilt into a delightful Gothic palace.
Most tourists come to the indescribable delight of walking through the Great Windsor Park with beautiful sculptures. The park is a forest where the royal hunt once took place. As in the Buckingham Palace, here you can see the change of solemn guard. The majestic halls of the castle showcase unique ceiling decorations and chic antique furniture. The walls are decorated with valuable paintings by famous painters.
The fortress is located 30 km west of London. You can get here by train (departure from Waterloo and Paddington stations) or by bus from Heathrow Airport (No. 77) or from Buckingham Palace (No. 700).
Leeds Castle is one of the top three famous castles in London, although it is located an hour's drive from its center. This is the most romantic fortress, it served as a home for most of the queens of Great Britain. Geographically, the castle is located in Kent. Outwardly, it resembles a stone fortress surrounded by many giant "living" labyrinths. The history of Leeds begins in the 11th century.
At the moment, the castle is owned by a private person. It appeared modern entertainment that allow you to unobtrusively inspect everything without overloading themselves with information. Today, the castle guests can play golf here, hunt Sokolov. But most of all, tourists are attracted by the opportunity to walk around the Leeds park on segways - electric scooters.
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Tower (Great Britain) - description, history, location. The exact address, phone, website. Reviews of tourists, photos and videos.
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The London Tower became a symbol of not only London, but all over 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. She stands on the north bank of the Thames, is one of oldest structures England and the historic 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 grow with all kinds 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 the weapons chamber, treasures of the British crown are stored here. 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 inspection of exhibits and interiors, you can have fun in the Tower: for example, from December 27 to December 31, they celebrate here New Year 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
The nearest metro station: Tower Hill (entrance to London Tower in a 5 -minute walk). Nearest station: Fenchurch Street or London Bridge. Buses No. 15, 42, 78, 100, RV1. In addition, there are walks to the Tower Pier every 20 minutes river trams and high-speed catamarans from Charing Cross, Westminster and Greenwich.
Throughout his long and vivid story, he witnessed murders, a place wedding ceremonies, was an armory, a mint, a museum and even a menagerie. But, as the duke said, the Tower will always be remembered as "a symbol of royalty, a fortress of the monarchy and a prison for the enemies of the monarch."
Myths and facts
The Tower of London was founded in 1066 as part of the Norman conquest of England. The White Tower, which gave the name to the entire fortress, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078. The castle was used as a prison, although this was not its main purpose. Most time the palace served as a royal residence.
For centuries, the London Tower has been the center of government. It was a powerful and reliable headquarters in the medieval period. The White Tower housed the armory, the treasury, the menagerie, the royal mint and the state archives. From the Tower began the solemn procession to Westminster Abbey during the coronation of monarchs.
Over its thousand-year history, the Tower has been rebuilt and expanded many times by many kings. Major changes were made during the reigns of King Richard the Lionheart, Henry III and Edward I in the 12th and 13th centuries. The current appearance of the castle received by the end of the XIII century.
There are many monuments in the world whose name alone breathes medieval history. In Paris, this is the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Moscow is proud of its Kremlin. Can tell a lot about the past Tower, or Tower of London(English) HerMajesty'sRoyalPalaceandFortress,TowerofLondon) - a fortress located in historical center London on the north bank of the River Thames. Over the long centuries of its existence, the Tower Castle managed to visit the role of a palace, a mint, a fortress, a prison, a treasury for royal regalia and jewelry, a zoo, an arsenal, an observatory. Now the Tower is historical monument and a symbol of London, which attracts numerous tourists from all over the world. Since 1988, the Tower has been under the protection of UNESCO.
What is the Tower of London famous for? More on this below.
History of the Tower.
The appearance of the fortress dates back to the time of the conquest of England by the troops of William I, Duke of Normandy. To intimidate the inhabitants of London in 1078, a temporary wooden fort was erected on the ruins of ancient Roman fortifications. Subsequently, its walls were replaced with stone ones, and by 1097 the construction of the Tower of London was completed.
The new fortress was rectangular in shape with walls 32 and 36 meters long, which rose to a height of almost 30 meters. A little later, following the order of one of the rulers of England, the building was whitewashed, and the fortress acquired a second name - the White Tower. The construction was continued by King Richard the Lionheart, who ordered to complete the construction of additional defensive towers of the Tower, erect two rows of walls and dig a deep moat. Thanks to this, the Tower of London has become one of the impregnable fortresses Old World.
Prisoners of the Tower.
Information about the first prisoner contained in the Tower dates back to 1190. From that moment on, it became a place of detention for people with a high position, belonging to noble families, as well as for royalty. During the troubled times of the Reformation, the fortress acquired an ominous reputation. Within its walls, many persons of the royal family were imprisoned, subjected to severe torture and subsequently executed, who could pose a threat to the tranquility of the English throne. This cup did not pass Anne Boleyn and her brothers, Mary Stuart, Walter Raleigh and other famous personalities.
Despite the fact that thousands of people were prisoners of the Tower, only five people were executed on its territory, in whose veins royal blood flowed. The rest parted with their heads on Tower Hill, with a large crowd of onlookers. The bodies were buried in the cellars of the fortress chapel. The last beheading took place in 1747. After the Cray brothers gangsters left the fortress in 1952, it ceased to function as a prison.
Zoo.
For several centuries there was a zoo in the fortress, the beginning of which was laid by animals donated by Emperor Frederick II. The menagerie is constantly replenished with new animals. During the reign of Elizabeth I, any city dweller could visit it for a nominal fee on any day except Sunday. In the 30s of the XIX century, the zoo moved to a new place of residence.
Mint.
For almost five centuries, the mint operated in the fortress, where silver coins were minted. Trusting the strong and impregnable walls of the Tower, weapons were made and stored in it, and very important documents of state importance were in its vaults.
Tower guards.
The prisoners of Tower and the values stored in the fortress needed good protection. Almost until the end of the 15th century, ordinary soldiers were engaged in this, and only from 1485 these functions were transferred to specially trained palace guards. The position of the guard of the Tower of London exists today. Dressed in the uniforms of guardsmen from the reign of Queen Victoria, they not only guard the castle, but also conduct tours of the castle grounds for visitors.
Tower Ravens are a legend.
Since ancient times, there has been a legend according to which England is safe as long as black crows live in the fortress - tower symbol. As soon as they leave it, misfortunes will fall upon the country. To prevent this, the ravens of the Tower of London have their wings clipped on purpose, and there is a special position of bird keeper to care for them. All birds have their own "personal file" and are officially employees of Her Majesty the Queen. In total, 6 ravens live in the Tower, plus 2 in reserve. Each bird has its own name. Like any worker, a bird can be fired from its position, for example, for bad behavior that is not consistent with the status of "royal crow".
Tower of London at present.
Time has no power over this symbol of Great Britain. The Tower Fortress has not changed much over the past centuries. Today, like many years ago, it belongs neither to the residential areas of the city, nor to the working outskirts, but is the property of the crown, as one of the royal residences.
Tower Castle - excursions.
To the attention of tourists visiting the Tower Fortress, various options for excursions are offered. You can take a walk along the fortress walls and listen to a guide talking about the history of the construction of buildings and how they were used since the 13th century. Looking into the White Tower, the first tower of the complex, which served to protect members of the royal family, you can get acquainted with a unique collection of medieval armor and tools that were used to torture the prisoners of the Tower.
Treasures of the Tower.
An obligatory part of all excursions is a visit to the treasure trove belonging to the British Crown. Having examined the collection, you can get acquainted with the regalia and jewelry of the royal family, which they still use today.
An interesting fact: in the Martin Tower, visitors will find an exposition of diamonds that are used to make royal jewelry, among which the Cullinan is the largest faceted diamond in the world.
You can see the living conditions of the English rulers of the 13th century in a medieval palace. There is also an exposition telling about the stages of restoration of the royal premises. Having made a walk along the Water Lane and the Western Entrance, visitors will learn about the methods of protecting the fortress during an enemy attack. They can also walk along the path of prisoners entering the Tower fortress.
All tours include a visit to Tower Meadow. This is an ominous place where more than one thousand inhabitants of England lost their lives. Nearby is the Collegiate Church of St. Peter, in which services are held for those executed on this site.
And to visit the Fusiliers Museum, you will have to pay an additional fee. In it, visitors will be introduced to the history of the Royal Regiment.
The order in the Tower is monitored by the Constable, to whom the guards hand over the keys to the fortress every evening. To watch this ceremony, you need to book a few months in advance.
After visiting the Tower of London, you can buy souvenirs in a shop located nearby.
Have you been to the Tower? Tell us about it in your comments!
