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