Time in -Tower of London

The Tower of London, an imposing fortress was built around the White Tower (the massive keep at its heart) by William " the Conqueror" - the name White Tower dates from the thirteenth century, when Henry III, ordered the exterior to be whitewashed. Successive monarchs enlarged its defences and added more buildings. In its long history, the Tower of London has been a fortress, palace and prison, royal treasury and the kingdom's main arsenal. In 1100 the White Tower was host to the first of many hundreds of prisoners. The evidence for the use of the Tower as a prison is plentiful, many of the towers have inscriptions carved by former inmates. Persons beheaded inside the Tower for treason include the following William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings (1483), Anne Boleyn (1536), Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury (1541), Catherine Howard (1542), Jane Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford (1542), Lady Jane Grey (1554) and Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (1601). Not surprisingly, the Tower of London has many "ghosts" and the reputation of being the place most frequently haunted in London State prisoners were usually admitted through Traitors' Gate in St. Stephens Tower and executions took place on Tower Hill and inside the Tower on Tower Green. All the victims executed on Tower Green were buried nearby in the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula - consecrated during the reign of Henry I, burned down in 1512, re-built in 1520 and restored in 1876. Although it is no longer occupied by the Royal Family, the Tower officially remains a royal residence and as such, maintains a permanent Guard. Two sentries are maintained during the hours that the Tower is open with one stationed outside the Jewel House and one outside the Queen's House. Henry VIII was the last monarch to use the Tower as a royal residence but monarchs continued to go in procession from the Tower to Westminster for their coronation. This tradition continued until 1661 after the coronation of Charles II. See full page feature of Henry VIII, Henry VIII and his Six Wives The tower is manned by the Yeomen Warders (known as Beefeaters), who act as tour guides, provide security and are something of a tourist attraction in their own right. Every evening, the warders participate in the Ceremony of the Keys, as the Tower is secured for the night. Apply to the Ceremony of the Keys Office, HM Tower of London, London EC3N 4AB if you want to attend. Since the Ceremony of the Keys is is very popular - book well in advance, offering three different dates and include a SAE and full names and addresses of your party. The Tower is located at the eastern boundary of the City of London financial district, adjacent to the River Thames and Tower Bridge. Summer opening times / hours 01 March - 31 October Tuesday - Saturday 09:00 - 17:30 Sunday - Monday 10:00 - 17:30 Last admission 17:00 Winter opening times 01 November - 29 February Tuesday - Saturday 09:00 - 16:30 Sunday - Monday 10:00 - 16:30 Last admission 16:00 The Tower is closed 24-26 December and 1 January (inclusive). The nearest public transport locations are: Tower Hill tube station (London Underground District and Circle lines), Tower Gateway DLR station (Docklands Light Railway), Fenchurch Street railway station (National Rail), Tower Millennium Pier (River cruise boats) and  St. Katherine's Dock (Thames Clipper commuter boats).

Tower Bridge London

When raised, the bridge is 40 m (135ft.) high and 60 m (200 ft.) wide. The Victorian machinery was powered by steam until 1976. The walkways provide stunning views up and down river. If you want to see Tower Bridge raised telephone  in advance to find out times Tower Bridge is the most recognisable and popular bridge in London and when it is illuminated at night, it is an unforgettable sight. It has stood over the River Thames since 1894. The Tower Bridge Exhibition allows the visitor to see the steam powered machinery that was used to raise the bridge decks in Victorian times and the plentiful information panels tell the story of the history of Tower Bridge. There are hand's-on exhibits and interactive models which explain how the different machinery has kept the bridge operating over the years. These days the bridge relies on hydraulics and electricity to power the Bridge lifts. There are spectacular views of up and down river from the high-level walkways that run along the top of the bridge and viewing windows that allow you an unobstructed view if you want to take photographs. Open: Daily 9.30-6 Admission charged website:-www.towerbridge.org.uk Telephone. 020-7403 3761 Nearest tube/s London Underground Station: Tower Hill, London Bridge   Tower Hill, London The first permanent scaffold on Tower Hill was erected in the reign of Edward III, but the first execution recorded here was that of Sir Simon Burley in 1388. Also beheaded on Tower Hill, were, among others, Dudley, the minister of Henry VII (1510), his son the Duke of Northumberland (1553), his grandson, Lord Guildford Dudley (1554), Cromwell, Earl of Essex (1540), More and Fisher (1535), Surrey (1547), and his son, Norfolk (1572), Strafford (1641), and Archbishop Laud (1645), and the Scotch lords in 1716, 1746, and 1747, the last being Simon, Lord Lovat. Nearest tube/s - London Underground Station: Tower Hill, London Bridge Next - The City of London

Time Line

Tower of London Time Line   White Tower started  1078 Tower first used as royal residence  1140 Becket's ghost reputed to have damaged St. Thomas's Tower  1241 Ceremony of Keys begun  c.1322 Henry VI dies misteriously  1471 The young York Princes are believed to have been murdered in the Tower.  1483 Queen's House built  1530 Thomas More imprisoned and executed  1534-  1535 The execution of Queen Anne Boleyn  1536  Lady Jane Grey executed  1554 Walter Raleigh  imprisoned in the Tower  1603-1616 An attempt is made to steal the Crown Jewels  1671 The Royal Mint moves fron the Tower  1810 Rudolf Hess is the last prisoner held in the Queen's House  1941  Fast facts about the Tower 36 Yeoman Warders, dressed in Tudor uniforms and known as "Beefeaters" guard the Tower of London. Tower Green was where aristocats were executed including 2 of Henry VIII's wives. Legend says that if the Tower's celebrated colonony of ravens ever leave the Tower, the kingdom will fall - so as not to tempt fate - their wings are clipped. Animals given to various monarchs were kept in the Lion Tower until 1834. The one-hundred-foot-wide moat was drained by order of Queen Victoria in 1843 and filled to a height of fifteen feet with oyster shells. The Imperial State Crown contains more than 2,800 diamonds. Many high-ranking prisoners often had a retinue of servants when they were held in the Beauchamp Tower. The highlights of the Tower of London include: * White Tower - Its walls vary in thickness from 15 feet at the base to eleven feet at the top. * Chapel of St. John - the best preserved Romanesque chapel in England * Jewel House - During World War II the crown jewels were moved to a hiding place that is still a state secret. During the Commonwealth period 1649-60 most of the Crown jewels were sold or melted down. * Traitors' Gate - This heavy iron and wood gate admitted prisoners that were brought to the Tower by barge - charged with treason. The Tower in Literature The Tower of London, as a place of death, darkness and treachery, is most famously evoked in William Shakespeare's play, Richard III, where it forms the backdrop of a tyrant's rise to power and the scene of the notorious murder of the Princes in the Tower, amongst other victims.