We started with the Yeoman Beefeater's tour. Again a huge crowd. Best to get in front and keep up. Our yeoman was very entertaining and made the history come alive. We missed the very opening of the tour, but not much of it. It is probably best to start with this tour and then explore on your own. Our guide in very dramatic fashion described the death of one man by sword. Apparently the swordsman was not very accurate, so it took about 4 attempts to finish the man off (bad aim- first in 1 shoulder, then the other, then the back, then the neck but not completely). Pretty gruesome! We as a group basically stayed outside of buildings except for the church. Inside the church you cannot take pictures. Ann Boleyn was buried there. Others associated with the church are Catherine Howard (another wife of Henry the 8th), Sir Walter Raleigh (explorer during reign of Elizabeth the 1st) and more people. There is a green area outside the church with a small monument to Ann Boleyn and others who were killed publicly outside in that location. The monument is a pillow. Here is a photo. Apparently few were killed in such a public manner.
We were left to explore the towers on our own. At the beginning of the walking path is a place called "watergate" or traitors gate. Boats could come up to it and let people off at the St. Thomas Tower. It is odd to think that the royals were brought here after their coronation and then later in their lives for their execution! This tower was used as the residence for Edward the 1st and Henry the 3rd. It is important to know that this complex of buildings (Tower of London) was originally built to be residences and not prisons. In St. Thomas' Tower we saw bedrooms and small chapels right off the bedrooms. Here are photos of the water gate and inside St. Thomas' tower.
Nearby was the "BloodyTower" where 2 young princes (heirs to the thrown) were taken and "gotten rid of". Nobody knows who murdered them. Later their skeletons were found in a trunk in the White Tower. The princes were a threat to Richard the 2nd getting on the throne. Maybe he ordered their murder. Here is the outside of the Bloody Tower.
In one of the towers there was graffiti left by some of the prisoners up there. Some of it was images and some writings. Here is a sample.
Sir Walter Raleigh had a room in one of the towers. He was there a long time. I believe his wife and children were there too with him. He was in and out of the Tower. He had been let out to explore again, but bothered the Spanish so Queen Elizabeth the 1st ordered him killed. Here was his room.
Of course the Crown Jewels are the main attraction. The line was long, but moved. Best to try late in the afternoon. No photos can be taken inside. There were the usual orbs and scepters, royal dishes( my favorite the impressive containers to hold salts and spices) etc. There was a queen's ring but the jeweler made it for the wrong finger and was too small for the ring finger. Crowns and more crowns. Yes, there was a moving walkway by the famous crown worn for coronations and the opening of Parliament every year. The crown has a fabulous huge red ruby and the infamous and priceless huge diamond (very clear in color). Of course purple cloth too. Here is a photo of the outside where you enter.
There are fine views of the Tower Bridge if you can get up high on one of the walkways between towers. You will see there is an inner wall near where you are standing and then an outer wall. Look over towards the bridge. Sometimes the bottom part of the bridge goes up (in 2 sections) to let through the taller boats.
Finally here is a picture of the compex from outside. It is definitely worth a visit here. Allow a lot of time to dodge crowds and enjoy at your own pace. We did not see everything and will need to return sometime.
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