Tower of London
London · GB
Medieval fortress with the Crown Jewels and the Beefeaters.
On the map
148 Tower Bridge Approach, London EC3N 4AB, UK
1,000 years of royal history
Founded by William the Conqueror in 1066, the Tower has served as royal palace, prison, treasury, mint, armoury, observatory and zoo. Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, Lady Jane Grey and three saints were executed inside its walls; the last execution (a German spy) took place in 1941. The Tower's six resident ravens are still kept by ancient legend — if they leave, the Crown and Kingdom will fall.
The Crown Jewels
The Crown Jewels — 23,578 stones across 142 ceremonial objects, including the 530-carat Cullinan I (Star of Africa) — are held in the Jewel House, guarded by a moving travelator that forces a steady walking pace. The collection has been kept in the Tower since 1303 except for two periods: melted down by Oliver Cromwell in 1649, and stored at Windsor during WWII. Visiting is free with admission; arrive at 09:00 opening to walk through before the morning rush.
Yeoman Warder tours
The famous "Beefeater" tours run free every 30 minutes from 10:00. Yeoman Warders are former senior NCOs of the British armed forces — all 32 still live with their families inside the Tower walls, the only people in Britain who pay rent to the Crown directly. Tours last 60 minutes and cover the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula where Anne Boleyn is buried. Adult admission is £34.80 in 2026; book online for £3 off.
