Is guide to visit the Tower of London It will help you to know one of the places with more history and essentials of the city, which we are sure, will not disappoint you.
Surrounded by a moat and located on the bank of the Thames, this castle was built by William the Conqueror in 1078 to defend London from enemy invasions in addition to controlling river traffic.
In addition, although this was not its purpose at first, this tower was used for centuries as a prison or repression measure against those who offended the crown being among its walls executed several famous people of the time such as Queen consort Ana Bolena, wife of Henry VIII.
Over the years this complex was also used as a refuge for the royal family and armory, to finally become a medieval castle and one of the London's most visited tourist attractions.
Based on the two visits we have made to this historic castle, the last one during our month-long trip to London, we show you what are for us the best ways to visit the Tower of London, how to get there, prices, schedules and how to book tickets.
How to arrive and schedules
The best way to get to the Tower of London, located very close to the famous Tower Bridge, is to take the yellow line (Circle) or the green (District) subway and get off at the Tower Hill stop, located next to the tower .
If you do not want to use the fast London subway you can take bus lines 8, 9, 11, 15, 25, 133, 501, 15B and 22B.
Visiting hours for the Tower of London are from Tuesday to Saturday from 9 am to 5:30 pm during the months of March to October and from 9 am to 4 pm, the rest of the year. Sundays and Mondays always open at 10am. The last admission is half an hour before closing.
Tower of London
Tickets to the Tower of London
Tickets to the Tower of London, declared Unesco Heritage in 1988, can be purchased directly at the box office or online in advance.
The price of the Tower of London, if you buy the ticket at the box office, it is about 28 euros (depending on the change) and generally, you must queue, especially if it is a weekend or high season.
In case you want to save time, a good option is to book this ticket in advance with which you will only have to make a small queue at the access to the tower, avoiding the ticket office.
On our last trip to the city we entered the tower showing the London Pass, a tourist card that includes this entrance and the other 80 attractions such as the London Bridge, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, the tourist bus , The Shard viewpoint and the Thames cruise.
For more information about this card you can consult this London Pass post.
Castle interior
Places to see in the Tower of London
The visit to this castle, included in the list of essential places to visit in London and in the one of the best things to do in London, can take you between two and three hours.
We recommend arriving at the tower early in the morning to visit the castle with fewer people and organized groups.
Among the most prominent places to see in the Tower of London are:
- Wall: You can start the visit to the castle by touring the wall surrounding the castle and passing through several important buildings in addition to 7 of its towers. Also during the tour you can enjoy the views of the Thames and the Tower Bridge.
- The White Tower: located in the center of the Tower of London is the oldest building and that gives its name to the entire castle. Inside this square tower is an 11th century chapel and an extensive collection of armor and weapons.
- Bloody Tower: It was a luxury prison, where the most important prisoners were held and in which several deaths occurred.
- Medieval Palace: This building was used by the royal family as a residence and shelter. In some of the rooms you can see a recreation with period furniture.
- Royal Chapel of San Pedro and Link: It is the chapel of the Tower of London and is the place where the prisoners executed in this most famous castle are buried.
- The Jewels of the Crown: It is the most popular place in the castle and is located inside a chamber with large armored doors where you can see some of the most valuable jewels in the world such as the Crown of St. Edward, used to crown the monarchs of the United Kingdom, and Queen Elizabeth's Crown, which bears the oldest known diamond, the Koh-i-Noor.
- Wakefield Tower: This is one of the most important towers historically and at the defensive level of the castle as well as being the tower in which Henry III lived and the place of the assassination of King Henry VI by Edward IV, in the fifteenth century.
White Tower
Curiosities
One of the most curious inhabitants of the Tower of London is the crows that the legend tells, if at any time they leave the castle, it will be the end of the monarchy. For that reason and to avoid it, one of the superstitious kings signed a Royal Decree that requires that there be always at least 7 crows inside the castle in addition to appointing a crow master, who is responsible for feeding them and cutting off their ends of the wings so that they cannot leave the walls.
Another of the curiosities are the Beefeaters, former soldiers of the British Armed Forces who act as ceremonial guardians of the Tower of London in addition to taking care of a part of the surveillance and doing free tours in English, in which they tell the most intriguing stories of the castle. Another of the occupations of the Beefeaters is to perform the ceremony of the keys in which the doors of the Tower are closed every day before 10 at night.
In addition to all these curiosities, the Tower of London has "noticed" the presence of paranormal phenomena such as that of the ghosts of former prisoners of the Tower, including that of Ana Bolena or that of Chancellor Thomas Becket.
Inscriptions of prisoners
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London guide in one day
The best offers of Flights to London here
The best hotels at the best prices in London here
Book the best tours and excursions in / from London in Spanish here
Book your Airport⇆Londres transfer here
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
London guide in one day
