One of the most popular tourist destinations in London is the Tower of London, and for good reason. Its history as a royal house, prison, and execution site spans more than 1,000 years, and some of the most well-known individuals in British history have paid it a visit. Within the castle walls, there are a variety of things to do and places to view in addition to its history. The Tower of London can appeal to people of all ages, from adults to young children. Adults can’t help but be fascinated by the location’s history, which includes Anne Boleyn’s beheading and the legend of the slain Princes. Kids like to run through the castle’s courtyard and explore its rooms. And everyone enjoys gawking at the sparkling, brilliant Crown Jewels. Yeoman Warders, also referred to as Beefeaters, are the Tower of London’s ceremonial guards. They were formerly in charge of protecting the Crown Jewels and caring for prisoners housed at the Tower. They are now Tower tour guides and stand-alone tourist attractions. They have intriguing tales to share about the Tower and actually live there. They also have a great sense of humour.
Some of the most fascinating figures in British history were part of the Tudor dynasty, and many spectacular events occurred during that time period. These occasions comprised where a lot of kings and queens stayed the night before becoming rulers. The Tower of London is where the coronation procession traditionally starts. Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII’s second wife, was executed the execution of Catherine Howard, Queen 5th wife of King Henry VIII. The location of Lady Jane Grey’s entire rule, her detention, and her execution, Princess Elizabeth was imprisoned on her sister Mary I’s orders. The Crown Jewels are the ceremonial garb that the British monarch dons for official occasions like the coronation. Included in it is the Imperial State Crown, created in 1937 for King George VI and worn by Queen Elizabeth II both during her coronation and at the State Opening of Parliament each year after. Elizabeth I once wore two of the three pearls hanging from the crown.
In contrast to Windsor Castle or Hever Castle, the Tower of London is located right in the middle of London and is very easy to reach. Right outside the castle is the Tower Hill tube stop (literally at Tower Hill where most of the Tower of London executions occurred). It is also conveniently located near several of London’s other main tourist attractions, such as the Tower Bridge, making it simple to organise an entire day’s worth of activities without having to make a lot of travel.
One of London’s most recognisable structures, Tower Bridge is a bascule and suspension bridge across the Thames River. It has two Victorian Gothic-style towers that are joined by two walkways that are built to withstand horizontal forces from the bridge’s hanging portions. Each tower’s base is home to the machinery that lifts the bridge’s two sections, enabling river traffic to pass below each tower.The Tower of London, from which Tower Bridge derives its name, lies nearby.
In the latter half of the 19th century, the East End of London had such rapid commercial growth that a second river crossing was necessary. A “Special Bridge or Subway Committee” was established in 1876 to provide a solution. A total of 50 designs were submitted, but it took eight years for one to be approved due to significant disagreement.It was a plan that Sir Horace Jones, the city architect, and John Wolfe Barry had jointly created. Up until 1894, construction had been ongoing from 1886.
Tower Bridge and the neighbouring Tower of London are aesthetically integrated with Victorian Gothic design. On June 30, 1894, the Prince and Princess of Wales formally inaugurated the bridge. The bridge connected Iron Gate, now known as Tower Bridge Approach, with Horselydown Lane, which is now Tower Bridge Road. Due to the bridge’s proximity to the harbour, it was essential that it be constructed in a fashion that permits ship passage. Bascule lifters were hydraulic steam machines until 1974, when an electro-hydraulic drive system took their place. Old steam engines have been preserved as tourist attractions and are included in the Tower Bridge museum tour.The Tower Bridge is still an important crossing of the Thames and is currently in use. 40,000 people cross it every day in both directions. Although bascules could only be lifted and lowered manually at first, a computer control system was built in 2000 to allow for remote operation. A ship requesting a pass must give at least 24 hours’ notice and bascules are raised about three times per day. Walkways that had been shut down in 1910 were reopened in 1982 as part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition. The Tower Bridge Exhibition is housed in the towers, walkways, and Victorian engine rooms of the bridge and uses images, exhibits, and films to tell the history of the structure.
More than 2.3 million objects representing a mix of history, art, and design are kept in the vast collection at the Victoria & Albert Museum. The amazing displays span over 5,000 years of human civilisation and include relics from Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia. The museum is situated in London’s museum area. Highlights include one of the largest collections of post-classical sculpture in the world, a painting exhibition featuring works by Boticelli, Rembrandt, and Raphael, and a fashion show featuring pieces by Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, and Yves Saint Laurent.
Visits might last anywhere from a few hours to a whole day because there are over 145 galleries. Major works by Turner and Constable, as well as the Raphael Cartoons, are among the highlights of The Victoria & Albert Museum’s collection of paintings. The show features artwork by European and British artists as well as almost 2,000 miniatures from the UK national collection. With over 300,000 photos, including creations by some of the most well-known photographers in the world, the Victoria and Albert Museum’s photographic collection has expanded since its founding in 1852 to become one of the largest and most significant in the world. This textile and apparel collection has more than 75,000 items spanning more than 5,000 years, from pre-dynastic Egypt to the present. Learn about the designs of renowned architects including Christopher Wren, who created St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Norman Foster, who created the Millennium Bridge in London. The collection contains items, drawings, and documents related to interior designs that trace the development of British architecture from the 15th century to the present day.
With a collection of more than 3,000 outstanding pieces, discover the history of European jewellery from antiquity to the present.Highlights include the diamonds Catherine the Great of Russia wore, the jewelled pendants Elizabeth I gave her courtiers, and the Cartier diamond tiaras. The fashion collection is the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of clothing, spanning five centuries. Highlights include gowns from the 17th and 18th centuries, “mantau” costumes from the 18th century, clothing from the 1930s and 1960s, and post-war fashion. A tour or a visit to the Victoria & Albert Museum with another local attraction is popular among visitors. Every day at the museum’s main gate, a number of free group walking tours are offered. There are also accessible private museum walking tours.