For over 900 years, The Tower of London has been standing guard over the capital. As a Royal Palace, fortress, prison, place of execution, arsenal, Royal Mint, Royal Zoo and jewel house, it has witnessed many great events in British history.

View of the Tower of London from across the River Thames

The Tower of London was originally built by William the Conqueror, following his successful invasion of England in 1066.

The Tower of London is perhaps better known as a prison. The prisoners would be brought, via the river, from Westminster where they would have been tried and crowds would wait on the river bank to find out the verdict to see if they would be treated to the spectacle of a public execution. The executioner, with his long sharp axe would stand behind the accused on the boat. If the accused was guilty he would point his axe towards the victim and if not guilty he would point it away. People knew that if found guilty there would be a public execution 48 hours later.

The responsibility for looking after the prisoners was given to the Yeomen Warders or Beefeaters (These guards, although looking very similar, are different from the Yeomen of the Guard).

The Yeomen Warders originate from twelve Yeoman of the Guards, who were once private bodyguards of Henry VIII.
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The Yeomen Warders job title is "Yeoman Warder of Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, and Members of the Sovereign's Body Guard of the Yeoman Guard Extraordinary".

In the centre of the Tower of London is the famous White Tower. It is the oldest part of the fortress and was built on the site of the Norman Keep built by William the Conqueror.

The Tower, or Bloody Tower as it is known, has been host to many famous executions and imprisonments, including those of Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, Lady Jane Grey and Sir Walter Raleigh.

Tower Prisoners

Many people have been locked in the Tower, for religious beliefs or suspected treason. Famous prisoners have included Anne Boleyn, Sir Walter Raleigh and Elizabeth I.

Many Tudor's prisoners entered the Tower of London through the Traitors' Gate.

Elizabeth I was held prisoner in the Tower for two months by the order of her half sister, Queen Mary. Mary felt that her throne was being threatened by Elizabeth, so she imprisoned her in the Tower

The curtain wall (outer wall) protecting the White Tower

As well as being a palace and a fortress, the Tower of London has also served as:

• the first Royal Armoury
• Royal Mint (where money is made)
• Royal Observatory
• Royal Zoo

Today the Tower of London houses the Crown Jewels and is open to the public as a museum.

The Crown Jewels are housed in this building

The Legend of The Ravens

Ravens have lived at the Tower of London for hundreds of years. Legend has it that if the ravens ever leave the Tower of London the White Tower will crumble and a great disaster shall befall England.

Find out more about the Yeoman of the Guard, Yeoman Warders and Beefeaters.

Where next?

You could cross the river over Tower Bridge and walk along the south bank passed City Hall.

On the south bank of the river Thames you will see among other things the Golden Hinde and Shakespeare Globe. Further up the river is the The London Eye.

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