Tower of London
🤓Tours
⭐ Highligts
Crown Jewels
Monarchy’s priceless ceremonial regaliaThe Imperial State Crown, with 2,868 diamonds, was worn by Queen Elizabeth II at her 1953 coronation and includes the Black Prince’s “Ruby” and Cullinan diamonds.
📍 Jewel House, Ground Floor
White Tower
Norman stronghold since 1078Built by William the Conqueror in 1078, this 27-metre stone keep housed armouries and royal lodgings and has anchored London’s defences for nearly 950 years.
📍 Central keep, Ground Floor
Ravens
Birds tied to royal survivalSince the 17th century, at least six ravens have been kept here, cared for by a Ravenmaster, amid a legend that the Crown will fall if they depart.
📍 Tower Green, Outdoor
Beefeaters
Guards since Tudor timesThe Yeoman Warders-nicknamed Beefeaters-have guarded the Tower since 1485. Today they lead tours mixing execution tales with everyday life inside the fortress.
📍 Throughout the Tower
Traitors’ Gate
Prisoners’ dreaded arrivalBuilt in 1279 as a water gate, it later received prisoners brought by barge from Westminster-among them Queen Anne Boleyn in 1536.
📍 Water entrance, Ground Floor
Opening Hours
🤓 Fun Facts
In 2023 the Tower of London recorded about 2.79 million visitors, among the UK’s most-visited sites.
A polar bear, gifted in 1252 by Norway’s King Haakon, once fished from a leash in the Thames below the Tower.
Only twenty-two executions took place inside the Tower over nine centuries; most happened on nearby Tower Hill.
The Cullinan I diamond in the Sovereign’s Sceptre weighs 530.2 carats, the largest colourless cut diamond set in regalia.
Today’s ravens have official status and a dedicated Ravenmaster who oversees their care and diets.
