All About the Ravens at the Tower of London

The Tower of London, an official royal palace, former prison, and London landmark all in one, would be an unmissable sight of its own, no doubt. However, its resident ravens are just as interesting as the building itself. The Tower’s famous birds have been around for centuries and are, according to legend, closely tied to the future of the British monarchy. 

So if you plan to visit the Tower of London, you’ll want to make sure to familiarize yourself with them. 

But what is it that makes them so popular? Let’s have a look at the most interesting legends and facts about the so-called “guardians” of the Tower of London, and find out how they ended up in the fortress in the first place. And if you want to snap some pics of them, I’ll share tips for that too. 

Why are there ravens at the Tower of London?

While they might hold celebrity-like status at the Tower of London today, the ravens weren’t initially thought of as special creatures. 

For many centuries, they had been a common sight throughout Great Britain, including in large cities such as London. Things changed, however, when people started hunting and shooting them down. In the 18th century, the wild ravens were almost eradicated in the British capital. 

Despite killing them in their natural surroundings, people liked to keep the ravens in captivity. At the Tower of London, the birds were held for practical reasons. From what we know now, these birds of prey served as scavengers, helping to keep the buildings clean. The first resident ravens arrived centuries ago. And they’ve stayed on ever since. 

The significance of the Tower of London ravens

So what makes the Tower of London ravens so special? According to a Celtic legend, the Tower of London — and the whole United Kingdom — would fall should the ravens ever decide (or be forced) to leave the castle. 

The story goes that it was King Charles II (who ruled Britain 1660-1685) who wanted to get rid of the birds after his Royal Astronomer complained they’d ruin his business. However, the monarch was warned he’d risk the future of his country in doing so. True or not, Charles II, apparently, didn’t want to take any chances just in case. 

Instead of removing the birds, he therefore decided that at least six of them had to be kept and protected at the Tower of London at all times to ensure the kingdom’s ongoing existence. 

Tab over to the second-to-the-last video below to hear a Beefeater explain why the ravens are still here today.

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What ravens live at the Tower of London now?

There are always at least six resident ravens living on the grounds of the Tower of London, sometimes a couple more than necessary according to the above tale. Currently, there are seven ravens at the Tower of London.

Considering how important the birds are for the city (and the country as a whole), they even have names:

• Jubilee
• Poppy
• Harris
• Georgie
• Rex
• Edgar
• Branwen
• Rex

Edgar and Branwen were the most recent ones to join the pack in May 2021, while the most mature raven at the castle is over 20 years old. 

The oldest raven that ever lived at the Tower of London was called Jim Crow and died at the ripe old age of 44. 

Why don’t the Tower of London ravens fly away?

Visitors often ask why the tower of London ravens don’t just fly away. It’s a fair question.

For starters, they probably wouldn’t even know where to go. Most of the ravens have been born and bred right at the Tower of London and have never lived in the wild. 

What’s more, they could hardly fly away even if they wanted to. At least, it wouldn’t be easy.

As Rob Fuller, a Yeoman Warder, aka Beefeater, at the Tower of London, explained, “For their safety, we trim one of their wings, to encourage them to stay at the Tower, where we can look after them and feed them a varied diet.” The clipping reportedly doesn’t hurt the birds but unbalancing their flight discourages them from venturing out too far. 

That being said, there have been a number of escape attempts over the years, with one bird making it as far as Greenwich. 

The Ravenmaster and his daily duties

The ravens of the Tower of London are being taken care of by a trained Ravenmaster, who cleans their cages, prepares their food (a mix of raw meat and blood-soaked biscuits), and bonds with the birds to make sure they’re happy at the castle (and don’t even think about leaving). 

While this certainly sounds like a fun and interesting job, it’s everything but easy to get. To be allowed to work with the birds, a future Ravenmaster needs to be a Yeoman Warder first, and this position alone requires serving in the military for at least 22 years, as well as holding a senior role there. 

Where to see the ravens (and take pictures of them)

While the seven ravens can technically move around freely on the Tower of London grounds, their main residence is the South Lawn. This is where you’re most likely to encounter them when exploring the famous landmark.

While visitors are encouraged to observe the birds and take pictures, feeding them is not allowed. Please also keep in mind that even though the ravens are used to humans venturing about, they don’t like it if you’re invading their territory. As with many animals, they are capable of biting when afraid or distressed, so keep a respectful distance and don’t attempt to take an up-close selfie. 

Visiting the ravens at the Tower of London

The Tower of London’s resident ravens are an unmissable highlight when visiting the famous London landmark. Therefore, make sure you don’t leave without saying hello to the birds. And while it’s not in any way proven that the future of the United Kingdom actually rests on their shoulders, they are certainly treated that way just in case. Embrace the tradition and myths surrounding the ravens, observe them in their home, and have a chat with the Ravenmaster if you happen to bump into him for some stories and anecdotes.