Tower of London

I always find it fascinating that London has such an incredible mixture of history and tradition in the face of modernity and constant change. Stand at the gates of Tower of London and you will come face-to-face with the ancient walls and in the same eye line, stare at the Shard, the Walkie-Talkie and Heron Tower to name a few. It’s one of the things that I love most about living in the city.

The price of the ticket is a little steep at £16.50 but on the flip side, it allows entry to see the Crown Jewels and you can really take your time exploring exhibits and other buildings once you get inside. History fiends, you’re in for a treat. You can climb the White Tower, hear about Norman invasions and the stories of torture and intrigue and get a sense of the world of the old Kings and Queens who ruled through the centuries. There is also a brilliant collection of armoury and information on battles and war strategy and how the Tower came under attack many times and how they fought to protect it.

I found the ravens that live inside the walls fascinating. They are so tame and a specialist Raven Master looks after the birds. As the old superstition goes, if the ravens were ever to leave the Tower, London would fall. Who knows if that will ever happen but until then you will see them a few feet away and believe me, they are not one bit daunted by humans.

One that note, definitely pick up a map and go explore  the grounds. We did just that and seeing the Crown Jewels shouldn’t be missed. The fantastic poppy tribute by the ceramic artist Paul Cummins entitled, Blood Swept Lands And Seas Of Red also had a big impact on me. The loss of human life in this war was a staggering at 888,246.  Each poppy that was planted represents each British and Commonwealth death during World War One. The exhibition was a big draw last year and you can watch a short video about the planting and what it meant for honouring those lost.

The chance to talk to guards was another highlight, there are currently 114 people living inside the walls and they have access to medical facilities and even a pub within the grounds. It is truly a self-sufficient world on the banks of the Thames. The youngest person living inside the gates is two  years old and the oldest is in their 80s. Incredible to think. Go and visit and I bet you will come away with lots of other facts and statistics.

Happy exploring,  x