The Tower of London is a historic castle located on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It lies at the eastern edge of the square mile of the City of London by the open space known as Tower Hill.
It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England. The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078.
A grand palace early in its history, it served as a royal residence. As a whole, the Tower is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat.
There were several phases of expansion, mainly under Kings Richard I, Henry III, and Edward I in the 12th and 13th centuries. The layout established by the late 13th century remains despite later activity on the site.
Highlights of the Tower of London
- White Tower – a keep which was often the most substantial structure in a medieval castle, and contained lodgings suitable for the king, it is one of the most massive keeps in the Christian world
- Inner Ward – created during Richard the Lionheart’s reign, when a moat was dug to the west of the innermost ward, effectively doubling the castle’s size
- Walls & Towers – Henry III created the ward’s east and north walls, and most of Henry’s work survives, and only two of the nine towers he constructed have been completely rebuilt
- Outer Ward – a third ward was created during Edward I’s extension to the Tower, as the narrow enclosure surrounded the castle
- Crown Jewels – the tradition of housing the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London dates from the reign of Henry III
- Royal Menagerie – King John (1166–1216) first started keeping wild animals at the Tower, and there are many references Royal Menagerie during the reign of Henry III
- Execution Site Memorial – Anne Boleyn was beheaded in 1536 and buried at the Tower as are many others
- Garrison – the Yeomen Warders, provided the permanent garrison of the Tower, but the Constable of the Tower could call upon other forces to supplement them when necessary
Tower of London
- Site: Tower of London
- Title: Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London
- City: London
- Country: United Kingdom
- Type: Historical Site
- Built: White Tower: 1078
- Inner Ward: 1190s
- Re-built: 1285
- Wharf expansion: 1377–1399
- Area: Castle: 12 acres (4.9 ha); Tower Liberties: 6 acres (2.4 ha)
- Height: 27 meters (89 ft)
- Location: London Borough of Tower Hamlets, London, UK
Tower of London – Map
Tower of London – 360 Virtual Tour
Tower of London – 360 Virtual Tour
Tower of London – 360 Virtual Tour
Tower of London – 360 Virtual Tour
Tower of London – 360 Virtual Tour
Tower of London – 360 Virtual Tour
Tower of London
Explore London’s Museums and Heritage Sites
- The British Museum
- The National Gallery, London
- Tate Britain
- The Wallace Collection
- The Victoria and Albert Museum
- Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace
- Courtauld Gallery
- Tate Modern, London
- Science Museum, London
- National Portrait Gallery, London
- Natural History Museum
- Charles Dickens Museum
- Hampton Court Palace
- Sherlock Holmes Museum
- British Library
- Imperial War Museum
Tower of London
Tower of London
Tower of London
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“The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.”
– Bertrand Russell
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Photo Credit: JOM; Source: [Duncan] from Nottingham, UKDerivative: User:MathKnight / CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0); Thomas Römer / CC BY-SA (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
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