Pictures of Tower of London

a Castle in the town of London, in the county of Greater London

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About Tower of London

Historic epicentre of might and majesty, the tower has a history without parallel anywhere else in the world. With its icy past that today still sends shivers down the spine, it is difficult to believe that the tower originated as a Royal Palace, but it did.

It is one of the most important pieces of medieval architecture, and is the most visited castle in England. At its core is the great White Tower built by William the Conqueror in about 1080. He built the Tower within the Roman city walls which provided part of the fortifications.

At the time of the 13th-century the building had taken on the shape we see today, with the addition of being further fortified by two rings of massive walls with towers. These were the work of Richard I, Henry II, and Edward I, and although they have been much repaired and strengthened, they remain largely as built.

The tower has so many bloodthirsty associations that it seems impossible it was ever used as a happy Royal home. Many of history's most powerful characters stalked the Tower's corridors. It's use as a prison is well documented, the walls of Beauchamp Tower are carved with the last written words of those awaiting death, and the Bowyer Tower still contains some of the instruments of torture used on those awaiting trial.

State prisoners were usually hurried in through Traitors Gate in St.Stephen's Hill, and executions took place inside the Tower, and more publicly, outside on Tower Hill. Some of the important people to be imprisoned and executed here include; Sir Thomas Moore, Archbishop Laud, Lady Jane Grey, and Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's second wife for whom he divorced Queen Catherine and divided the church.

England's Crown Jewels are kept locked in the Tower of London as a reminder of when Oliver Cromwell tried to demolish the palace buildings, and the fact that it once served as a Royal home. The sight of these historic jewels, symbols of majesty, is simply overwhelming, and leaves all who gaze upon them breathless with wonder.

The Ravens of the Tower are a source of fascination, it is said that if they ever left the monarchy would fall. However, since they have their wings clipped this seems unlikely. In the moat visitors can see a memorial to the Ravens who have lived and died within the Tower walls.

In the White Tower there is a magnificent display of medieval arms and armour, including the famous suit of armour made for Henry VIII.

Prince Albert, Consort of Queen Victoria was responsible for restoring St.John's Chapel back to its former Romanesque beauty. The chapel was built in 1080 at the same time as the Tower buildings began.
Please see below for other recommended attractions and towns to visit near Tower of London.

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Distances and directions shown below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

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Recommended attractions near Tower of London

City Hall, London	(0.3 miles, 0.4 km)	Pictures
Tower Bridge	(0.3 miles, 0.5 km)	Pictures
Winchester Palace	(0.5 miles, 0.7 km)	Pictures
The Golden Hinde	(0.5 miles, 0.8 km)	Pictures
The Clink Prison Museum	(0.5 miles, 0.8 km)	Pictures
Southwark Cathedral	(0.6 miles, 1.0 km)	Pictures
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre	(0.7 miles, 1.1 km)	Pictures
St. Paul's Cathedral	(0.9 miles, 1.4 km)	Pictures
Tate Modern	(0.9 miles, 1.4 km)	Pictures
Imperial War Museum, London	(1.5 miles, 2.4 km, direction SW)	Pictures

All attractions in Greater London
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Tower of London

London, a Historic City in the county of Greater London (2.0 miles, 3.2 km, direction W)
London is one of the World's most exciting, cultural destinations where visitors can walk with history whilst enjoying all that...
Info | Pictures | Hotels

St Pancras, in the county of Greater London (2.3 miles, 3.7 km, direction NW)
The name of the area is taken from the boy martyred in AD 304. Pancras was the orphaned Christian son of a Phrygian nobleman who was brought up at the court of the Emperor in Rome.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Westminster, in the county of Greater London (2.4 miles, 3.9 km, direction W)
Of all the jewels in the City of Westminster, none shines more brightly than Westminster Abbey, stunning setting for the coronation of almost every English monarch since William the Conqueror was crowned there in 1066.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Piccadilly, in the county of Greater London (2.6 miles, 4.2 km, direction W)
One of the Capital's most noted places, Piccadilly sweeps uphill with handsome houses on one side and Green Park on the other.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Mayfair, in the county of Greater London (3.0 miles, 4.8 km, direction W)
Mayfair has it all, it is the haunt of the rich and famous, with elegant houses and apartment buildings that are the sole province of the wealthy.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Marylebone, in the county of Greater London (3.1 miles, 4.9 km, direction W)
Marylebone is one of London's more affluent area's, it is home mostly to the well to do, and yet only a couple of centuries ago a large workhouse was built here to give shelter to the poor and homeless, often foundlings were discovered on the workhouse doorstep.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Camden Town, in the county of Greater London (3.3 miles, 5.3 km, direction NW)
Camden town is a vibrant cosmopolitan region of London.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Stoke Newington, in the county of Greater London (3.5 miles, 5.6 km, direction N)
Stoke Newington offers visitors a diverse cultural experience, it has restaurants of all types of cuisine, plenty of pubs, clubs, shops and markets, and is sufficiently close to all the historic attractions at the heart of the City of London.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Greenwich, in the county of Greater London (3.7 miles, 6.0 km, direction SE)
The might of british sea-power and the historic town of Greenwich are inseparable. Two famous English sea-faring vessels are here, one is the Cutty Sark, a famous old clipper that shipped tea from China in the 19th-century, and the other, from the 20th-century is Gypsy Moth 1V, sailed round the world by Sir Francis Chichester.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Stamford Hill, in the county of Greater London (4.0 miles, 6.4 km, direction N)
Stamford Hill lies in the north of the London Borough of Hackney. It is a popular residential area, and home to one of Europes' largest Orthodox Jewish communities.
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All towns in Greater London
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Tower Hill Tube Station	(0.2 miles, 0.3 km)
Monument Tube Station	(0.3 miles, 0.5 km)
Tower Gateway Station	(0.3 miles, 0.5 km)
Fenchurch Street Station	(0.4 miles, 0.6 km)
London City Airport	(6.0 miles, 9.7 km, direction E)
M1 Junction 1	(7.6 miles, 12.2 km, direction NW)
M11 Junction 4	(7.8 miles, 12.5 km, direction NE)
London Heathrow Airport	(16.1 miles, 26.0 km, direction W)

Accommodation & Hotels near Tower of London

Hotel Name
Apex Hotel City Of London	(0.1 miles, 0.1 km)
Novotel London Tower Bridge	(0.2 miles, 0.3 km)
Club Quarters, Gracechurch	(0.3 miles, 0.5 km)
The Chamberlain	(0.3 miles, 0.5 km)
Hilton London Tower Bridge	(0.3 miles, 0.5 km)
Club Quarters St Paul's	(0.3 miles, 0.6 km)
The Tower A Guoman Hotel	(0.3 miles, 0.6 km)
London Bridge Hotel	(0.4 miles, 0.6 km)
Threadneedles, The City's Boutique Hotel	(0.4 miles, 0.7 km)
Sleep Inn City Of London	(0.5 miles, 0.8 km)
All of our hotels are available to book online & with special discounts