{"id":17704,"date":"2024-06-03T11:04:52","date_gmt":"2024-06-03T15:04:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/?p=17704"},"modified":"2026-03-21T11:30:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T10:30:00","slug":"facts-about-the-tower-of-london","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Surprising Facts about the Tower of London"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Have you ever wondered why in English there\u2019s a word for cow and a different word for its meat, beef? Or that there\u2019s pig and pork, deer and venison, and calf and veal? And what does this have anything to do with one of London\u2019s most iconic buildings? For this reason, we need to<strong> go back in time nearly 1,000 years to learn some little-known facts<\/strong> about the Tower of London.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/1276-London_Complete-Tower-2x3-0025-e1712594229615.jpg\" alt=\"London bridge\" class=\"wp-image-13293\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Did you know? Constructed in the late 1800s, Tower Bridge was designed to be architecturally harmonious with the Tower of London.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #443d47;color:#443d47\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #443d47;color:#443d47\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/#1_Who_controls_the_tower_controls_the_country\" title=\"1. Who controls the tower, controls the country\">1. Who controls the tower, controls the country<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/#2_Its_a_zoo_in_there\" title=\"2. It\u2019s a zoo in there!\">2. It\u2019s a zoo in there!<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/#3_Royal_tragedies_royal_mysteries\" title=\"3. Royal tragedies, royal mysteries\">3. Royal tragedies, royal mysteries<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/#4_Wheres_the_beef\" title=\"4. Where\u2019s the beef?&nbsp;\">4. Where\u2019s the beef?&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/#5_Close_the_gate_pour_the_pint\" title=\"5. Close the gate, pour the pint\">5. Close the gate, pour the pint<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/#Lets_go_back_in_History\" title=\"Let&#8217;s go back in History \">Let&#8217;s go back in History <\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/#FAQ_Visiting_the_Tower_of_London\" title=\"FAQ: Visiting the Tower of London\">FAQ: Visiting the Tower of London<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/#1_Is_it_worth_taking_a_tour_of_the_Tower_of_London\" title=\"1. Is it worth taking a tour of the Tower of London?\">1. Is it worth taking a tour of the Tower of London?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/#2_What_types_of_tours_are_available\" title=\"2. What types of tours are available?\">2. What types of tours are available?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/#3_Where_can_I_find_the_best_tours_of_the_Tower_of_London\" title=\"3. Where can I find the best tours of the Tower of London?\">3. Where can I find the best tours of the Tower of London?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Who_controls_the_tower_controls_the_country\"><\/span>1. <strong>Who controls the tower, controls the country<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>And they often did so at the Tower of London. This, after all, was William the Conqueror&#8217;s residence. Throughout the history of England, <strong>whoever controlled the Tower of London, controlled the rest of the country<\/strong>. The Tower is a symbol of the division between the English elite in history and the rest of the people, the hoi polloi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though William began having the tower built in 1066, it wasn\u2019t completed until 1078. Previous to the 11th century, Norman castles were made of wood. The Tower of London is one of the first Norman fortresses to be made of stone. The White Tower, the main structure that dominates the whole complex, was the earliest stone keep in all of England.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Tower-of-London-entrance.jpg\" alt=\"Entrance to the Tower of London with a group queuing\" class=\"wp-image-20317\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Tower-of-London-entrance.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Tower-of-London-entrance-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Tower-of-London-entrance-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Tower-of-London-entrance-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Those walls and towers hide centuries of history and mystery.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The common people viewed the tower as a symbol of oppression\u2014as they were now ruled over by a foreign king\u2014and resented its presence.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s understandable why. Starting in 1100, part of the Tower of London became a prison. And amazingly, it remained a prison until 1952. <strong>Anyone who was a national security threat was imprisoned in the tower<\/strong>. During the 20th century, German spies were jailed here. The last prisoners to spend time in the Tower were the Kray brothers in 1952, identical twins who were involved in organized crime. And even though the tower has an ominous reputation, only seven people were actually executed here before the 20th century.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to a prison, the Tower of London has also served as&nbsp; the Royal Mint, a public record office, a treasury, and an armory. It\u2019s also home to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/london\/tours\/tower-of-london-morning-tour\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Crown Jewels of England<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/The-Shard-from-Tower-of-London.jpg\" alt=\"The Shard skyscrapper seen from the Tower of London\" class=\"wp-image-20319\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/The-Shard-from-Tower-of-London.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/The-Shard-from-Tower-of-London-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/The-Shard-from-Tower-of-London-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/The-Shard-from-Tower-of-London-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Tower of London was founded around 1066, quite a contrast with newer parts of the city.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Its_a_zoo_in_there\"><\/span>2. <strong>It\u2019s a zoo in there!<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Tower of London also <strong>became the world\u2019s first zoo<\/strong>. The Royal Menagerie was the first collection of exotic animals, an assemblage of beasts from Africa, Australia, and Asia\u2014many of them arriving as gifts to the royal family. If you worked at the tower, it was not unusual to see a giraffe strolling around the grounds.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1835, though, the animal show came to an end. The Duke of Wellington shut down the menagerie and <strong>moved all the animals to Regent\u2019s Park<\/strong>, which later became the London Zoo.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today the only animals in the Tower of London are the famous ravens, which have a lore all their own. And they\u2019re even protected by royal decree. Charles II once insisted that the ravens should be removed and he was told that <strong>the monarchy will fall if the ravens leave the Tower<\/strong>. Today the ravens are taken very good care of by a person whose job is actually called \u201cRaven Master.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/ravens-tower-of-london.jpg\" alt=\"cages of ravens in an open setting\" class=\"wp-image-17733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/ravens-tower-of-london.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/ravens-tower-of-london-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/ravens-tower-of-london-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/ravens-tower-of-london-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Raven Master makes sure the ravens are well taken care of. Photo credit: Jasperdo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Royal_tragedies_royal_mysteries\"><\/span>3. <strong>Royal tragedies, royal mysteries<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The tower has not escaped its share of drama. In fact, you could say it attracted it. During the Wars of the Roses, for example, Henry VI was murdered in 1471. Twelve years later, the children of Edward IV <strong>mysteriously disappeared<\/strong> while within the tower complex. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>About two centuries later, two human skeletons were found. In 1933, now with better technology, the bones were tested and it was concluded that the skeletons were that of two male children, approximately aged 10 and 12, the same ages as the boys who disappeared in the 15th century.&nbsp; To this day, it\u2019s been said that there are<strong> two child-ghosts who haunt the tower<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The chapel within the complex is the burial place of a few famous prisoners who once spent a share of time here: <strong>three queens of England, Jane Grey, Catherine Howard, and Anne Boleyn<\/strong>. All were executed here.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Insider&#8217;s tip<\/strong>: Don&#8217;t have a lot of time to explore the tower on your own? Why not check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/london\/tours\/vip-tower-of-london-tour\/\">VIP Tower of London Tour<\/a>? In just under three hours, you&#8217;ll get a unique tour of the tower&#8217;s most fascinating sites while a knowledgeable guide tells you all about its long history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Armor-in-Tower-of-London.jpg\" alt=\"Pieces of armor inside the Tower of London\" class=\"wp-image-20730\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Armor-in-Tower-of-London.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Armor-in-Tower-of-London-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Armor-in-Tower-of-London-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Armor-in-Tower-of-London-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Tower of London&#8217;s stories and legends are fascinating.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Wheres_the_beef\"><\/span>4. <strong>Where\u2019s the beef?<\/strong>&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The constant presence of the<strong> guys in the extravagant red and black uniforms are the Yeoman Warder.<\/strong> They\u2019re also known as Beefeaters and they\u2019re the official guardians of the Tower of London. The Crown Jewels are housed here and so this group of ex-military personnel promise to keep them safe. When the grounds were also a prison, they looked after the prisoners as well.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The name \u201cBeefeater\u201d comes from the fact that <strong>Henry VII, hoping to keep his guards happy, allowed them to eat beef <\/strong>from the king\u2019s table. And as much as they wanted.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Beefeaters there today have more of a ceremonial duty. They stand around looking official but also are there to answer questions from curious visitors and tourists. <strong>Their uniforms, by the way, are not cheap: it has been estimated that they cost \u00a37,000<\/strong> (or $5,500) each.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Buildings-inside-the-Tower-of-London.jpg\" alt=\"Buildings inside the Tower of London\" class=\"wp-image-20728\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Buildings-inside-the-Tower-of-London.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Buildings-inside-the-Tower-of-London-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Buildings-inside-the-Tower-of-London-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Buildings-inside-the-Tower-of-London-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Most of the Beefeaters are happy to answer questions from curious tourists.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Close_the_gate_pour_the_pint\"><\/span>5. Close the gate, pour the pint<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As you can see, tradition is taken very seriously at the Tower of London, and one of its most long-standing rituals is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/london\/tours\/vip-tower-of-london-tour\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Ceremony of the Keys<\/strong>.<\/a> For over <strong>700 years, the<\/strong> <strong>Beefeaters have locked the tower gates at precisely 9:52 PM every night<\/strong>. Once the ceremony has been completed, some of the Beefeaters, who live at the tower with their families, perform another long-standing British tradition: they hit up their favorite pub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes,<strong> <\/strong>inside the <strong>walls of the Tower of London is a secret pub called the The Keys<\/strong>. Formerly known as the&nbsp;Yeoman Warders Club until recently, the loyal guards have been enjoying cold pints here for over 150&nbsp;years. Unfortunately for us regular folk, the pub is only open to the resident Beefeaters, who take turns as barman for two-week periods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"799\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Devour_London_Pubs-and-History_WEB-RES-0004-Temp.jpg\" alt=\"Bartender pours a beer at a tap\" class=\"wp-image-11534\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Devour_London_Pubs-and-History_WEB-RES-0004-Temp.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Devour_London_Pubs-and-History_WEB-RES-0004-Temp-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Devour_London_Pubs-and-History_WEB-RES-0004-Temp-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Devour_London_Pubs-and-History_WEB-RES-0004-Temp-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Did you know that there&#8217;s a secret pub inside the Tower of London? <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lets_go_back_in_History\"><\/span>Let&#8217;s go back in History <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On October 14, 1066, an army led by the French-speaking Duke of Normandy marched through southern England until they met with the army of Harald Hardrada, the King of Norway at Hastings. Hardarada perished in the conflict and the Duke of Normandy and his army went on to defeat the other side. This eventually elevated the Duke to the throne of England. Today he\u2019s known as William the Conqueror.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>King William, who would take the name William I, immediately began building one of the most iconic structures in England today: <strong>officially it\u2019s called His Majesty\u2019s Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London<\/strong>, or better known just as the Tower of London.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The<strong> 1066 Battle of Hastings proved to be a history-changing moment in the history of England<\/strong> and, in many ways, the history of the world. French would become the language of the elite in England and the language of the King of England for centuries to come. Hence the reason today there are different words for animals and the meat they produce\u2014the French-speaking aristocrats were the only people who could afford to eat meat.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ_Visiting_the_Tower_of_London\"><\/span>FAQ: Visiting the Tower of London<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Is_it_worth_taking_a_tour_of_the_Tower_of_London\"><\/span><strong>1. Is it worth taking a tour of the Tower of London?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Absolutely! Taking a tour is highly recommended for exploring the Tower efficiently, especially if you&#8217;re short on time. One insider tip for maximizing your visit is to book a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/london\/attractions\/tower-of-london-tours\/\">VIP Tower of London Tour<\/a><\/strong>, which covers the site\u2019s most fascinating areas with a knowledgeable guide in just under three hours. Or make it even more personal and choose a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/london\/tours\/tower-of-london-private-tour\/\"><strong>Tower of London Private Tour. <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_What_types_of_tours_are_available\"><\/span><strong>2. What types of tours are available?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a variety of tours to choose from, including bundled options for added value. For instance, the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/london\/tours\/tower-of-london-morning-tour\/\">Tower of London Tour with Crown Jewels &amp; Thames River Cruise<\/a><\/strong> combines history and sightseeing for an unforgettable experience. These tours are great for visitors who want to learn more in-depth facts and stories about the Tower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Where_can_I_find_the_best_tours_of_the_Tower_of_London\"><\/span><strong>3. Where can I find the best tours of the Tower of London?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can easily find and book top-rated tours through the official tour services. These tours consistently receive high reviews and are a great way to experience this must-see historic site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Update Notice: May 5, 2025<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Certainly one of London&#8217;s most historic sites, a trip to the Tower of London is a must when in this beautiful city. If you&#8217;d like to learn more facts about the Tower of London, make sure to check out one of our many tours, including a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/london\/tours\/tower-of-london-morning-tour\/\">Tower of London Tour with Crown Jewels &amp; Thames River Cruise<\/a> and more. <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From loyal ravens and haunting ghosts to secret pubs, come along as we reveal some fascinating, little-known facts about the Tower of London.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":20317,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[625,627],"tags":[1124,1125,1123],"ppma_author":[667],"class_list":["post-17704","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-london-city-guide","category-london-things-to-do","tag-facts-about-the-tower-of-london","tag-london-sites","tag-tower-of-london","no-featured-image-padding"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>5 Surprising Facts about the Tower of London<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"From loyal ravens and haunting ghosts to secret pubs, come along as we reveal some fascinating, little-known facts about the Tower of London.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"5 Surprising Facts about the Tower of London\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"From loyal ravens and haunting ghosts to secret pubs, come along as we reveal some fascinating, little-known facts about the Tower of London.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"WalksDevour Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/walkstours\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-06-03T15:04:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-21T10:30:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Tower-of-London-entrance.jpg?wsr\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"David Farley\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@walks\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@walks\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"David Farley\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"David Farley\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/de1fe35e0e847fbcb2ee882aab5fd9de\"},\"headline\":\"5 Surprising Facts about the Tower of London\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-06-03T15:04:52+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-21T10:30:00+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/\"},\"wordCount\":1568,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Tower-of-London-entrance.jpg?wsr\",\"keywords\":[\"facts about the tower of london\",\"london sites\",\"tower of london\"],\"articleSection\":[\"London City Guide\",\"London Things To Do\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/\",\"name\":\"5 Surprising Facts about the Tower of London\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Tower-of-London-entrance.jpg?wsr\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-06-03T15:04:52+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-21T10:30:00+00:00\",\"description\":\"From loyal ravens and haunting ghosts to secret pubs, come along as we reveal some fascinating, little-known facts about the Tower of London.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Tower-of-London-entrance.jpg?wsr\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Tower-of-London-entrance.jpg?wsr\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":800,\"caption\":\"The Tower of London stands strong in the center of the massive metropoli.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"London City Guide\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/category\/london-city-guide\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"5 Surprising Facts about the Tower of London\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Travel Guides & Blog | Walks\",\"description\":\"Blog and Travel Guides for the cities across the world\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Walks Tours\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Walks_Logo_1000px.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Walks_Logo_1000px.png\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":748,\"caption\":\"Walks Tours\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/walkstours\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/walks\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/walkstours\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/de1fe35e0e847fbcb2ee882aab5fd9de\",\"name\":\"David Farley\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/666af50a544324e4924652df271a974b\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/David-Farley.jpg?wsr\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/David-Farley.jpg?wsr\",\"caption\":\"David Farley\"},\"description\":\"David Farley is a West Village-based food and travel writer whose work appears regularly in the New York Times, National Geographic, BBC, and Food &amp; Wine, among other publications. He\u2019s the author of three books, including \u201cAn Irreverent Curiosity: In Search of the Church\u2019s Strangest Relic in Italy\u2019s Oddest Town,\u201d which was made into a documentary by the National Geographic Channel. You can find Farley\u2019s online homes at https:\/\/www.tripout.online\/ and https:\/\/dfarley.com\/index.html\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/author\/davidf\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"5 Surprising Facts about the Tower of London","description":"From loyal ravens and haunting ghosts to secret pubs, come along as we reveal some fascinating, little-known facts about the Tower of London.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"5 Surprising Facts about the Tower of London","og_description":"From loyal ravens and haunting ghosts to secret pubs, come along as we reveal some fascinating, little-known facts about the Tower of London.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/","og_site_name":"WalksDevour Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/walkstours","article_published_time":"2024-06-03T15:04:52+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-03-21T10:30:00+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":800,"url":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Tower-of-London-entrance.jpg?wsr","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"David Farley","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@walks","twitter_site":"@walks","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"David Farley","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/"},"author":{"name":"David Farley","@id":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/de1fe35e0e847fbcb2ee882aab5fd9de"},"headline":"5 Surprising Facts about the Tower of London","datePublished":"2024-06-03T15:04:52+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-21T10:30:00+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/"},"wordCount":1568,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Tower-of-London-entrance.jpg?wsr","keywords":["facts about the tower of london","london sites","tower of london"],"articleSection":["London City Guide","London Things To Do"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/","url":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/","name":"5 Surprising Facts about the Tower of London","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Tower-of-London-entrance.jpg?wsr","datePublished":"2024-06-03T15:04:52+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-21T10:30:00+00:00","description":"From loyal ravens and haunting ghosts to secret pubs, come along as we reveal some fascinating, little-known facts about the Tower of London.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Tower-of-London-entrance.jpg?wsr","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Tower-of-London-entrance.jpg?wsr","width":1200,"height":800,"caption":"The Tower of London stands strong in the center of the massive metropoli."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-tower-of-london\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"London City Guide","item":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/category\/london-city-guide\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"5 Surprising Facts about the Tower of London"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/","name":"Travel Guides & Blog | Walks","description":"Blog and Travel Guides for the cities across the world","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Walks Tours","url":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Walks_Logo_1000px.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Walks_Logo_1000px.png","width":1000,"height":748,"caption":"Walks Tours"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/walkstours","https:\/\/twitter.com\/walks","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/walkstours\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/de1fe35e0e847fbcb2ee882aab5fd9de","name":"David Farley","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/666af50a544324e4924652df271a974b","url":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/David-Farley.jpg?wsr","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/David-Farley.jpg?wsr","caption":"David Farley"},"description":"David Farley is a West Village-based food and travel writer whose work appears regularly in the New York Times, National Geographic, BBC, and Food &amp; Wine, among other publications. He\u2019s the author of three books, including \u201cAn Irreverent Curiosity: In Search of the Church\u2019s Strangest Relic in Italy\u2019s Oddest Town,\u201d which was made into a documentary by the National Geographic Channel. You can find Farley\u2019s online homes at https:\/\/www.tripout.online\/ and https:\/\/dfarley.com\/index.html","url":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/author\/davidf\/"}]}},"authors":[{"term_id":667,"user_id":21,"is_guest":0,"slug":"davidf","display_name":"David Farley","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/David-Farley.jpg?wsr","url2x":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/David-Farley.jpg?wsr"},"user_url":"","last_name":"Farley","first_name":"David","description":"David Farley is a West Village-based food and travel writer whose work appears regularly in the New York Times, National Geographic, BBC, and Food &amp; Wine, among other publications."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17704","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17704"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17704\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24426,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17704\/revisions\/24426"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20317"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17704"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17704"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17704"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksdevour.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=17704"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}