| The Tower of London is one of the oldest and most | | | | The Tower of London has been the setting for a |
| well preserved buildings in the world. Over time, the | | | | great number of important historical moments in the |
| Tower of London has been used to protect England | | | | history of London, and the history of England as a |
| from its enemies, as well as palace for the royal family. | | | | whole. The Tower of London is also where the crown |
| Visiting the Tower of London is a must for any first | | | | jewels are kept. It is unknown what the actual value of |
| time London visitor, as well as those who have | | | | all of the gold, silver, and gemstones in the royal |
| traveled to London a few times. | | | | collection. Kings and queens throughout the ages have |
| The Tower of London has been watched over by | | | | worn items from the collection. Having just been worn |
| yeoman warders since the very beginning of its | | | | so long ago, and during such key moments in history |
| existence in 1078. The warders take care of the | | | | make the crown jewels priceless. |
| buildings within the Tower of London making sure that | | | | One of the oldest ceremonies at the Tower of |
| all of the buildings are kept safe from intruders as well | | | | London that still survives today is the ceremony of the |
| as watch to ensure that none of the prisoners of the | | | | keys. The ceremony of the keys is the ceremonial |
| Tower of London were able to escape. Since their | | | | locking up of the tower on London each night. The |
| inception yeoman warders have been required to take | | | | ceremony has been completed in the exact same |
| an oath to the Tower of London, and their servitude of | | | | way, every single night for almost seven hundred |
| the structure and the monarchy. In early years the | | | | years. Each night just before 10pm the chief warder |
| yeoman warders would have preformed their duties in | | | | comes from byward tower carrying the traditional |
| plain clothes, today the warders have much more | | | | lantern lit with a candle and precedes to a place a |
| stately attire. | | | | bloody tower. An exchange commences; as the doors |
| Over time the Tower of London has become known | | | | are locked the chief warder and sentry perform the |
| for the great number of people that have been | | | | famous exchange: |
| executed at the Tower of London. Some of the more | | | | "Halt" "Who comes there?" "The Keys" "Who's Keys?" |
| famous executions include Anne Boleyn in 1530, which | | | | "Queen Elizabeth's Keys" "Pass Queen Elizabeth's |
| was Henry VIII second wife. She was beheaded and | | | | Keys - All's well". The Tower of London is a structure |
| burned because Henry suspected her of committing | | | | filled with history. A visit to the tower can be a great |
| adultery, and Sir Walter Raleigh an explorer to the | | | | learning experience for young children as well as |
| Americas who fell out of favor with Elizabeth I. He | | | | adults. Each time you visit the tower you can learn |
| spent twelve years in the tower to be released for | | | | something new about the tower, its content, and walk |
| only two short years before finding himself back there | | | | away with a new piece of knowledge about English |
| again being beheaded in 1618. | | | | history. |