Travel tip: The Tower of London
The Tower of London is one of the compulsory stops on a tour of London. It’s the oldest complete building in London – parts of it going back to the Normans – with a long and frequently bloody history.
There’s a lot to see, and a lot to learn about it. So make sure you take advantage of the guided tours, led by the ‘Beefeaters’ (Yeoman Warders). These guys really know their stuff.
The tours last about an hour, and leave every half hour up to 330 in the afternoon from the main entrance at Middle Tower.
Even better, once you’ve paid for your ticket to visit the Tower, these tours are free.
By the way, if you turn up nice and early, you can see the ceremonial unlocking of the Tower at 9 o’clock in the morning. The keys are brought by the duty Yeoman Warder with a military escort. It’s not the Changing of the Guard, but it’s a nice understated ceremony. And getting there early also gives you a chance to be first in, and see the Tower before it starts getting more crowded.
Photo credit: David Dennis on Flickr – this Yeoman Warder took David round the Tower
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