The Tower of London

The Tower of London

Highlights The most striking feature here is the White Tower, a Romanesque structure with four turrets located in the center of the courtyard. It once served as the Royal Armoury, and the second floor of the White Tower is the Chapel of St John the Evangelist, which dates back to 1080 and is the oldest church in London. Introduction In 1078, King William built the White Tower on the site of an old Roman castle. Its true purpose was merely to exert pressure on the city of London, rather than to serve as a functional fortress for actual battles. In 1285, several walled towers and a moat were added around it, and since then, this medieval defensive structure has remained largely unchanged.

Although it was once the residence of the royal family, it gradually evolved into a prison used for confinement, torture, and executions. The most tragic and dark events occurred in 1483, when the young Edward V, who ascended the throne at age 13, and his brother Richard (age 11) were imprisoned in the Bloody Tower and assassinated. Most believe that their uncle, Richard III, who later became king, was the mastermind. Shakespeare portrayed him as a hunchbacked villain.

In addition, there are stories such as the imprisonment of Elizabeth I, the torture and execution of the Gunpowder Plot conspirators, and the deaths of several spies during wartime. The Tower of London is filled with countless blood-soaked tales.

Despite being marked by a bloody history, don’t let that scare you away—the Tower still has plenty of worthwhile sights to offer.

First is the Bell Tower, where Elizabeth I and Sir Thomas More were once imprisoned. There’s also Traitors’ Gate, where prisoners were brought by boat before bidding farewell to the outside world. Inside St Thomas’s Tower, you can still see the execution sites of Lady Jane Grey and Anne Boleyn. And of course, you shouldn’t miss the Bloody Tower, where the young Edward V and his brother were tragically murdered.

Also of interest are the inscriptions carved into the walls of the Beauchamp Tower, where you can hear the voices of prisoners awaiting their deaths.

Additionally, one place within the Tower of London you absolutely must visit is the Jewel House. It houses the world’s largest diamond, the Cullinan Diamond (weighing 530 carats). There’s also the Koh-i-Noor Diamond, gifted to Queen Victoria by the East India Company. It’s a rare opportunity you won’t want to miss. Transport Take the Tube to Tower Hill Station. Tickets/Opening Hours Adult tickets cost £12.5, child tickets £8. Opening hours: April–October, Monday–Saturday 9:00–18:00, Sunday 10:00–18:00; November–March, Monday–Saturday 9:00–17:00, Sunday 10:00–17:00

London, United Kingdom