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This section of our London,
England
City Guide describes the best places to visit in London's Tower Hill.
- Click the links to go directly to a
specific place or just read the page below to explore this section of
London.
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Tower of London,
Tower Bridge
The Tower of London is the premier attraction
here, although many continue on to
explore the Tower Bridge. Most travelers, are content to view the
Bridge and feel little need to see it close up.
We
provide concise details on the Tower of London/Tower Bridge below and link these to
a detailed map of the areas described. The blue numbered locations symbolized on
the map are linked back to the descriptions of the attractions so you can
click them and return to the feature's description on this page..
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| The Tower of
London is guarded by Yeoman Warders, member of the Royal Guard.
The Warders at the Tower of London are
ex-military with an honorable service record of at least 22
years. Some call the Warders by the name "Beefeaters". |
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Tower Hill
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 Tower
Hill
The Tower is one of London’s most popular attractions and for good reason.
It exposes important history, houses the Crown Jewels, and offers more medieval
armor than you can see anywhere else.
William I (William the Conqueror) started construction of a fortress
here in 1066 as part of his strategy for controlling both his new subjects in London and
depriving
access to England from the Thames by his enemies.
Originally, the section of today’s Tower
of London known as the “White Tower” was the entire fortification. The name
“White Tower” was given to the core tower when it was whitewashed inside
and out for preservation purposes during the reign of Henry III. The White Tower
is approximately ninety feet high and its walls, designed to repel ballista and
cannon balls, are said to measure fifteen feet wide at the
base and eleven feet wide at the top. The White Tower's Chapel of Saint John the Evangelist is
one of its most striking rooms.
The Tower of London as we see it today is
an amalgam of building efforts that started in the Eleventh Century and
additions, replacements and tinkering with the design occurred well into the
nineteenth century. Residences, a new palace and new fortifications were
just a few of the additions. During its history, the Tower has served as a castle,
residence, prison, mint and armory.
The Tower is, perhaps, best known for having been a prison for Princess
Elizabeth (the future Elizabeth I), Sir Thomas More (St. Thomas More), Henry VI, Anne Boleyn
(beheaded inside the Tower)
and Sir Walter Raleigh, among others. The deaths of the sons of Edward IV (a
teen-aged Edward V and his brother Richard the Duke of York) in the "Bloody
Tower" are considered among the most famous intrigues occurring at the Tower, especially since
their disappearance resulted in their “protector” (an uncle) being
crowned King
Richard III.
For many tourists, the greatest lure of the Tower is the Crown Jewels, a
lavish and interesting collection of coronation ornaments and crowns. For
others, the Royal Armories, which provide one of the best collections of
arms and armor dating from Medieval times, are a significant attraction.
Finally, consider taking one of the tours with a Tower Warder
(the Yeoman Warders) as a guide, it is one of the most informative ways to
learn the history of the Tower in a short time.
Clearly, there is a great deal to take in at the Tower and you can
easily fill an afternoon if you see all there is to experience.
For more information, visit the
Official Site of the Historic Royal Palaces
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Tower Hill
The Tower Bridge (next of the Tower of London) is one of the most
photographed images of London and was an instant hit after its construction
in the nineteenth century. The Bridge was built with elevated walkways
that allowed pedestrians to cross it while the Bridge was open to barge
traffic along the Thames. The top of the Tower Bridge is a great place for
impressive views of London.
You will have to pay for access to the
touristy “Tower Bridge Experience”, a tour that will provide more detail about the
bridge and access to the engines that move it.
For more information visit the web site of the
Tower Bridge Exhibition.
If you need information about another travel destination, try Googling our site or the Web
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Click the button above to link to Transport for
London's Journey Planner. Fill in the form for the best transportation schedule to your destinations in London.
When finished, close the window to return to ThereArePlaces |
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