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Tower of London in London

Plan your tour to Tower of London

Category
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Address
London
London
EC3N 4AB
Opening times
01 March - 31 October
Tuesday - Saturday: 09.00 - 17.30
Sunday - Monday: 10.00 - 17.30
Last admission: 17.00

01 November - 28 February
Tuesday - Saturday: 09.00 - 16.30
Sunday - Monday: 10.00 - 16.30
Last admission: 16.00
Ticket prices
Adult: £18.70
Child (under 16): £10.45
Tower of London
The Tower of London or to give it its formal title, Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress. Time was when these very words would strike fear into any Londoner. It was founded towards the ed of the 11th century, 1066 as part of the Norman conquest of England. The White Tower gives the entire castle its name and was built by William the Conquerer in 1078 and quickly came to be a resented symbol of oppression.

The structure is a complex of several buildings which are set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat. It underwent various phases of development during the 112th and 13th centuries and the general layout by the end of the 13th century remains.

Despite various uses such as an armoury, a treasury, a menagerie, the home of the Royal Mint and the home of the crown jewels of the UK, it is best known as a prison during the 16th and 17th centuries. Notable guests have included Elizabeth I before she became queen and has passed into legend as a seat of torture and death. However, despite these claims only 7 people were executed within the Tower before the 1st World War.
During the two World Wars it was again used as a prison and was the location for 12 executions for espionage.

There is meant to be a permanent resident of the Tower, the ghost of Queen Anne Boleyn who was beheaded in 1536 for treason against the King. Her ghost allegedly haunts the chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, the site of her burial, and reports say she walks around the White Tower carrying her severed head under her arm. She's not the only ghost, it seems the Tower is a very busy place. Other ghosts include Henry VI, Lady Jane Grey, Margaret Pole and the Princes in the Tower - so best plan your trip for before sunset then!
    • peech117
    • The crown jewels are absolutely stunning and there are also the 7 ravens that are permanent residents...if they leave the Kingdom will fall so I think they clip their wings. Well worth a visit if you're in town.
    • 4 stars peech117
    • Sammy
    • AN absolute must see if you're planing a trip to London. So much history has passed within its walls and it's been here for about a thousand years!!!
    • 5 stars Sammy


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