London Weekend Break

Tower of London

The Tower of London is one of London's oldest and best known landmarks. It sits to the north side of the river Thames on a spot that it has occupied continuously for almost one thousand year.

The Tower of London has had a varied and changing role during its considerable lifespan and has acted as a Royal residence, a prison, the home of parliament and the strong hold of Britain’s crown jewels.

The first origins of the Tower of London go back to the days of William the Conqueror in the eleventh century. The first tower was built of imported Norman stone and was a symbol of the new dynasties strength to its rebellious Saxon people.

More about the Tower of London below these links.

Links relating to the Tower of London

A century later the tower was expanded by the addition of a boundary wall which, with a water filled moat, was developed and enhanced by successive monarchs.

By the latter part of the thirteenth century the tower of London was established as the official home of the king and the internal tower building was completely enclosed by a large continuous and fortified wall. With a deep and threatening moat beyond the wall the building was almost impregnable and further residential buildings were constructed within it, all for royal and noble use.

In addition to the Tower of London’s original function as a royal home, its long and varied career would also see it act as a royal prison, most famously to the disappearing princes (held captive there) and briefly to the future Queen Elisabeth I.

The tower would also see the executions of various notables and would be partially destroyed by William Cromwell after the rebellion and civil war against King Charles I. The Tower would then briefly become the seat of Britain’s first "democratic" office.

Today the Tower of London is best known as the home of both the crown jewels and the large black and flightless ravens who are the Tower’s only permanent residents. As a result of myth and folk law the ravens have their feathers clipped to prevent flight as it is said that, so long as they reside in the Tower the monarch and indeed the kingdom will not fall.

The Tower of London is also famed for the colourful Beafeater guards who protect the treasures.

You can of course visit the Tower of London and see the Crown jewels although a charge is levied on entry.

The nearest tube station is "Tower Hill".