Tower of London

The Tower of London has stood beside the Thames for nearly a thousand years. William the Conqueror began the White Tower in the years after 1066, and successive monarchs added curtain walls, towers and a moat, turning it into a fortress, royal palace, prison, armoury and treasury. Today it is cared for by Historic Royal Palaces and remains one of the most rewarding historic sites in Britain, home to the Crown Jewels and to the Yeoman Warders, the ceremonial guardians known as Beefeaters.

Most visitors head first for the Jewel House, where the Crown Jewels are displayed, including crowns, sceptres and orbs still used at coronations. Go early, as queues build through the day. The White Tower holds the royal armouries collection, and the walls walk links several towers along the outer defences. Tower Green, the medieval palace rooms and the ravens, who live at the Tower under the care of the Ravenmaster, complete a full visit. Guided tours with a Yeoman Warder are included in the ticket and are the best introduction to the site's stories of prisoners, plots and executions; the last tour of the day starts at 15:15.

The Tower works well for families, couples and anyone interested in British history. Children usually enjoy the armour and the ravens, and there are audio guides available to book with advance tickets. Seasonal events add to the programme, including Christmas at the Tower from late November into early January, and separately ticketed evening ghost tours and river tours.

Allow at least two to three hours, longer if you want to see everything. Opening hours vary with the season and day of the week, so check the official visit page before you go. There is no left-luggage service and suitcases, large bags and rolling luggage are not allowed inside, so leave them at your hotel or a storage service. Surfaces across the site are uneven and worn in places and can be slippery after rain, so wear sensible shoes. Wheelchair hire, a digital British Sign Language guide and a Changing Places toilet are available.

Tower Hill Underground station, on the District and Circle lines, is about five minutes' walk and step-free to street level. Tower Gateway on the DLR is also close, while Fenchurch Street and London Bridge are ten to fifteen minutes away. Tower Bridge is right next door, St Katharine Docks lies just to the east, and a riverside walk west leads towards the City and the South Bank.