Tower of London
- Address:Tower Hill, London
- Hours:Open daily 9am - 5:30pm (Sun & Mon from 10am)
- Admission:£18.70 (adults)
4:31 AM Sunday, May 27
Clear. Cool.
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The Tower of London is old, very old. The central White Tower was built by William the Conqueror after his invasion of England in 1066. Since 1485 the iconic red and black-uniformed Beefeaters have been guarding the Tower. Also crucial to security are the ravens. Superstition has it that if the ravens leave, the Monarchy will fall. Consequently at least six pampered ravens are kept in residence at all times.
These days the royal family do not use the Tower of London as a residence, although they still keep the magnificent Crown Jewels here. In the past, the Tower of London has also served as palace, jail, zoo, Royal Astronomy, and fortress.
The Beefeaters and their families do continue to live at the Tower, which is like a little village inside. And naturally, there are also ghostly inhabitants: it's no surprise considering there were 119 beheadings (the last in 1747), the mysterious disappearance of the Princes in the Tower, and Henry VIII's dreadful treatment of his wives.
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The Tower of London was not crowded the day we visited, so the "skip the line" was really not advantageous. I can see where it would be helpful on the busier days. This is a very neat tour.
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Booking through Viator was painless, easy and the best thing we could have done before traveling to London. Using the tickets once there was a breeze, and all the tour guides (especially Richard our Hop on/Hop off tour guide, and Lee the driver were awesome), along with the Beefeaters at the Tower of London were very knowledgeable and made the trip all the more worth while. I would definitely use Viator again for our next vacation!
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We really enjoyed seeing the Tower of London. Skipping the line is a plus although the line wasn't very long when we got there. We took the "beefeater" tour which is free and not only was it informative but very entertaining as well.
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The Tower of London is rich in history and sights, so plan to be here for a good few hours. Recommended are the tours led by a Beefeater - they entertain with stories and facts. For a real taste of history, attend the nightly Ceremony of the Keys. It's crucial to book well ahead for this but you'll see the locking-up ceremony that has continued for 700 years! The nearest tube station is Tower Hill.
