The Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror and was primarily used as a prison, fortress and armory. The Tower has a rather grim story, as the prison within its bounds was notorious for the imprisonment and torture of enemies of the monarchy. Most of the prisoners never even lived enough to be executed on Tower Hill. Among the imprisoned were many famous and respectable people from the kingdom, including Anne Boleyn, Baron William Hasting and Thomas More, followed by King Henry VI and his wife Helen of Anjou, King Edward V and his brother Richard. The tower of London wasn’t originally supposed to be a prison, but one of the largest royal residencies during the reign of Henry III in the 12th century.
Until the mid-20th century, the tower served a military purpose. One of the last prisoners of the tower was Nazi politician Rudolph Hess, who spent four years in the tower between 1941 and 1945. Today, the tower keeps the crown of Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal jewels. The crown is kept safe by special guards, who were once called Beefeaters, because they were one of the rare people in the kingdom who were fed quality meat.
The tower is also home to ravens who have lived there for centuries. According to legend, if the ravens were to disappear, the tower and the kingdom would crumble. One raven managed to steal a jewel from the Queen’s crown. The guards searched for the thief for days, until a gardener saw something glistening in one of the nests of the tower. When the people of England say “they were sent to the tower”, it actually means that someone had been sent to prison.
The tower’s collection of Crown Jewels also attracts the attention of visitors. The collection in question consists of items such as crowns, scepters, balls and swords of priceless historical and material value. The White Tower, also known as London Tower, is the main building of the castle and the first to be built, having been completed between 1078 and 1100. The white tower served as a prison, a royal residence and an armory.
The tower has not only been an impressive fortress, but also the home to many kings and queens. The medieval palace can be explored and it bears witness to the luxurious and lavish lifestyles of the royals. The Saint Peter in Chains Chapel is also located nearby. It was constructed in 1520, and it houses the remains of the most famous among the Tower’s prisoners who were executed. You can still pray for the souls of the 150 who are buried in the chapel.
Ticket price for the Tower of London
Regular ticket price: £ 25
Reduced ticket price: £ 19.50 - student and pensioners
Reduced ticket price: £ 11 - children under 16
Free entrance for children up to 5 years old
Working hours of The London Tower
March - October: Tuesday to Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Sunday and Monday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
November - February: Tuesday to Saturday: 09:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sunday and Monday: 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
