Tower Palace. The Tower of London is the main symbol of the united kingdom

There are many monuments in the world, one name of which breathes medieval history. In Paris, it's a cathedral Notre dame de paris, Moscow is proud of its Kremlin. Can tell a lot about the past The tower, or Tower of London(eng. HerMajesty 'sRoyalPalaceandFortress,TowerofLondon) - a fortress located in historic center London on the north bank of the River Thames. Over the long centuries of its existence, the Tower Castle managed to visit the role of a palace, a mint, a fortress, a prison, a treasury for royal regalia and decorations, a zoo, an arsenal, an observatory. The Tower is now historical monument and the symbol of London, attracting numerous tourists from all over the world. Since 1988, the Tower has been under the protection of UNESCO.

What is the Tower of London famous for? More on this below.

History of the Tower.

The emergence of the fortress dates back to the time of the conquest of England by the troops of William I, Duke of Normandy. To intimidate the inhabitants of London in 1078, a temporary wooden fort was erected on the ruins of ancient Roman defenses. Subsequently, its walls were replaced by stone, and by 1097 the construction of the Tower of London was completed.

The new fortress was rectangular with walls 32 and 36 meters long, which rose to a height of almost 30 meters. A little later, following the order of one of the rulers of England, the building was whitewashed, and the fortress acquired a second name - the White Tower. The construction was continued by King Richard the Lionheart, who ordered the completion of additional defensive towers of the Tower, erect two rows of walls and dig a deep moat. Thanks to this, the Tower of London has become one of the impregnable fortresses Of the Old World.

Tower Prisoners.

Information about the first prisoner held in the Tower dates back to 1190. From that moment on, it became a place of imprisonment for people of high position, belonging to noble families, as well as for royalty. In the troubled times of the Reformation, the fortress acquired an ominous glory. Within its walls were imprisoned, subjected to brutal torture and subsequently executed many persons of the royal family who could pose a threat to the tranquility of the English throne. This cup did not pass Anna Boleyn and her brothers, Mary Stuart, Walter Raleigh and other famous personalities.

Despite the fact that thousands of people have been prisoners of the Tower, only five persons were executed on its territory, in whose veins royal blood flowed. The rest parted with their heads on Tower Hill, when a large crowd of onlookers gathered. The bodies were buried in the cellars of the fortress chapel. The last beheading took place in 1747. After the gangsters of the Cray brothers left the fortress in 1952, it ceased to function as a prison.

Zoo.

For several centuries, there was a zoo in the fortress, the foundation of which was laid by animals donated by Emperor Frederick II. The menagerie was constantly replenished with new animals. During the reign of Elizabeth I, any citizen could visit it on any day except Sunday for a symbolic fee. In the 30s of the XIX century, the zoo moved to a new place of residence.

Mint.

For almost five centuries a mint worked in the fortress, in which silver coins were minted. Trusting the strong and impregnable walls of the Tower, weapons were made and stored in it, and very important documents of national importance were kept in its stores.

Tower guards.

The prisoners of the Tower and the valuables kept in the fortress needed good protection. Almost until the end of the 15th century, ordinary soldiers were engaged in this, and only from 1485 these functions were transferred to specially trained palace guards. The position of the guard of the Tower of London still exists today. Dressed in the uniforms of the guards during the reign of Queen Victoria, they not only guard the castle, but also conduct excursions around the castle grounds for visitors.

The Crows of the Tower are a legend.

Since ancient times, there is a legend according to which England is safe as long as black crows live in the fortress - Tower symbol... As soon as they leave it, misfortune will fall on the country. To prevent this, the ravens of the Tower of London are specially cut off their wings, and there is a special position of bird watcher to care for them. All birds have their own "personal file" and are officially employees of Her Majesty the Queen. In total, 6 ravens live in the Tower, plus 2 in reserve. Each bird has its own name. Like any employee, the bird can be fired from his position, for example, for bad behavior that is not consistent with the status of "royal crow".

Tower of London now.

Time has no power over this symbol of Great Britain. The Tower fortress has remained practically unchanged over the past centuries. Today, like many years ago, it does not belong either to the residential areas of the city or to the workers' outskirts, but is the property of the crown, like one of the royal residences.

Castle Tower - excursions.

Tourists visiting the Tower Fortress are offered various excursion options. You can commit walk walk along the fortress walls and listen to a guide who tells about the history of the construction of the structures and how they were used since the 13th century. Looking into the White Tower, the first tower of the complex that served to protect members of the royal family, you can get acquainted with a unique collection of medieval armor and tools that were used to torture the inmates of the Tower.

Tower treasures.

A compulsory part of all excursions is a visit to the treasures of the British Crown. After examining the collection, you can get acquainted with the regalia and jewels of the royal family, which they still use today.

Interesting fact: in the Martin Tower, visitors will find an exposition of diamonds that are used to make royal jewelry, among which Cullinan is the largest faceted diamond in the world.

The living conditions of the English rulers of the 13th century can be viewed in a medieval palace. There is also an exposition that tells about the stages of restoration of the royal premises. Having made a walk along Vodny Lane and the Western Entrance, visitors will learn about the methods of defending the fortress during an enemy attack. They can also walk along the path of the prisoners who entered the Tower fortress.

All excursions include a visit to Tower Meadow. This is an ominous place where more than one thousand inhabitants of England lost their lives. Nearby is the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, in which services are held for those executed at this place.

And to visit the Fusilier Museum, you will have to pay an additional fee. In it, visitors will be introduced to the history of the Royal Regiment.

The order in the Tower is monitored by the Constable, to whom every evening the guards hand over the keys to the fortress. To watch this ceremony, you need to register several months in advance.

After visiting the Tower of London, souvenirs can be purchased at the nearby shop.

Have you been to the Tower? Let us know in your comments!

The Tower of London has been a fortress for over 900 years of history, which was the residence of kings, an armory and treasury, as well as a prison and place of execution.

Tower of London- one of the symbols of Great Britain. It holds a special place in the history of the English nation and is one of the most visited places in the world. The well-known crows of the Tower, Yeomen-guards, royal jewels and stories about the gloomy fortress-prison are just the very first associations when the Tower of London is called. However, this is only a very small part of the history of this famous building.

In 1066, Duke William of Normandy began the conquest of England. Towards the end of the Anglo-Saxon period, London became the dominant city in England, with a rich port, the royal palace and the main cathedral located next to it. Keeping the city safe was William's main goal during his coronation. He gives the order to start building a fortress around the city. So in 1100 the construction of the White Tower ends. The Tower is protected by huge walls from the north, west and south sides... In 1377, all buildings in the Tower were completed.

The first prisoner was imprisoned in the Tower in 1100. At that time, the Tower Prison was intended for people of noble birth and high rank. Among the most honorable and high-ranking prisoners of the Tower were the kings of Scotland and France and their families, as well as representatives of the aristocracy and priests who fell into disgrace on charges of treason. The walls of the Tower also remember many executions and murders: Henry VI was killed in the Tower, as well as 12-year-old Edward V and his younger brother.

The prisoners were kept in the premises that were not occupied at that time. The terms of imprisonment were very different. Thus, William Penn, founder of the English colony in North America, which received the name Pennsylvania, was imprisoned in the Tower for religious beliefs and spent eight months in the Tower. Charles, Duke of Orléans, nephew of the French king and an outstanding poet, after being defeated in battle, spent a total of 25 years within the walls of the castle, until an incredible ransom was paid for him. The courtier Walter Raleigh, navigator, poet and playwright, tried to brighten up 13 dreary years of imprisonment, working on the multivolume work History of the World. After his temporary release, he was again imprisoned in the Tower and then executed. In the photo - the main gate of the fortress

The Tower acquired its reputation as a sinister place of torture during the Reformation. Henry VIII, obsessed with the desire to have an heir son, broke off all relations with Roman Catholic Church and began to persecute all who refused to recognize him as the head of the Church of England. After Henry's second wife, Anne Boleyn, could not bear him a son, the king accused her of treason and adultery. As a result, Anna, her brother and four other persons were beheaded in the Tower. The same fate befell Catherine Howard, Henry's fifth wife. Many royalty who posed a threat to the English throne were escorted to the Tower and then executed.

Henry's young son, the Protestant Edward VI, who ascended the throne, continued the series of brutal executions begun by his father. When Edward died six years later, the English crown went to Henry's daughter, Mary, a devout Catholic. Wasting no time, the new queen ordered the beheading of 16-year-old Lady Jane Gray and her young husband, who turned out to be pawns in a fierce struggle for power. Now is the time for the Protestants to lay down their heads. Elizabeth, Mary's half-sister, spent several anxious weeks within the walls of the Tower. However, after becoming queen, she dealt with those who refused to change the Catholic faith and dared to oppose her rule.

Although thousands of prisoners were thrown into the Tower, only five women and two men were beheaded in the fortress, saving them from the shame of public execution. Three of these women were queens - Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Jane Gray, who only held the throne for nine days. Most of the other executions - mostly beheadings - took place on nearby Tower Hill, where huge crowds of fans of such spectacles flocked. The severed head was put on a stake and put on public display on London Bridge as a warning to others. The decapitated body was taken to the Tower and buried in the cellars of the chapel. A total of over 1,500 bodies were buried in these cellars.

In some cases, as a rule, only with official permission, the prisoners were tortured, forcing them to confess their guilt. In 1605, Fox, Guy Fawkes, who tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and the King during the Gunpowder Plot, was strung up on a tower rack before execution, forcing him to reveal the names of his accomplices.

In the 17th century, England and the Tower were for a time in the hands of Oliver Cromwell and the parliamentarians, but after Charles II was re-enthroned, the Tower Prison was not particularly replenished. In 1747, the final beheading took place on Tower Hill. However, the story of the Tower as a state prison did not end there. During the First World War, 11 German spies were imprisoned and shot in the Tower. During the Second World War, prisoners of war were temporarily held there, among whom Rudolf Hess also spent several days. The last victim to be executed within the walls of the fortress was Josef Jacobs, accused of espionage and shot in August 1941.

At the beginning of the 13th century, John Landless kept lions in the Tower. However, the royal menagerie arose when John's successor Henry III received three leopards, a polar bear and an elephant as a gift from European monarchs. Although the animals were kept for the amusement of the king and his retinue, one day the whole of London witnessed a unique sight when a bear on a leash rushed into the Thames to catch fish. Over time, the menagerie was replenished with an even larger number of exotic animals and during the time of Elizabeth I it was open to visitors. In the 1830s, the Tower Zoo was abolished and the animals were moved to a new zoo that opened in London's Regent's Park. Below in the photo - model Tower of London

For more than 500 years, the Tower has housed the main branch of the Royal Mint. One of its most turbulent periods was during the reign of Henry VIII, when coins were minted from silver requisitioned from destroyed monasteries. In addition, the Tower kept important government and legal records, as well as the manufacture and storage of weapons and military equipment the king and the royal army. In the photo below - the armory

Effective, isn't it?)

From the very foundation of the Tower, its prisoners and buildings were carefully guarded. But specially selected palace guards appeared in 1485. In those days, prisoners were often transported by river and brought into the Tower through the "Traitor's Gate". When the accused was led out of the trial, monitors watched where the prisoner's ax was pointed. The blade aimed at the prisoner foreshadowed another execution.

Palace guards guard the Tower to this day. Today, they are also responsible for conducting excursions for numerous visitors. On especially solemn occasions, they dress in luxurious costumes from the Tudor dynasty: scarlet camisoles trimmed with gold and crowned with snow-white flat collars. On ordinary days, they wear navy blue Victorian uniforms with red trimmings. English guards are often called beefeaters, or meat eaters. This nickname most likely originated in times of famine, when Londoners were malnourished, and the palace guards regularly received a ration of beef. With this, the English crown provided itself with reliable protection.

The Royal Treasury keepers guard the famous jewels of the British Empire. The treasury has been open to visitors since the 17th century. Among the gems that adorn crowns, powers and sceptres - which are still used by members of the royal family during ceremonies - is the world's largest high-quality faceted diamond, the Cullinan I.

The current Tower has little resemblance to the formidable fortress that it went down in history. Back in 1843, the moat was filled up, and instead of water, a bright green lawn appeared here, shading the gray stone of the walls. During numerous restorations, the windows were enlarged, including in the White Tower. A large number of trees have been planted. In the past, such a harsh and literally blood-soaked courtyard was largely planted with grass, and black tower crows roam importantly along it. When the menagerie was transferred to Regent's Park in 1831, the ravens were left in the fortress. They are surrounded by special care - the state pays the Tower garrison two shillings four pence a week to feed the birds. The palace Ravensmaster, or Raven Keeper, takes care of a flock of black ravens. The fact is that, according to legend, the foundations of Britain are unshakable until the crows leave the Tower. For greater assurance, however, birds have their wings trimmed.

Today Tower of London is one of the main attractions of Great Britain. It has hardly changed since the past. A symbol of the Tower's sinister past is the site of the former Tower Hill scaffold. Now there is a small memorial plaque in memory of "the tragic fate and sometimes martyrdom of those who risked their lives and died in the name of faith, homeland and ideals." Currently, the main buildings of the Tower are the museum and the Armory, where the treasures of the British crown are kept; officially continues to be considered one of the royal residences. There are also a number of private apartments in the Tower, inhabited mainly by service staff and distinguished guests.

As an impressionable person, the Tower both frightened me and attracted me with its extraordinary and rich history... I got into it not on my very first visit to London. I had already seen these bright brick walls during a river walk on the Thames and somehow postponed my trip here. However, the Tower was an obligatory item in my program, and one cloudy morning I nevertheless went to the walls of this fortress by subway. But the weather in London is terribly changeable and what was my surprise when, after leaving the subway in half an hour, my gaze opened up a view of the castle and a green lawn drenched in the sun ...

At the word "Tower" many people picture a dark tower, wrought iron bars and the groans of prisoners. Well, this is not far from the truth. The Tower of London was indeed a prison for most of its existence. However, not only a dungeon. The gray towers of the castle served the English kings as a house, a mint, an arsenal, and even a menagerie.

From the history of the Royal Fortress

If you look at the Royal Fortress (the second official name castle) from Tower Bridge, then many will have questions: "Is this a fortress?" or "Is this the most secure place in the city?" Indeed, now against the backdrop of skyscrapers and just tall buildings surrounding the castle, the Tower looks almost like a toy. However, these lovely heads of the turrets have terrified the townspeople from time immemorial. "In the Tower it!" - a favorite phrase of Henry VIII, when he once again got rid of a kinsman, courtier or annoying wife.

The history of the Tower of London begins with a Roman fort located on the north bank of the Thames.

In 1066, King William I erected a square stone building on the site of a wooden structure, later called the White Tower. London grew rapidly and poor quarters began to appear around the Tower, so the royal family moved to Westminster Palace.

The first prisoner appears in the fortress in 1190. From that moment on, the fortress becomes a prison for high-ranking persons for many years. Here the kings of Scotland, and the kings of France, and members of their families, and the priests who fell out of favor, languished here. The Duke of Orléans, nephew of the French king, spent about 25 years in the Tower, until he was ransomed for an incredible amount. King Henry VI was strangled here, and the sons of Edward IV, the famous "princes from the tower", disappeared here. In her youth, Elizabeth I spent several terrible weeks in the Tower, awaiting her fate.

The last beheading took place in 1747, and since then executions have practically ceased here. However, during the First and Second World Wars, German spies were kept in the tower. The last prisoners in 1952 were the gangsters, the Cray brothers.

However, the Tower of London is an amazing place. Prisoners were kept here, even when the king lived in the castle. From the 13th century to 1830, cages with monkeys, elephants and lions were located here (later the animals were sent to the zoo). Moreover, under Elizabeth I, the menagerie becomes public.

Since ancient times, it is here that the Royal Treasury has been located. Right there, in the Tower, together with their family members live the famous Yomen Warder, popularly known as beefeaters or "meat-eaters". However, the fortress is guarded not only by them, but also by the royal guards, whose changing of the guard can also be observed in the fortress, albeit not as colorful as around.

How to get there

You can get to the Tower by metro, bus or river boat.

• Underground: Art. Tower Hill (District and Circle lines), then walk 5 minutes following signs.
• Bus: routes No. 15, 42, 78, 100, RV1. Also, all buses for sightseeing tours around the city stop here.
• Motor ship: You can catch river transport near Big Ben (Westminster pier) or at Charing Cross station and raft down the Thames to the Tower (Tower Pier). Motor ships going to Greenwich and back make a stop here.
  • Drive the route Westminster - Tower Pier will cost:
    Adult ticket at 11.6 EUR (10 GBP), children ticket at 5.8 EUR (5 GBP), concessionary (students, people over 60) at 8.12 EUR (7 GBP);
  • Drive Westminster - Tower Pier - Westminster will cost:
    Adult ticket at 16.24 EUR (14 GBP), children ticket at 8.12 EUR (7 GBP), discounted ticket at 11.4 EUR (9.8 GBP). (But it’s not a fact that you will want to go back down the river again).

In my opinion, the metro and the ship - better ways get to this castle.

As you exit the subway, you will see the light gray brick walls of the Tower, surrounded by a green lawn that was once a defensive moat. Immediately behind the Tower there will be the Thames River, so no skyscraper will spoil your first impression of this attraction.

Approaching the fortress on a motor ship, of course, you will see the castle from the other side, but the line of your eyes will be below the line of the coast, so the experience is also guaranteed.

Opening hours

The Royal Fortress is open:

• In winter(November 1 - February 28)
  Tuesday - Saturday from 09:00 to 16:30, Sunday, Monday from 10:00 to 16:30;
• Summer(March 1 - October 31)
  Tuesday - Saturday from 09:00 to 17:30, Sunday, Monday from 10:00 to 17:30.

The last opportunity to enter the castle is half an hour before closing. But since on average it takes about three hours to get to the Tower, it is better to come here in the first half of the day.

And my advice to you is not to leave the Tower on a day off. Out-of-the-box excursions are popular with schools and colleges in the UK, and hustling on narrow spiral staircases is not fun.

Visit cost

If you buy tickets on the spot, the ticket offices of the castle are located in the Welcome Center building opposite the entrance to the fortress. The largest gift shop is also located there. In fact, the history of the Tower of London begins here, because the Welcome Center is located on Tower Hill, where, in fact, all the executions took place.

So, tickets:

• Adult- 29 EUR (25 GBP), online - 26.8 EUR (23.10 GBP);
• Preferential- full-time students, people with disabilities, people over 60 - 22.6 EUR (19.50 GBP), online - 20.4 EUR (17.60 GBP);
• Children from 5 to 15 years old- 14 EUR (12.00 GBP), online - 12.2 EUR (10.50 GBP), children under 5 years old admit free of charge, but accompanied by an adult;
• Family ticket(1 adult and no more than 3 children) - 52.2 EUR (45 GBP), online - 48 EUR (41.30 GBP).

There are discounts for groups of 15 people, see information. With this ticket, you can visit all the inner buildings of the Tower, the exhibitions housed in them, the Treasury, the Museum of the Royal Riflemen, as well as join a guided tour of the territory led by a real beefeater and a tour of the White Tower, as well as all historical attractions.

If you bought London Pass, then admission is free and skip-the-line for you. Usually a separate entrance marked with a London Pass sign or Fast track.

London Pass - tourist map for 1, 2, 3 or 6 days. On it you can visit more than 60 museums and attractions, for example, Westminster Abbey, Kensington Palace, London Zoo, go to the Globe Theater, take a city bike tour. If the entrance to the museum is free, then by LP you can get tea or go to a paid exhibition. And also in most places to avoid the queue. The cost of an adult ticket for 6 days is 150 EUR (129 GBP), a child ticket is 103.5 EUR (89 GBP). Often there are 15% discounts on the card. If you are in London for a week, then it is very convenient and profitable. In Windsor, she allowed us to avoid the two-hour queue in the rain and not get wet. You can also "sew" a transport card here and wear it constantly around your neck. Details .

Audio guide and castle tours

Audio guide in the Tower is available in many languages, including Russian. Its cost: 4.7 EUR (4 GBP) for adults, 3.5 EUR (3 GBP) for children and the preferential category.

If you are learning English, it is better to choose an audio guide in English. Firstly, this is a good training on the ground (audio + video sequence), and secondly, unfortunately, as practice shows, an audio tour in Russian is very often in a shorter program than in the main language of the museum.

However, you can take the Russian version, and strain your ears on Yeoman warder tour... The fact is that the famous beefeaters still guard the Tower, look after crows, and also conduct excursions around the territory of the Royal Fortress.

The yeoman guard is dressed in a blue and red uniform, on holidays - in the famous red, embroidered with gold laces. Believe me, it is worth a lot to learn stories and legends from a person living in the Tower. Each of them is charismatic and talkative. Even those who just stand guard in the courtyards of the Tower. Somehow I accidentally got into a conversation with one beefeater. He was very flattered that I was in his homeland, in Birmingham, and in general a girl from Russia has an idea where it is))). The tour starts from the main entrance every half hour. The last collection is at 14:30 in winter and 15:30 in summer.

White Tower Tour- this is a separate tour of the White Tower and the Church of St. John the Evangelist. Included in the main ticket.

Tower at night

The British are notorious for being scared, so it should come as no surprise that the Tower has several evening excursions. The Tower of London breaks records for the number of ghosts. The castle guards continue to see Anne Boleyn walking with her head under her right hand (exactly as she was buried), the wandering seafarer Sir Walter Reilly, execution scenes here and there for the night guards. However, evening excursions are usually short-lived and take place under the trusty gaze of the yeomen.

Ceremony of the Keys- the procedure for closing the Tower at night, which is more than 700 years old. And although the monarchs no longer live here, the Royal Treasury is still located in the Tower, so closing the castle at night still makes sense. On the night of November 5, 2012 (the night of Guy Fawkes or the failed Gunpowder Plot), a thief stole a box of keys right from under the noses of the guards. No damage was done to the Treasury, but several thousand pounds had to be spent to replace all the locks in the fortress.

Time of the Key Ceremony: 21: 30-22: 00. At 22:05 you need to leave the Tower. Access to the facilities and the right to take photos during the event itself are not available. Admission is free (1 GBP symbolic fee for administrative expenses), booking is personal only. The ceremony is very popular: for November 1, 2016, all seats were booked until August 2017 !!!

Nightwatchers tour- an hour-long activity-game in the castle "Night Observers". The world of the secret service since Elizabeth I, the skills of observing people, heightened senses ... All this is available for 23.2 EUR (20 GBP), starting at 18:15 (several sessions daily), for people over 16 years old.

Tower Twilight Tour- An exclusive evening tour of the Tower. It runs on Sundays from 19:00 to 20:30. Your guide will be a charismatic guard who will guide you through the territory of the Tower and in the silence of the empty courtyard will tell you the most interesting and horror stories about Bloody Tower and Traitor's Gate. It's no secret that this fortress is reputed to be a habitat of ghosts. Perhaps someone will meet you ... Price: 31.3 EUR (27 GBP), available from 12 years old.

If you are with children

The museum understands that it is problematic to go around the entire fortress with children in one day, so there are family annual tickets (details). In the Tower, the kids have something to do: you can fight in medieval armor, draw a fictional animal, or create your own helmet.

If the child is lost

Before entering the Tower, parents should contact the Welcome Center, where they will be given free electronic bracelets for children, on which the parent's phone number is recorded. Lost will be searched for in a special center at West Gate. In order to avoid roaring losses, the Tower urges parents to explain to their children that the yeoman is a person who can be trusted and who needs to be approached and asked for help if something happens. Yeomen can also provide the first medical assistance.

Tower as it is

It will take you about 3 hours to get around the entire Tower. It is, of course, a little more detailed. It is worth remembering that this is a medieval building, so in some places the courtyards are paved with huge cobblestones, and you will need very comfortable shoes to walk here.

All buildings and routes through the fortress are divided into three degrees of difficulty. Let's say the Treasury, where the conveyor belt takes you past the royal tiaras, is the lightest object. White Tower, where you need to climb to the 4th floor of the exhibition, but there is an elevator - medium difficulty. The walls of the fortress are the most difficult objects. Before entering the walls, there are signs reminding you of the steepness of the steps and asking you to assess your strength adequately. For people with disabilities Movement The Tower is not an easy point to visit, but nevertheless 50% of the objects can be inspected.

Children's performances usually take place at the beginning of the path, in the former defensive ditch and in the area Waiting Point, a meeting point for excursions led by beefeaters and the issuance of audigids.

My advice: even if you have the most primitive English, follow the guard! They usually tell in faces, with jokes and jokes. Sometimes, even with good English, you may not catch some local joke, but it doesn't matter. The main thing is communication, as well as the opportunity to get into Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula, which is open to the public only during the morning service and one hour in the afternoon, but where you can go with the yeoman. You will be seated on benches and, in the silence of the light stone walls, they will tell the history of the temple ... And you will not even realize that this is exactly the church where the night guard saw a procession of ghosts in medieval clothes, leaving behind the altar, behind which later found burials of more than 200 decapitated Tower.

Right next to the church is Scaffold site- the place where, according to assumptions, Anne Boleyn laid her proud head. In general, they were executed outside the fortress, on Tower Hill. The guilty's head was chopped off, which was sent to the stake for public viewing and intimidation. Only seven of those executed managed to escape public shame: two men and five women. Of the five "lucky women", three were queens: Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Jane Gray. The first two were sent here by the husband of Henry VIII, the latter suffered at the hands of his daughter Mary the Bloody, who fought for the throne. Now at this place there is a monument made of light turquoise glass in the form of a pillow with a dent from the head.

Tower green- a small lawn and a habitat for ravens. There has been a legend since ancient times that as soon as the crows leave the Tower of London, the British crown will fall. There are currently six birds in the fortress. They are on state allowances, like soldiers, they are smart and can even repeat the words spoken by the Keeper of the Crows. The birds are marked with ribbons of different colors, and the fly wings are trimmed to avoid escaping. However, this does not exclude cases of AWOL: one raven got out into the city, the second bird was caught already in Greenwich.

White tower- the first stone building that appeared on the territory of the Tower and served as a home for the royal family, a prison and a warehouse. The tower is currently hosting interactive exhibitions. One of them (Dressed to kill) is about the history of weapons and armor, where you can see what armor Henry VIII wore or feel the real weight of the club by lifting it. The tower has four floors, and getting to the very top is generally not so easy. To get to the exit stairs, you need to go through a long dark corridor. Believe it or not, I was alone in this hallway. And although it was a white day outside, the semi-darkness and a dim lamp at the end of the path made me shiver. Of course, I did not see the ghost, but, probably, because I ran all the way to the stairs)))).

Baeuchamp Tower and Bloody Tower- towers in which prisoners were also kept. In the first tower, you can still see wall paintings scratched by prisoners. The Bloody Tower is famous for the fact that it contained two princes, the sons of Edward IV. The children were hidden in the Tower by their uncle, Richard III, after whose coronation they disappeared. The skeletons of two boys were later found under the stairs of the tower. At one of the Tower exhibitions, a survey is still being held: do you believe that the remains found under the stairs belong to princes? Do you believe that their uncle killed them or it was not profitable for him?

Jewel tower
Symbols of power, scepter and orb ... gilded coronation spoon, which is more than 800 years old ... Imperial crown, sparkling with the most ancient diamonds, emeralds and rubies. I have never seen such richness and brilliance of precious stones in any other museum in the world.

Many exhibits still serve their purpose. When I got to the Treasury on Holy Thursday, I did not see the huge gilded dishes from which kings have given alms for centuries on this day. There was a sign "In Use" next to it. If you come here on the opening day of Parliament, you will not see the Imperial crown. It will be on the head of its owner-queen.

The Queen Mother's crown with the famous Koh'i'Noor diamond, the crown of St. Edward, the coronation ring of Queen Victoria - all these things are collected in a long showcase, past both sides of which you can slowly drive on a conveyor belt. However, the look and shine of diamonds sometimes affects visitors too strongly, and there are often cases of quarrels from scratch.

Fusileur Museum- Museum of riflemen, located in the building where the rifle corps itself was quartered. Here are battle maps, portraits, medals and photographs of officers from the late Victorian era.

Medieval Palace- part of the old palace, where the bedroom of the medieval king was restored, inspired, oddly enough, by the legends of Merlin. Since everything is for real, then get ready for the fact that in these rooms it is very cold and damp, and the look of a fur cape on the royal bed will beckon you))). You can see scenes from the life of the medieval palace every day from 11:00 to 12:30 and from 13:30 to 15:30.

Wall walk is a walk along the walls of the Tower, starting from Medieval Palace... You will climb up the narrow spiral staircases, go out to the wall, reach the next tower and again up and down the stone steps. All the way there are signs that remind you of the difficulty of the route with a request to evaluate your capabilities. At the beginning of the route, you will come across a torture museum (especially sensitive ones can not go down, but with an abundance of medieval entourage, feelings, I must say, are a little dulled). At the end of the path, on the north wall, is the Royal Beasts exhibition.

Where to have a snack

If you are visiting the fortress on a sunny fine day, there are a couple of kiosks with soda and ice cream at your service. If it is raining and cool, you will want to eat twice.

You can have a snack at New Armourie Café... This cafe has the slogan: "Eat like the Tudors." It is arranged according to the principle of a canteen, where you collect your own food. For example: coffee costs 2–3.2 EUR (1.8–2.75 GBP), cake on average 3.5 EUR (3 GBP). Hot meals will cost 8-14 EUR (7-12 GBP). However, it is not a fact that "good English food" will suit your taste. My gray sausages and grated boiled beets without a drop of mayonnaise gave the feeling of satiety and the Middle Ages, but not a sense of satisfaction.

There is a snack kiosk just outside the Tower wall on the waterfront Apostrophe and a restaurant Perkin reveller(average bill 23-29 EUR (20-25 GBP)).

However, the Tower is located in the City of London, which is full of cafes like KFC and Nero (an analogue of our "Shokoladnitsa") and all kinds of restaurants.

Souvenir shops

I have already said that the souvenir shops in London palaces are themed. That is, in the Tower you will mainly find the famous Anne Boleyn necklace and tapestry pillows.

• Tower of london- a fairly large gift shop on 2 floors, which is located outside the fortress in the Welcome Center. That is, you won't need a ticket here. Which is convenient, because if you decide to find a medieval souvenir the day after your visit to the Tower, then you are sure to come here. The Queen's “favorite” teas for 12.76 EUR (11 GBP), medieval toy armor for 23 EUR (20 GBP), tapestry pillows with knights, beautiful ladies and heraldic lions for 46 EUR (40 GBP).
• Beefeater shop is located next to the audio guide pick-up point and is inspired by the Tower Guards. Toy yeomen for 17.4 EUR (15 GBP), travel guides from 5.8 EUR (5 GBP) and other souvenirs at your service.
• Jewel house shop located next to the Royal Treasury. Boleyn pearl necklace for 58 EUR (50 GBP), recently available with any letter of the alphabet, gold-plated pendant in the form of a Tudor rose for 29 EUR (25 GBP), Elizabeth coronation earrings (Swarovski crystal) for 46 EUR (40 GBP) - for girls there is where to spend an extra hour in the fortress.
• White Tower shop more child-friendly: toys, books, coloring books, armor and swords - all from 11.6 EUR (10 GBP).
• Ravens shop is located near Tower Green, the habitat of the ravens, and, accordingly, is full of souvenirs with them. Toy black birds, pencils with feathers, books about crows from 1.74 EUR (1.5 GBP). Buy a memory mug with a smart bird for 17.4 EUR (15 GBP) and don't forget about the “magic mirrors”. These are two screens in which you are reflected as in a real mirror, only in one you will be given a crown, and in the other - knightly armor. It is not very convenient to take pictures of yourself, but it is very funny and a great free souvenir!

Finally

Despite its sinister history, the Tower of London is quite an interesting and picturesque place. After walking around the castle, you can go to the green embankment to the pier and have a bite to eat, watching from the bench the rather dense traffic along the Thames. If you still have strength left, you can climb Tower Bridge.

Of course, from the height of the Bridge, the Tower may seem like a toy fortress lost among glass skyscrapers and dark red Victorian buildings, but for you, who managed to immerse yourself in the world of medieval London in these few hours, it will never be just a small castle made of light brick.

- one of the main attractions of London. Medieval fortress, serving at different times as a prison, and a mint, and a treasure store, and even a zoo. The castle is included in the UNESCO list.

Tower Castle history

The fortress was not built from scratch, long before the construction on the site of the future castle people lived and there were fortifications. There were found traces of people living in the Iron Age. Before the Roman invasion, these places were located in Celtic times, and already the Romans built a wooden fort here. Then, after the departure of the Romans, the invasion of the Saxons began, to protect against which a stone wall was already built. Well, then the story of the very fortress begins, which is now located not far from the center of London.

Early history

The Tower of London was founded by King William I the Conqueror. After the conquest of the Anglo-Saxons, he began the construction of stone fortresses, the first of which was the Tower. The castle was located in the south of what was then London, one side overlooked the Thames. The place for the construction was not chosen by chance, earlier one of the Roman forts was located here, parts of it were used in the Tower.

Then the size of the fortress was much smaller, initially the central tower was erected, which later became a citadel. And at the time of construction, the stone tower was surrounded by a palisade, an earthen rampart and a moat. The fortress walls were completed later.

It is believed that the Tower began to be built in 1078, this date, although inaccurate, is confirmed by both carbon analysis and excavations and documents. The exact date of completion of the construction is not known, but it is assumed that the Bela Tower was completed no later than 1100.

The White Tower gets its name from the color of its walls in 1240.

The Tower of London combined several important functions. In addition to direct military defensive significance, the castle also acted as a symbol of the new power. The tower, which was built on a hill, very high for that time, was visible from all over London, which inspired fear in the recently conquered Anglo-Saxons. Presumably, the Tower was also the permanent residence of William the Conqueror. Well, the fortress began to fulfill its most famous role, prison, from the first years of its construction. The first known prisoner is Ranulf Flambard, advisor to William II and Bishop of Durham. The next king, Henry I, arrested and placed him in custody, but a funny thing happened - Flambard became not only the first prisoner, but also the first fugitive from the Tower.

First expansion

The structure of the fortress remained unchanged until the reign of Richard I the Lionheart. There are bookkeeping documents by Lord Chancellor William Longchamp about the allocation of funds for the modernization of the Tower, dated to about 1189 and 1190. Then curtains were built and a moat was dug, which they unsuccessfully tried to fill with water from the Thames.

The new system of fortifications was tested quite quickly - already in 1191 the Tower was besieged for the first time. The younger brother of Richard I - Prince John, who later became the king known to us as John the Landless - broke his promise not to enter England and laid siege to the castle in which Longchamp took refuge. However, then no serious battles happened, the siege lasted 3 days and Longchamp decided to surrender to John's mercy.

The next participation of the Tower in hostilities was not long in coming, already in 1214 the fortress was besieged by Robert Fitz-Walter, the leader of the barons who rebelled against the king. But John preferred negotiations to war, signed the Charter and the siege was lifted.

Second extension

The following kings of England took an active part in the modernization of the Tower, in particular, Henry III invested in it for 11 years, from 1216 to 1227, a lot of money. The king at that time had a strained relationship with the barons and, fearing another war for the throne, decided to build the most powerful and impregnable castle in Great Britain. At the same time, Henry did not forget about his own comfort, most of the funds went to improving the interior decoration of the citadel. It was during the reign of Henry III in 1240 that the Tower was painted white.

Everything that was built in the Tower under Henry III is now called the "courtyard" of the fortress.

But the king did not forget about the military significance of the Tower, since 1238 the fortress was significantly expanded. On the land side, a new defensive perimeter was built and, finally, a full-fledged moat was dug. At that time, the contradictions between the king and the barons intensified, another civil war began and the Tower passed from hand to hand, but without fighting - but as a result of treaties and their violations. The next full siege of the fortress began in April 1267, Count Gilbert de Clair tried to take the castle, but he failed and he soon retreated, and peace reigned in England. The king died, his son, Edward I, ascended the throne, who took up the Tower even more actively.

The new king had a great experience of sieges, gained in the Crusade, he was also afraid of civil wars, so a lot of money was allocated for the modernization of the castle. This time, almost the entire amount was spent on improving the defensive structures - a new wall with a large number of loopholes was erected, two new bastions (in the north-west and north-east), the moat was expanded to 50 meters and still filled with water. The entrance from the south was moved to the southwest and a barbican was built to protect it, and the old gate was replaced by the brick tower of Beauchamp. Edward realized that he might find himself in a long-term siege, so two watermills were built in the Tower for greater autonomy.

Edward's global enhancements are now considered the castle's “outer court”. It was also under Edward that animals began to be kept in the Tower - lions.

Both kings, Henry III and Edward I, completed the Tower almost to its modern appearance. Of course, not all buildings have survived, but the bulk of the fortifications have survived to this day and are now accessible to tourists.

Middle Ages

For some time, the Tower stops participating in military conflicts. More prisoners get here, for the first time a woman is imprisoned within the walls of the castle. The Tower becomes the main prison for noble persons.

But Edward II severely launched the Tower, so that the captive nobles were not very comfortable in it. Although the number of captives increased thanks to the beginning Hundred Years War... As a result, Edward III allocated funds to renovate and repair the remaining impregnable fortress.

The time of peace came to an end and the next king of England, Richard II, had to hold a siege in the Tower. True, then only the rebellious peasants besieged it, but when the king came out to negotiate with them, they rushed inside, completely without resistance from the defenders, plundered the treasury and executed several people close to the king. The situation repeated itself 6 years later, but then it did not come to a full-fledged siege, the king simply waited out the riots inside the castle.

The real war in England began in the second half of the 15th century, it is known to us as the War of the White and Scarlet Roses. Then the Tower of London was once again sieged. Despite the active use of artillery, the besiegers only managed to damage part of the buildings, but did not capture the fortifications. The siege was lifted when King Henry VI was captured. However, he soon regained power, but not for long, Henry was placed in the Tower already as a prisoner, and then executed. Although there is no exact evidence of this, it is the execution of Henry VI that is considered the first high-profile execution within the walls of the Tower.

And in 1483, a truly terrible event took place within the walls of the Tower. The heirs to the throne, the juvenile princes Edward and Richard, were imprisoned in the castle by their uncle Richard III, who had declared himself king. Both princes disappeared without a trace, most likely they were killed.

But the Tower had already begun to lose its military significance, although they tried to strengthen it to resist artillery, in general it was a fortress too outdated for military affairs. Also, the use of the Tower for applied purposes - as warehouses, office, etc. - made it impossible for monarchs to live within its walls.

At the beginning of the XIV century, a tradition arose - all monarchs began the coronation procession from the Tower and ended it at Westminster Abbey. Then, when the rulers stopped permanently living in this castle, the tradition of spending the night before the ceremony was added to it. The last king to follow this rite was Charles II, who was crowned in 1660. But the castle was in such a terrible state that the future king did not dare to stay there for the night.

During the Tudor rule, the Tower was actively used as a prison. It became a place of imprisonment for many famous personalities such as Thomas More, Elizabeth Tudor, Anne Boleyn, Guy Fawkes and many others. Often prisoners were publicly executed, this took place on a hill nearby, a total of 112 people were killed there. But sometimes the sentence was carried out inside the castle, this affected seven people, including three queens, the most famous of whom is Anne Boleyn. Now a memorial sign has been installed in revenge of the execution.

The further fate of the Tower

In the XVII, XVIII and XIX centuries the fortress no longer performed any military functions. The last time they tried to strengthen it at the end of the 18th century, fearing Scottish uprisings, but to no avail. And the attempt to renew the crumbling ditch led to an outbreak of cholera among the garrison.

At this time, the Tower was used as an armory, and as a quartering site for the London garrison, and as the headquarters of the artillery troops, and as a royal menagerie. All citizens could look at the animals, access was opened by Queen Elizabeth I.

The entrance fee to the zoo was charged in an interesting way. You could either buy a regular pass for three halfpenny, or hand over a cat or a dog to feed the lions.

During the First World War, the Tower was returned to the function of a prison, and then a scaffold. Eleven German spies were shot within its walls. The Second World War also left its mark on the history of the castle. Firstly, the arrested Rudolf Hess was placed here, and secondly, more than a hundred arrested people passed through the Tower, who were then sent to the camps. And then in the castle the last person was executed - the spy Joseph Jacobz. But this is not all, the British military considered the fortress as the basis for creating a long-term defense if the German army landed in London, but, fortunately, it did not come to this, the Red Army, with the support of the allies, won the Second World War.

The last prisoner was beheaded in the Tower (more precisely, on a hill nearby) in 1747, and the last person executed in general was the already mentioned spy Jacobs. And the last prisoners of the fortress were London gangsters - the Cray twins. They went to jail in 1952.

Already in 1946, the Tower of London reopened its doors to visitors. Today, in addition to the walls themselves, which have absorbed almost a thousand-year history, tourists can see a collection of weapons, jewelry, and many antiques.

Tower Guards

The Tower has two special, living landmarks - the guards and the crows. It is worth noting that the Tower is still considered the official residence of the monarch, and no one has removed the functions of a fortress and a prison from it. So in the castle guards are constantly on duty, yeomen, who are called "beefeaters".

The word "beefeater" literally translates as "eating meat" or "meat eater." The main version of the origin of the nickname is that the garrison of the castle always received very large food rations with a huge amount of meat, which even some kings were surprised at.

They are responsible for guarding the castle, keeping the regalia and overseeing the prisoners who have not been in the castle for a long time. But in fact, the guards perform various ceremonial functions, in particular, the daily Key Ceremony - the solemn closing of all the gates of the castle, and also take on the role of guides. Although all beefeaters are military.

These guards appeared in 1485, thanks to Henry VII, a representative of the Tudor dynasty. Now 38 guards are on duty within the walls of the Tower, all of them wear historical clothing from the end of the 15th century with the coat of arms of the Tudor house.

Only a retired military man who has served in the army for at least 22 years, received a special award for length of service, and had the rank of senior non-commissioned officer or higher can become a beefeater. At the same time, there was an interesting incident - the sailors did not have the right to serve in the Tower, since they swear not to the crown, but to the Lord of the Admiralty.

But Elizabeth II changed this order, giving the post of lord to her husband - Prince Philip, who, as you know, was a sailor and went through the entire Second world war... As a result, the first sailor entered the service in the Tower in 2011.

In 2007, a woman was able to become a beefeater for the first time. She met all the requirements, because the appointment was legal. But there was an unpleasant incident - after 2 years, three of the guards were put on trial for "harassment", one was acquitted, but the other two were dismissed.

Tower Ravens

The six ravens are the castle's second living attraction and an age-old tradition. In the Tower, for various reasons, crows have always lived and the legend has been led that when the crows leave the Tower, the British monarchy will also fall. According to the most common version, King Charles II issued an interesting decree, according to which at least 6 crows must always live in the castle, and so that they do not fly away, they should clip their wings. So it was or not, but this tradition has been supported for a long time.

Often more than six crows live in the castle, at the moment there are nine of them:

• Bran (male, 2008);
• Porsche (female, 2008);
• Erin (female, 2006);
• Merlin (female, 2004);
• Munin (female, 1995);
• Khagin (female, 2008);
• Rocky (male, 2010);
• Grip (men, 2012);
• Jubilee (male, 2012).

One of the beefeaters, who also bears the title of Ravenmaster, is in charge of leaving. All birds get a rich diet of 170 grams of meat per day, not including rats, which they themselves catch.

Fun fact: the crow Munin once escaped from the Tower and was on the run for 5 days until vigilant citizens found him in a park in Greenwich.

Usually ravens live for 10-15 years, but in captivity their lifespan is much longer, one of the Tower ravens lived for 44 years. A replacement for a dead raven is found in nurseries or someone from their offspring is taken. At the same time, crows are not guaranteed lifelong residence in the castle, some birds in the literal sense of the word were fired for misbehavior. For example, in 1986, George the crow was sent to the zoo for attacking a television antenna.

Tour of the Tower

The Tower of London, as one of the most famous landmarks in Great Britain, attracts many tourists. For those who come to London for the first time, a visit to this castle is always included in the excursion program. The London authorities are well aware of this, because the Tower houses many interesting exhibitions, and the formal guards, the yeomen, wear medieval clothes and act as tour guides.

Crown treasures

One of the main permanent exhibitions, which has been operating since the 17th century, is an exhibition of the ceremonial treasures of the British monarchy. Visitors can see crowns, royal sceptres, mantles, and unique precious stones.

These are not just museum exhibits, these are real royal regalia, which are still used in various rituals.

Row of Kings Exhibition and Armor Exhibition

The Tower of Kings is considered by many historians to be one of the oldest exhibitions in the world. These ten life-size models of equestrian knights, each depicting one of the English kings, were created at the end of the 17th century. Since then, the exhibition has been supplemented with several new riders, and in its current form has been merged with the museum of armor.

Now the exhibits are in the White Tower Armory and are the main permanent exhibition of the Tower. In addition to equestrian warriors, tourists can see original samples of tournament armor of kings, among which the gilded armor of Charles I stands out.

But what kind of armor can be without weapons? In the same room, dozens of weapons are collected - from swords, sabers and rapiers to firearms from different times, including artillery.

Medieval life

Given that the Tower was also a permanent royal residence, it should contain many rooms for the king, his guests and servants. Unfortunately, this is not entirely true - the original palace house, where the monarchs lived, was destroyed long ago, and the rest of the rooms, which were located even in the towers, did not retain the original interiors.

But during the reconstruction, various interiors of the Middle Ages were recreated in some rooms of the fortress. In this case, all available historical materials were used, so that the image turned out to be quite accurate.

For example, in the former reception room for guests, in the tower of St. Thomas, the royal bedroom has now been recreated, and in the basement of another tower, where King Henry III held meetings, there is a reconstruction of the throne room. A separate exposition of elements of medieval life is presented.

Royal Menagerie

Although the animals were transported to a normal zoo 150 years ago, the memory of them remained in the Tower. First of all, visitors can see sculptures of various animals that are installed in many places. In addition, an exhibition has been opened in the Brick Tower that tells about the history of keeping the animals donated to the king in this fortress.

Chapel of Saint Peter in Shackles

Any fortress included a place for performing religious rituals and a chaplain who was constantly in the service. The Tower is no exception; on its territory there is a church founded in the XII century and rebuilt in 1520.

It was in front of the chapel that the heads of the prisoners were cut off, for whom they did not want to arrange a public execution. Now there is a small memorial, and the chapel itself is famous for its organ, collected in the 17th century.

In the 19th century, with the development of firearms, flintlock guns appeared. They began to equip the troops, which were named "fusilers". One of these regiments was at one time the garrison of the Tower and, formally, remains so to this day, although, of course, they have long been unarmed with fuzels and are stationed elsewhere.

But in memory of them, an exposition was opened, which acquaints tourists not only with the history of a particular regiment, but in general tells about the time that replaced the knightly era. Among the exhibits are weapons, soldier's and officer's uniforms, awards, household items.

Key ceremony

A tradition that has existed for almost 700 years and is also a kind of attraction. This is a special ritual when the Yeomen, the Tower's guards, solemnly close all gates for the night.

The ceremony starts at exactly 21:53, but it is not so easy to see it. Although those who wish are allowed to watch and this is even free, the number of viewers is very limited and you need to sign up for the presence several months in advance.

Tower on the map

Information for visitors

How to get there

Tower of London Photos

The Tower fortress was founded at the beginning of the 11th century, during the conquest of the English lands by William I. It was a powerful defensive structure, built in the form of a high four-story tower, inspiring awe and fear to the townspeople. Later, the Tower fortress became famous as a prison for imprisoning dignitaries and as an ominous place of public executions.

In addition, throughout its history, it served as the palace of monarchs and the Mint, an archive and an observatory were located here, military equipment was kept and there was a menagerie.

The Tower Fortress consists of several buildings from different times, around which two rows of wide fortress walls with towers are built. This is one of the oldest buildings in Great Britain, which holds a special place in its history and is included in the list of the main attractions of London.

How to get to Tower Fortress

Fortress Tower is located in east London, on the north bank of the River Thames.

• Fortress address - НМ Tower of London, EC3N
• The nearest metro station is Tower Hill.

Opening hours of the Tower Museum in 2019

• From March 1st to October 31st
  • Tuesday to Saturday - 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • Sunday and Monday - 10:00 am to 5:30 pm
• From November 1st to February 28th
  • Tuesday to Saturday - 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
  • Sunday and Monday - 10:00 am to 4:30 pm
• Entrance closes half an hour before closing
• Weekends - from 24 to 26 December and 1 January
• It is worth taking at least 3 hours to view all expositions. V summer period and especially on days school holidays(from July 15 to September 3) the influx of visitors is especially great. To avoid queues, you need to arrive as early as possible, preferably at the opening of the ticket office. It is highly recommended to pay for tickets on the official website to avoid the queue at the ticket office.

Ticket prices for Fortress Tower in 2019

When purchasing your ticket, you will be asked to make a donation to the Historic Royal Palaces charity. If you do not want to make a donation, then when making a purchase on the site, do not check the box "Your donation helps". When buying at the checkout, you must say "No donation" or "Without donation". The following is the cost of the ticket without donation

• Cost when buying on the site
  • Adults - £ 24.70
  • Children 5-15 years old accompanied by an adult - £ 11.70
  • Students and over 60s - 19.30 pounds
  • Family ticket for one adult and up to three children up to 15 years old - 44.40 pounds
  • Family ticket for two adults and up to three children up to 15 years old - 62.90 pounds
• Cost upon purchase at the checkout
  • Adults - £ 27.20
  • For children under 5 years old - free
  • Children 5-15 years old accompanied by an adult - £ 12.90
  • Students and over 60s - £ 21.30
  • Family ticket for one adult and up to three children under 15 - £ 48.90
  • Family ticket for two adults and up to three children up to 15 years old - 69.20 pounds

Construction history

The Tower Fortress was built in several stages. It is officially believed that it was founded by King William I - the Conqueror, who immediately after the capture of English lands began to build defensive castles here. In 1078, on the site of a wooden Roman fort, by his order, the Tower was erected - a huge quadrangular fortress measuring 32 by 36 meters and about 30 meters high.

Later, the darkened walls of the building were whitewashed and the fortress was called the White Tower.

Under King Richard the Lionheart, several more towers and two rows of fortress walls were built, and a deep moat was dug around it, over which a drawbridge was thrown. So the fortress became one of the most impregnable structures in Europe.

The most recent buildings of the citadel date back to 1377.

When the castle lost its defensive significance, the drawbridge was rebuilt into a stone one, and in 1843 the moat around the fortress was filled up and a lawn was laid out in its place.

Tower prisoners

The fortress was first used as a prison in 1100. The first prisoner was Bishop Ralph Flambard, who occupied spacious apartments here and ate all kinds of food. However, after he was handed a rope in a jug of wine, he managed to escape from the place of his imprisonment.

After 150 years, the next prisoner was Griffin, Duke of Wales, who crashed while trying to escape from the castle.

Dignitaries became prisoners: the kings of France and Scotland, priests and aristocrats, young princes - Edward V and his brother Richard. Most of the prisoners were accused of treason or were imprisoned for their religious beliefs.

During World War II, spies and dangerous criminals were located here, the most famous of which is Rudolf Hess, a friend and deputy of Adolf Hitler, who flew to England in the midst of the so-called air war with Germany. After introducing himself as the personal envoy of the Fuhrer, he proposed to the British government to make peace with Germany. In response to this proposal, Churchill ordered Hess to be placed in the Tower. For this act, the Minister of Propaganda of the Third Reich, Goebbels, called Hess "a madman living in the captivity of illusions."

The last prisoners were gangsters, twin brothers Ronald and Reginald Cray, who were in prison until 1952.

Tower executions

The Tower is known for its brutal executions. Several thousand people were imprisoned here, and 5 people were executed on the territory of the fortress: two men and three female queens: sixteen-year-old Lady Jane Gray, who was on the throne for nine days, Anne Boleyn - the second wife and Catherine Howard - the fifth wife of King Henry VIII ...

Most of the prisoners were executed in public on a hill located next to the fortress, where a crowd of people eager for spectacles gathered. The burial place of all executed were the cellars of the fortress, where the remains of 1,500 prisoners are buried.

The last execution took place in 1747.

During the First World War, German spies were kept in the castle and then shot.

After visiting the museum, you can go to Tower Hill, where the executions were carried out. Now a memorial complex has been erected there in memory of the decapitated victims.

Tower Zoo

At the end of the 12th century, John Landless came to power in England, who gave part of his powers to parliament and laid the foundation for a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Instead of prisoners, he settled lions in the fortress and the sinister era of the Tower ended.

Soon, other animals appeared in the castle for the amusement of the king and his retinue: a polar bear and an elephant, leopards and exotic animals. Under Elizabeth I, the castle became a real zoo, which was open to visitors.

In 1830, all the animals were transported from the Tower to the rebuilt new zoo in Regent's Park.

In memory of that time, tourists will be able to see animal sculptures made of wire.

Tower Museum

Currently, the castle houses the Memorial museum complex, which displays weapons, a collection of jewelry and other historical values.

Among the exhibits are crossbows, hunting and tournament spears, knightly armor and medieval weapons.

The treasures of the British Empire are guarded by special caretakers. You will see 12 royal crowns, 11 of which are gold and one is platinum, a scepter adorned with precious stones, the famous, largest in the world, cut diamond Cullian I, as well as other regalia.

But the most unusual attraction is the ravens, which should not be confused with ordinary ravens.

Ravens of the Tower of Fortress

In England there is a legend that if the crows are not here, the monarchy in the country will collapse. The British remember this legend and believe in it.

Therefore, a special royal service is organized in the citadel, which takes care of the birds: experienced officers maintain their numbers, monitor their condition. Officially, the position of such an employee is called the palace Raven Keeper.

Each raven has a name and pedigree. Moreover, both the officers themselves and the birds are on the allowance and military registration of the Royal Air Force.

To prevent the birds from flying away, their wings are clipped. But the ravens are unlikely to fly away somewhere - from such a life where they feed with veal, and sometimes rabbit meat, they are unlikely to want to fly away to another place.

Guardsmen in London

One of the colorful spectacles that many tourists rush to admire is the royal guards. Tradition to guard royal palaces appeared in 1660 and is still supported by Londoners.

After waiting for the changing of the guard, you can watch the divorce of the royal guards.

You can see this theatrical beautiful action for free, the main thing is that you need to know the time of changing the guard and take the most comfortable spot for observation.

If you walk from the fortress across the Tower Bridge to St.Catherine's dock, along the way you will see many beautiful yachts, as well as the moored legendary WWII cruiser Belfast - Belfast. It is now a popular floating naval museum.

Fortress Tower gave its name to the built much later and located nearby