The Tower of London: Private Half-Day Tour Including Crown Jewels

The journey, in full

On your private Tower of London tour you will: - See the famous Crown Jewels, which are still used for state occasions today. - Visit the Royal Apartments and Prison Cells inside the Castle. - See the graffiti left by Lady Jane Grey and Sir Walter Raleigh. - Learn about the fate of the Princes in the Tower. - Hear about the imprisonment and execution of two of Henry VIII's wives: Anne Boleyn and Catharine Howard. - Visit the White Tower - the oldest part of the Tower complex built in 1066. - See the impressive armoury and learn about the Royal Mint. - Learn the Tower's history and transformation from working Royal Palace to royal mint, to royal prison. - Hear about the moat and the polar bears that no longer exist, and medieval battle techniques. - Finish your tour inside the Tower, where you can continue to explore at your own leisure. Please note: to minimise your time waiting in a queue for the Crown Jewels, we recommend booking the morning tour, which begins as the Tower opens.  Visit the Tower of London with your private guide, see the dazzlingly magnificent Crown Jewels, and learn about one of the world's most famous castles. For nearly 800 years the Tower was also England’s most dreaded prison, and in its time has held some of the most high-profile names in European history, including three English Queens: Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, and Lady Jane Grey. Despite its grim history, the castle has always been primarily a royal palace. During the Middle Ages, it was a tradition that before the coronation ceremony of a new monarch the next king or queen would spend the night in the Tower of London in preparation for the big day. It was also probably the first zoo in England, housing the royal menagerie, which visitors can see wire sculptures of today. The menagerie has been empty since 1835, but there are still seven black ravens - cared for by the resident Raven Master. Legend has it that if the birds leave, the Tower will fall. Meet the Yeoman Warders - nicknamed the Beefeaters, all of whom served in the Armed Forces with distinction. Visit the Chapel Royal and view the burial site of many of those executed in the Tower Grounds! Visit the White Tower, the armoury, the Royal Mint, walk the battlements and enter the torture chambers - a chilling experience indeed! Learn of the historical mysteries associated with the place, like the Princes in the Tower. The Tower of London is brimming with stories of kingship, romance, murder, imprisonment, and brutal execution. From medieval fortress to the guardianship of the Crown Jewels, it remains a vibrant site, and one of England’s most loved castles.