Tower of London Tour

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Tower of London Tour History, To-dos, Buy
Tickets, Best Tour Guides, Free Tour
The Tower of London tour is an experience to
remember as the entire structure is a landmark
of rich British culture and heritage. It is one
of the most famous tourist spots in London.
Tourists from around the world visit this place
to observe all the traditional practices that
have been happening ever since the Tower of
London was constructed. It is
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also viewed as a symbol of evolution because it
has been a witness to how society has changed
over time in terms of ?nances, artillery, and
trade.
This fascinating yet horrifying Tower of London
was built by William the Conqueror during the
1070s in the center of his London fortress to
proclaim and defend his royal status and power
from the Londoners. This skyscraper was built to
dominate the minds and hearts of the defeated
people. The Tower took almost two decades to be
built. The stone used in its making was brought
from Caen, France, by the masons themselves.
After the death of William, the Tower of London
kept on expanding and developing by the rulers
who came afterward. Henry III and Edward I played
a pivotal role in expanding the fortress by
building defensive walls and similar small
towers, thus spreading the castle.
The medieval kings also converted the Tower into
one of Englands strongest and largest
concentric towers. They also ended up
constructing stunning royal lodging. The Tower
became a safe spot for all the kings and queens
during times of war and trouble. The royalties
would go into hiding in order to protect
themselves and their royal possessions. Even
today, it is used for protecting the Crown Jewels
with the help of the garrisons of the soldiers.
However, the Tower ended up suffering from failed
defenses during the Peasants Revolt in 1381
when the rebels ran in through the open gates.
The fortress has a number of luxurious apartments
where the medieval monarchs lived. They offered
their prayers in the Royal Chapel and kept a
number of exotic animals. This place was used to
host rulers from different countries in
extravagant ceremonies. The rooms of the Tower
were modernized during the time of Henry VIII for
the coronation of his new bride, Anne Boleyn.
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Despite being a safe spot for the royalties, the
Tower does have its fair share of tragedies and
death. Henry VI was murdered here during the War
of Roses in 1471 while praying in his private
chapel, and later Edward IV, the great rival of
Henry VI his children were killed in this Tower
in 1483. Anne Boyln was also locked here when she
was accused of treason and adultery before being
executed by the sword.
The Tower of London became a state prison during
the Tudor age, and anyone who threatened
national security would be sent there. Until the
20th century, German spies were brought here and
shot.
Henry VIII, during his reign, ordered that the
Yeoman Warders would stay and guide the Tower
permanently. The Yeoman Warders are considered a
symbol of the historical towers around the world
and were part of the monarchs personal guards
and would travel with him everywhere. The
guards, till today, carry out all the ceremonial
activities associated with the Tower, such as
locking and unlocking the Tower in a ceremony
called the Ceremony of the Keys. They wear their
infamous red uniform during the o?cial ceremonies
and during the gun salutes. The Tower is now
home to the resident governor, a garrison of
soldiers, the Yeoman Warders, and their families.
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The Tower of London Tour Experience
The Tower of London has also played a part in
literature and history, and till today, it is
contributing to English history. As the Tower
houses all the royal artifacts and crown jewels,
it gives a very ?eeting experience that all the
wars, deaths, and conquests were real and not a
?gment of ?ction. The Tower of London tour is an
experience to behold for a lover of history.
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Hop on Hop off Bus London
How to Get to the Tower of London
There are multiple ways to get to the Tower of
London. You can get here through the following

• Hop on Hop off Bus Almost all Hop on Hop off
  buses stop at the Tower of London.
• Public Bus Bus numbers 15, 42, 78, 100, and RV1
  can take you to the Tower of London.

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• Train London Bridge Station is the closest train
  station near the Tower of London and is only 15
  minutes away on foot.
• Tube The Tower Hill tube station is the nearest
  station to the Tower and is only a ?ve-minute
  walk away.
• Taxi You can always take a taxi to the Tower.
  The fare depends on the distance traveled.

Watch Margaret, a tour guide and manager of Free
Tours by Foot London, takes you on a virtual
walking tour of the Tower of London
Items You Need to Prepare for the Tower of London
Tour
Only small daypacks are permitted on the Tower of
London tour. Since youll be spending a few
hours at the Tower of London, you should bring
comfortable walking shoes, a water bottle, and a
rainproof jacket. You will visit a few outdoor
areas, and the weather can get unpredictable,
even during the summer.
Best Time to Do the Tower of London Tour
Its always best to remain updated about the
opening and closing times of the Tower of London
tour to avoid any uncertainty.
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No matter the opening time, you should consider
visiting during the weekday as its always
crowded with tourists. We recommend you arrive
early in the morning, even on weekdays, as
crowds are expected after 3 pm or all day on
weekends.
Sights to Look Out for During the Tower of London
Tour
Once you have entered the Tower, there are
numerous places you can visit and look at
various crown jewels. A few of the hotspots in
the Tower of London are listed down below

• The Tower Mint

This place was speci?cally used to make coins for
trade. The remnants of the craftsmanship are
displayed here, and the tourists can enjoy a
number of activities that are offered here.

• The Crown Jewels

The Tower has been used as safekeeping for all
the royal jewels since the 1600s. The jewels may
not be appealing to some, but the history which
comes with them is.
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• Medieval Castles

This is the ideal place for all history lovers to
understand how life was in the past and how
different monarchs lived in luxury. The walls of
the castles are the witness to all the events
which took place starting from the reign of
William the conqueror.
Other places you can visit in the Tower of London
are
The Battlements, the Bloody Tower, the White
Tower, the Royal Chapel, the Ravens, the Tower
Green, and Scaffold Site, among many others.
How to Get Tickets for the Tour
In order to book the Tower of London tour, there
are numerous options available. The entire tour
lasts up to 60 minutes if you are visiting with a
group and almost three hours if you want to
visit every place in the fortress and look at
everything in detail.
The easiest way is to buy your tickets online.
Follow the links below.
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One other option is to purchase the city pass.
This will allow you a full free day entry and
has a plethora of other activities to offer. The
pass has two options from which you can choose
the London Pass allows you to access the other
attractions in the city. It has a list of 80
tourist spots you can choose from, and the other
pass is called the Gocity London Explorer Pass.
It is for those who prefer to visit one or two
places per day. Both tour options are offered at
the Towers main entrance.
Another way to book the Tower of London tour is
via a travel guide. If you are not fond of
looking for directions and waiting in long lines
and you have to travel with children and older
people, then booking a guide is the most suitable
option for you.
The Tower of London Ravens
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Facts about the Tower of London
There are several curious facts about the Tower
of London, and we are here to share some of them
with you.

• The Tower has ravens that cannot leave

The ravens living in the Tower are regarded as
its guardians they can be found on the south
lawn and love to mimic sounds and play with each
other. Most of the ravens there have a name too.
It is said that Charles II insisted that the
ravens should be kept in the Tower.

• The ceremony of the keys is the oldest ritual
  remaining

The ceremony of the keys happening in the Tower
is one of the oldest rituals that has been going
on for the past 700 years. The ceremony used to
take place even during the world wars and the
great plague.

• The Tower can be haunted

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A lot of people have reported strange sightings
in the Tower. Some of them even said that they
had seen the ghost of Anne Boyln walking in the
fortress.

• The Tower of London has a secret pub

Yes, there is a secret pub on the premises of the
Tower called the Keys.

• The White Tower is the oldest and the most famous
  part of the building

The top block of the White Tower was last used in
1747, and its basement is thought to be a
torture chamber in the past.
Other Places to Visit Nearby
Despite being the main tourist attraction, the
Tower of London has many other places you can
visit nearby. Some of them can be visited on
foot for others, you may have to use a cab or
bus.
The most famous places you can visit are
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1. The London Dungeon
2. Shreks Adventure! London
3. Houses of Parliament
4. The London Eye
5. HMS Belfast
6. Tate Modern
7. Tower Bridge
8. Restaurants near the Tower of London