| The Tower of London is one of Britains most | | | | |
| visited tourist attractions and its crammed | | | | This water gate at the foot of St Thomas |
| with so many sites of historical interest | | | | Tower gave access to the River Thames. Its so |
| that it can take all day to get around it and | | | | called because of the number of prisoners |
| make the most of it. Heres a guide to the | | | | accused of treason who are thought to have |
| most popular parts of the Tower. | | | | been brought into the Tower via this |
| | | | entrance. |
| White Tower | | | | |
| | | | Medieval Palace |
| This is the original part of the fortress, | | | | |
| built at the behest of William the Conqueror | | | | This ancient part of the Tower was built by |
| in 1078 to protect the Norman rulers from the | | | | two medieval Kings, Henry III and his son |
| inhabitants of the city. Its a magnificent | | | | Edward I, who resided and held court here. |
| white stone keep, which would have looked | | | | The Palace has been reconstructed as a 13th |
| incredible when first built as the Norman | | | | century royal residence, complete with |
| style was completely unknown in London at the | | | | sounds, smells and light. The vaulted halls |
| time. Its right at the heart of the complex, | | | | and elaborate bedchambers are beautifully |
| surrounded by towers, walls and a moat. From | | | | laid out as they would have been during the |
| the mid 16th century it was the main arsenal | | | | reigns of these monarchs. |
| in the fortress and today it houses a | | | | |
| fascinating museum of arms and weapons the | | | | Beauchamp Tower |
| Royal Armouries. | | | | |
| | | | Another of the Towers prison blocks, the |
| Crown Jewels | | | | Beauchamp Tower was used mainly to hold well |
| | | | known and high-ranking figures. There are |
| Royal treasures have been kept at the Tower | | | | some fascinating old inscriptions adoring its |
| since the 1300s, and have been opened to the | | | | walls, which were engraved by the various |
| public as the Crown Jewels collection since | | | | captives held here over the centuries. |
| the 18th century. The 17th century crown and | | | | |
| regalia used for Queen Elizabeth IIs | | | | Yeoman Warders |
| coronation in 1953 are on display, as are | | | | |
| other sceptres, orbs, crowns, swords, jewels | | | | This regiment of Tower guardians, also |
| and robes. | | | | commonly known as Beefeaters, was established |
| | | | over 500 years ago. The guards distinctive |
| Bloody Tower | | | | uniforms consist of a long navy blue tunic |
| | | | with red piping and the Queens insignia, a |
| This building certainly lives up to its | | | | matching cape and a box shaped hat with |
| gruesome name. Its where most of the Towers | | | | decorative rosette. They are all retired army |
| prisoners were held. The two boy princes were | | | | officers of high rank, but their duties today |
| thought to have been kept here until their | | | | are mainly ceremonial and theyre a popular |
| mysterious disappearance when its popularly | | | | tourist attraction. They provide informative |
| believed their uncle, King Richard III, had | | | | guided tours of the Tower several times a |
| them killed. Other famous prisoners include | | | | day. Some of their traditional rituals |
| Sir Walter Raleigh, who was incarcerated here | | | | include the 700-year-old Ceremony of the |
| for 13 years on suspicion of plotting against | | | | Keys, the nightly locking up and securing of |
| King James I. Today one of the rooms in the | | | | the fortress, which has never been missed |
| Bloody Tower has been turned into a | | | | over all these centuries. |
| recreation of Raleighs study. | | | | |
| | | | Ravens |
| Scaffold Site and Tower Green | | | | |
| | | | No visit to the Tower would be complete |
| If Bloody Tower is infamous for the | | | | without seeing some of the famous ravens who |
| incarceration of prisoners, Tower Green is | | | | live there. According to an old legend, the |
| even more notorious as the site of their | | | | Royal Astronomer to King Charles II |
| execution. Its a large open space in the | | | | complained that the large black birds were |
| middle of the complex, with the Chapel Royal | | | | obscuring the views from his observatory and |
| of St Peter Ad Vincula at its north end. Most | | | | requested that they be killed. However, its |
| prisoners met their end on a scaffold erected | | | | said that the King was told by someone that |
| on Tower Hill on the Green, although some | | | | the Tower would fall and the Kingdom would be |
| were given private executions in the Tower | | | | destroyed if the ravens ever left, upon which |
| itself. Many of the executed were important | | | | he insisted that a few remain. To this day |
| or illustrious figures, and were subsequently | | | | they wander around the Tower grounds, with |
| laid to rest in the Chapel. Three queens are | | | | their wings clipped to ensure that no |
| among the incumbents here, all of whom lost | | | | catastrophe can befall the Tower. There are |
| their heads on the Green Lady Jane Grey and | | | | currently six ravens, which are housed in the |
| two of Henry VIIIs wives, Anne Boleyn and | | | | Wakefield Tower and looked after by their own |
| Catherine Howard. | | | | Yeoman Warder who holds the title of |
| | | | Ravenmaster. |
| Traitors Gate | | | | |