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All UNESCO SitesUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Tower of London

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Background

World Heritage since
1988
Type of site
Cultural
White Tower built
1078

The massive White Tower is a typical example of Norman military architecture, whose influence was felt throughout the kingdom. UNESCO says it was built on the Thames by William the Conqueror to protect London and assert his power, and that the imposing fortress built around it, with its many layers of history, has become one of the symbols of royalty.

Founded towards the end of 1066, the castle sits within two rings of walls and a moat, expanded mainly under Richard I, Henry III and Edward I. It has been an armoury, a treasury, a menagerie, the Royal Mint and a record office, and monarchs rode from here to Westminster Abbey for their coronations until Charles II. Its prison years peaked in the 16th and 17th centuries, when Elizabeth I and Walter Raleigh were held here, though Wikipedia counts only seven executions inside the walls before the world wars.

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. 1066The castle is founded as part of the Norman Conquest
  2. 1078William the Conqueror builds the White Tower
  3. 12th–13th c.Richard I, Henry III and Edward I add the concentric walls
  4. Late 15th c.The Princes in the Tower disappear
  5. 16th–17th c.The height of its use as a prison
  6. 1988Inscribed as World Heritage

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    White Tower
    The Norman keep that gives the castle its name.
  2. 2
    Crown Jewels
    The GoGo guide starts here at 09:00, before the queues.
  3. 3
    Yeoman Warders
    The Beefeaters, who lead the tours.
  4. 4
    Walls and Moat
    Two concentric rings of defences on the river.
  5. 5
    Tower Bridge
    The bridge walkways, next door.
  6. 6
    The Monument
    Wren's column to the Great Fire of 1666, open daily with a view from the top.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

Jewels First
The GoGo guide gives the Tower two and a half hours from opening, starting with the Crown Jewels.
Tube and DLR
Wikivoyage: the Circle, District and Central lines and the Docklands Light Railway all serve the City; bus 15 runs through it.
The City on Foot
The medieval street pattern survives: narrow passages, alleys and courtyards between the main roads, and traces of the Roman wall near the Tower.
Sky Garden at Sunset
A free rooftop garden high above the City; book ahead.

The Tower and the River

From the GoGo London guide · Open the London Guide ›

  1. 09:00
    Crown Jewels at the Tower of London2.5 hrs
    The jewels and the Beefeaters.
  2. 11:45
    Tower Bridge Walkways45 min
    Across the high walkways.
  3. 13:00
    Borough Market45 min
    Lunch at the food market.
  4. 19:30
    Sunset at the Sky Garden1 hr
    The free rooftop garden; book ahead.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: Jun–Sep.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest Nov (74 mm), driest Apr (42 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Pair It With

Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance

WORTH A NIGHTDAY TRIPSAME DAYDistance not to scale · tap a site
Do These Together
Westminster is 4 km upriver and Maritime Greenwich 6 km downriver; Kew Gardens is 15 km away, all World Heritage sites.
Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 488 · Wikipedia: Tower of London · Wikivoyage: London/City of London (CC BY-SA 4.0) · GoGo London guide · UNESCO listing