The Tower of London

History in the heart of London has no more recognisable name than the Tower of London. Found right on the banks of the Thames, it’s one of the places that should definitely not be missed if you’re spending any time in London. There’s been a fortress there since the Roman era, back when the city was still known as Londinium, and the Norman fortress is still standing tall. It has been converted into a fabulous museum dedicated to the history of the tower as a whole. Within you can find suits of armour for both men and horses, the chopping block used in several royal beheadings, and much, much more.

The Norman interior is surrounded by other towers, used for among other things, as torture chambers, prison cells, and some were even used as part of the menagerie the royals of England kept. If you look carefully, you can still find some of their metallic counterparts. Be sure to keep an eye out for lions, monkeys, an elephant, a polar bear, and of course the famous Tower Ravens!

In the church to the left of the entrance you can find Queen Anne’s grave, and just past that in one of the towers you can find the Crown Jewels, a glittering collection of gems, dinnerware, and naturally, crowns. Keep going straight when you first enter and you can find the aptly named traitor’s gate, wherein passed criminals and queens on their way to imprisonment, or worse. Have a wander and you might find solve the centuries old mystery of two missing princes, said to have been buried in a wall within the fortress.

Feeling overwhelmed? Not to worry, Yeoman tours leave every hour from the bridge at the entrance.These men and women are mostly retired military professionals who now live in and protect the Tower of London. Yes, that’s right, the Tower of London is a home, not just for the Yeoman, but it’s also a royal abode. Should there be a need, the Queen can stay in the Tower of London.

Getting there from the Tube is super easy, just hop off at Tower Hill on the Circle and District line. You should be able to see the tower as soon as you come out of the station. If not, just keep walking straight until you come to the river. Before you hit any sort of water you’ll see the tower, and the great grey building outside that serves as a gift shop. The ticket booth is just before that to the right. Don’t bother with the ‘donation’ price on this one, the Queen owns this palace, let her keep it up with her own money. True to the advertisement on their website, though, you’ll save valuable time if you purchase your ticket online. It may seem like a trivial couple of minutes, but to put it into perspective, I’ve been to the tower three times and I’ve still not seen everything it has to offer. Go early, and plan to stay all day!

There’s a quick security search before you go in, but it’s nothing to worry about. They ask you to open your bag, and from what I’ve seen are just looking for anything obviously dangerous like firearms or knives. They won’t take away your water, in fact you should be sure to bring some. There is a kiosk inside the tower that sells water and snack-ish food, but it will cost you much more than if you got it at an Off License (corner store). I also advise bringing sunblock, as you don’t want to be trying to find shade when you could be exploring.

You’ll also see the Queen’s Guard there, the men wandering around wearing the bear fur hats, red jackets, and weirdly large boots. Many people try to get them to crack a smile, they tell jokes, dance, pull silly faces, the like. God help you if you touch them. My advice is to leave them well alone unless you want a picture. You needn’t ask, they can’t answer anyway, just try to remember that you’re posing with a human being who has no choice in the matter. Give them their dignity, don’t get too close, and if they move away, don’t take it personally. They’re just doing their job, and you can always follow them and try again. They usually don’t wander far!

Be prepared to climb quite a few steps, bring a camera, and most importantly, have fun!

What are your experiences with the Tower of London? Have you not been but want to visit? Let me know in the comments!