Tower of London - History, Yeamon Warders
Top Attractions - other related articles in this section > Tower Of London > Dungeon > Palladium > The ZooThe Tower of London is one of the city's major historical attractions. The tower was built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror and is situated on the banks of the Thames River. Many important events have taken place in the fortress and the tower has acted as a palace, prison, execution house and jewel house over the years.
Walking through the tower is like taking a trip through the bloody pages of British history. Many famous characters were beheaded within the castle walls including Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, wives of Henry VIII's, Sir Thomas More and Lady Jane Grey. Prince Edward V and his younger brother Richard are also believed to have lost their lives while imprisoned within the castle's White Tower, although this fact has never officially been verified.
Must sees in the tower include the Crown Jewels which have been housed there since the 14th century, the diamond display in the Martin Tower and famous inscriptions on the walls in the Beauchamp Tower. Other attractions to keep an eye out for are the Yeoman Warders who guard the castle grounds as they have done since the late fourteenth century and the notorious tower ravens whose presence, legend has it, keeps the fortress standing. Make sure you also set aside some time to visit the Traitors Gate, the Medieval Palace and the Bloody Towers which all have their own unique stories to tell.
The Tower of London is situated on Tower Hill and is accessible via road, rail and water. The closest underground station to the fortress is Tower Hill. Directions to the tower are clearly signposted from outside the station. Alternatively, bus routes 15, 25, 42, 78, 100 and D1 also run past the fortress. The Tower is open from 9am to 6pm during the summer months and from 9am to 5pm during the winter months. Sunday opening time is at 10am.
Adult ticket prices at the gate are around £14 pounds, while tickets for children under 16 cost in the region of £9. Cheaper prices can be obtained by booking online and special concessions apply for students, senior citizens and groups. Admission is free for children under five years of age.
For enquiries and bookings, be sure to visit the Tower of London website. Alternatively, contact the Tower of London information office on 0870 7567 070.
London - Weekend Break
