A place travelers can visit Tower of London

Reviews: Tower of London

General description: Tower of London

The Tower of London is a place to immerge yourself in London's history and get a photo with a Beefeater.
 
History of the Tower of London
The nucleus of old London is a fascinating complex with a history stretching back 900 years, used as a royal residence, prison, arsenal, mint and safe for the Crown Jewels. At the heart of this UNESCO world heritage site is the White Tower the cornerstone of which was laid in 1076 under William the Conqueror. Here you can see Henry VIII's armour and the Norman Chapel of St John (1080), the city's oldest preserved sacred building. Illustrious prisoners such as Sir Walter Raleigh and Lady Jane Grey were taken on the Thames to the Tower through Traitors' Gate. The notorious Duke of Gloucester, later crowned Richard III, had his two nephews aged 10 and 12 locked away in the Bloody Tower "for their own safety". Whether he also had them murdered is just one of the Tower's unsolved mysteries. In the Jewel Tower, a moving pavement conveys you swiftly past the Crown Jewels which include the crown of the Queen Mother (who died in 2002) which is set with the Koh-i-Noor diamond (1937), and the gigantic decorative Punch Bowl (235 kg).
 
Arrive early to avoid the crowds
Be sure to come early before the many tour groups swamp the Tower's historical spell, and join a guided Beefeater tour (every 30 min.). The Beefeaters are the traditionally privileged Tower guards. You will also see ravens with clipped wings: legend has it that when the ravens leave the Tower the monarchy will fall. A monument recalls those executed in the Tower, the last person being a German spy in 1941.

The walls of the tower - a fortress, dungeon and the home of the crown jewels - conceal 900 years of history.
 
Opening times:
Tue - Sat 09:00am - 5:30pm
Sun - Mon 10:00 - 5:30pm
Last admission 5pm
 
Ticket Prices (Sept 2011)
Adult: £18 (online rate: £17)
Child (5-16) £19.50 (online rate: £8.55)
Concession: £15.50 (online rate: £13.95)
Family: £50 (online rate: £47)
 
Full details: http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon

---