TOWER OF LONDON

Description

Essentials about the Tower of London in brief

A visit to the Tower of London should be an integral part of a trip to London. Like no other building in the British capital, the Tower is connected with the history of London and the British royal family. Due to its historical significance, the Tower of London has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988 and is still owned by the British Royal Family today.

The history of the Tower of London

“Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London,” as the Tower is officially known, is a ring castle with two fortress rings that served as a residence, armory, storehouse, zoo, garrison, museum, mint, prison, archive and execution site for English and British kings for several centuries. Originally, the Tower was built in the late 11th century as a fortress for William the Conqueror against the potentially hostile citizens of the city.

Until James I in the early 17th century, all English kings used the Tower for temporary residence. The outer walls and towers of the Tower were largely built in the 12th and 13th centuries. Despite later additions and alterations, the Tower’s layout has remained essentially unchanged since the end of the 13th century to the present day. In the 19th century, a final redesign took place, during which the walls and towers of the fortress were rebuilt in the neo-Gothic style and some buildings within the walls were demolished.

The Crown Jewels in the Tower of London

Today, the Tower houses some of the most interesting and popular exhibitions in all of London. First and foremost, of course, are the Crown Jewels, the most visited tourist attraction within the Tower. Since 1303, the Crown Jewels have been kept in the Tower of London. However, the so-called Jewel House has changed its location within the Tower several times and is now located on the first floor of the Waterloo Barracks in the inner fortification ring of the Tower.

Other sights in the Tower of London

In addition, the Tower houses the headquarters and museum of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, an elite infantry regiment of the British Army. World famous and popular photo motif are the so-called Yeoman Warders (colloquially also called “Beefeater”), the Tower’s orderlies and tourist guides, easily recognizable by their typical black and red Tudor uniforms. The Yeoman Warders also look after the Tower’s world-famous ravens. At least six of the black birds are in the fortress at all times. Otherwise, according to legend, the British Empire would perish. And as befits a fortress, the Tower of London also houses parts of the Royal Armouries, Britain’s national museum of arms and armor and the oldest museum in the United Kingdom.