Tower of London

Tower of London along the River Thames
as seen from the Tower Bridge

The Tower of London is probably best known today as the location where the Crown Jewels are kept.   However, throughout history it has been used as a royal residence, a prison, a place of execution, and even the royal mint.  The Tower is actually a castle and is considered to be one of the Historic Royal Palaces just like Hampton Court or Kensington.  Built by William the Conqueror after the Norman Conquest of London in 1066, it is a complex of several buildings surrounded by a double perimeter wall and a double moat, although one moat is dry today.  You can read a much better description about its history here.

Given the crowds we've been experiencing, we decided to visit the Tower of London right when they opened on Sunday morning at 10:00am.  I booked the tickets online the night before so we wouldn't have to stand in the ticket queue, and that turned out to be the right call.  We arrived a few minutes before 10 and after picking up the tickets at the Group Ticket window and bypassing the long lines waiting to purchase tickets, we were able to get in the queue waiting to enter the castle.  Bryan - 1, Crowd - 0.  

Where the Crown Jewels are stored

Mom's top priority for visiting the Tower of London was to see the Crown Jewels.  I suggested we do that first before the crowds built up.  Outside the building where the jewels are stored is a Disney World-style maze of stanchions and pipe that lead you in a zig zag pattern that makes you feel like the line is never going to end.  There was not a soul in that area and we walked right into the building.  Bryan - 2, Crowd - 0.

As we walked through the area where the crown jewels are kept, we learned about their history and use.  We saw coronation crowns, scepters, maces, plates, and the largest punch bowl I have ever seen -- over a meter wide and deep enough to hold 144 bottles of wine.  I'm not sure they still actually use the punch bowl because it looks like it weighs a ton and must be a pain to keep polished.  Unfortunately, they don't allow you to take pictures so I don't have any to share here.

Mom with a couple of Yeoman Warders,
more commonly referred to as Beefeaters

Once we finished seeing the crown jewels and exited the building, the Disney World-style line maze was completely full of people.  By the time we were finished with our visit, the line left that area and went down to the other end of the complex and doubled back upon itself.  If I had to guess, it would have been a minimum of a two hour if not three hour wait to see the Crown Jewels.  Bryan - 3, Crowd - 0.

Mona and I also toured and climbed through the various floors of the White Tower which is where the Tower of London gets its name.  We saw many displays of armament  and weaponry used throughout the centuries.  There is also a small chapel on the top floor that had a very simple elegance to it.  We even got roped into joining a group of reenactors who were demonstrating Christmas customs and traditions from the Norman period.  All in all a great visit on a very crowded day.  Who says you can't beat the crowd?