Top Attractions in London-Tower of London

The London Tower is Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress, more generally referred to as the Tower of London. It’s a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in Central London, and lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, only separated from the eastern edge of the square mile of the City of London by the open space called Tower Hill. This splendid structure was founded towards the end of 1066, as a part of the Norman Conquest of England. The White Tower from which the entire castle derives its name was built by William the Conqueror in 1078. The castle was used as a prison since about 1100, despite the fact that this was not its initial purpose. Earlier in history, it served as a royal residence. In general, the Tower is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat.

The most striking building is indeed the central White Tower, with its solid Romanesque architecture and four turrets. Today, it houses a collection from the Royal Armouries, including Henry VIII's commodious suit of armour. On the 2nd floor is St John's Chapel, dating from 1080 and therefore the oldest church in London. To the north stands Waterloo Barracks, which now contains the spectacular and redisplayed Crown Jewels, including the platinum crown of the late Queen Mother, set with the 105-carat Koh-i-Noor (Mountain of Light) diamond and the Imperial State Crown. Slow-moving travelators shunt wide-eyed visitors past the collection. On the far side of the White Tower rises the Bloody Tower, where the 12-year-old Edward V and his little brother were held 'for their own safety' and later murdered, probably by their uncle, the future Richard III. Sir Walter Raleigh did a 13-year stretch here, when he wrote his History of the World.

On the small green in front of the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula stood Henry VIII's scaffold, where seven people, including Anne Boleyn and her cousin Catherine Howard (Henry's second and fifth wives), were beheaded.

The Tower of London has played a cardinal role in the history of England. Several times, it came under seizure, but taking control of the Castle was considered instrumental in the country’s defence. Since its inception, the tower had played several roles including; an armoury, treasury, menagerie; the home of Royal Mint, a public records office and the home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. From the early 14^th century until the reign of Charles II, a procession would normally be led from the Tower to Westminster Abbey, on the coronation of a monarch. In the absence of the monarch, the Constable of the Tower takes responsibility of the castle.

The peak period of the castle's use as a prison was the 16th and 17th centuries, when many figures that had fallen into disgrace, such as Elizabeth I before she became queen, were held within its walls. This use has led to the phrase "sent to the Tower". Despite its enduring reputation as a place of torture and death, popularised by 16th-century religious propagandists and 19th-century writers, only seven people were executed within the Tower before the World Wars of the 20th century. Executions were more commonly held on the notorious Tower Hill to the north of the castle, with 112 occurring there over a 400-year period. In the latter half of the 19th century, institutions such as the Royal Mint moved out of the castle to other locations, leaving many buildings empty.

Are you considering visiting London and the U.K.? Then contact the London official visitor agency-Visit London and Partners at: 08701 566 366  visitorinfo@londonandpartners.com     

You can also contact the City of London Information Centre: Opposite St Paul's Cathedral:

City of London, Guildhall, PO Box 270, London, EC2P 2EJ     pro@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Telephone: 020 7606 3030

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