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Uncover centuries of history at the Tower of London! This iconic fortress, palace, and prison offers incredible experiences. Learn how to maximize your visit, especially with the London Pass.
Recommended London, UK Travel Itinerary
My Visit to the Tower of London (Using the London Pass)
Text/Photos ©Hibubu
No matter which city you travel to, a visit to the country's royal palace is always a must-do.
In central London, you'll find the Tower of London – a fortress, a royal palace, and a prison, all rolled into one.
Its scale is truly immense, beyond imagination, and it offers a wealth of diverse experiences that go far beyond just admiring an architectural marvel.
Today, I'll be guiding you through the various experiences available at the Tower of London, structured around three fascinating themes!
You can purchase individual tickets for the Tower of London, or like me, you can make the most of the London Pass.
📍 But be aware, individual tickets are quite pricey at 35.8 GBP, which is equivalent to nearly ~$48.
Therefore, I highly recommend booking and using a 1-day or 2-day London Pass through the link below if you can!
>> Book Your London Pass Here <<
Once you enter through the Tower of London's entrance, you can pick up a free map of the Tower from the wall.
The Tower is truly massive, much larger than you might expect, so grabbing a map will ensure you don't miss out on any of its wonders during your visit.
Now, let's dive into the atmosphere and key elements of each themed area within the Tower of London!
Our first theme is Prison.
The Tower of London famously served as a prison, holding criminals and even royalty before they faced torture or execution.
The gate you see in the photo is Traitor's Gate, which was the entrance for prisoners brought in by boat.
Passing through this gate signified a fall from power, and it's said that most met their end either through execution or within the Tower's walls.
In front of this gate, you'll often find costumed staff members sharing fascinating stories. If you have some extra time, definitely stop and listen!
As expected for a prison, the Tower's dungeon section displays various torture devices used in the past. What really brought the realism to life were the illustrations showing exactly how they were used.
The second theme for the Tower of London is Palace.
What I found most striking in this section was how significant ravens were as a symbol of the monarchy.
Ravens were considered such crucial beings that there's even a legend stating, 'If the ravens of the Tower of London ever disappear, the Kingdom of Britain will fall.'
So, it's said that at least six ravens are always kept at the Tower of London,
and it was quite impressive to see them actually raising the ravens
and even giving them names.
Also, while they might not have been the royal guards of the past,
you can still catch a glimpse of the British Royal Guards on duty here.
They stand guard with unwavering composure,
periodically performing disciplined patrols.
It was quite a pleasant surprise to see the guards here,
as they're surprisingly hard to spot in the city center.
The third and final theme is Fortress.
For over 1,000 years,
the Tower of London has also served as a fortress safeguarding royal treasures.
The most iconic building that truly embodies its role as a fortress
is the central White Tower.
While it originally housed the King and the royal family,
it later served as a prison and even an armory.
That's why one of the most prominent sights inside the Tower was
the armor and battle attire once worn by kings and royalty.
It was fascinating to see real-life chainmail and armor that I'd only ever encountered
in medieval movies or games.
On the other hand, it felt truly remarkable to think that people fought in battle
wearing such heavy armor.
Beyond that, a variety of weapons used for the Tower's defense,
like cannons, were also on display.
What was unique is that some weapons were interactive, allowing you to try them out
and even take some memorable photos. Kids especially seemed to love this themed zone!
Finally, we arrive at the Tower of London's most significant area:
the Crown Jewels.
This is where various royal treasures are collected, and photography is strictly prohibited inside.
I heard the queue is usually incredibly long, but I was lucky enough to enter without any wait.
Since I couldn't take photos inside, I've included a picture of a crown replica
I took at the souvenir shop. All these crowns are life-sized, and with actual jewels embedded,
their sparkling brilliance was truly dazzling.
The treasures were excessively opulent, truly beyond the reach of ordinary people,
making it a moment where I could indirectly feel
the immense power of the monarchy at that time.
Since it's included as a London Pass attraction,
I visited the Tower of London without super high expectations.
There was so much more to see than I had imagined,
and I was genuinely thrilled by all the different experiences I could try.
Especially, the treasures I saw at the Crown Jewels were
absolutely breathtaking, so dazzling and magnificent they almost felt overwhelming!
The Tower of London is packed with enough to see and do for at least two to three hours,
so if you're using the London Pass, I wholeheartedly recommend a visit!
Even if you don't make it to everything else, please, make sure you see the Crown Jewels!
A single admission ticket to the Tower of London costs 35.8 pounds, which is equivalent to approximately ~$48. Therefore, it is recommended to book and use a 1-day or 2-day London Pass.
The Tower of London consists of three themes: Prison, Palace, and Fortress. In the Prison theme, you can see Traitors' Gate and torture instruments. In the Palace theme, you can see ravens and Yeoman Warders (Beefeaters). In the Fortress theme, you can see the White Tower and the Crown Jewels, which are royal treasures.
The Crown Jewels are a collection of various royal treasures, and photography is prohibited inside. There is usually a long queue, but the article's author was fortunate enough to enter without waiting.
The Tower of London has enough content to keep you engaged for at least two to three hours. The article particularly recommends seeing the Crown Jewels.
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