Everything To See Inside the Tower of London

The Tower of London is interesting to see just from outside, standing on the sidewalk. The structure is huge and certainly photo-worthy, but you should go inside to discover its secrets and long, shadowy history.

This thousand-year-old fortress has seen many famous guests pass through its doors, many who never made it back out again. Today, tales of imprisonment, beheadings, and royal parties are brought to life when you step inside, and there are lots of different attractions for visitors to experience.

With such a long and intriguing history, it’s no wonder the Tower of London is such a popular attraction for visitors to the capital city. But how do you make the most out of your visit and ensure you see all there is to see inside?

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what you can see inside the Tower of London, and I’ll share all the information you need to ensure you don’t miss a thing.

Exhibits inside the Tower of London

First off, there are several exhibits inside the Tower of London, just as there would be in a traditional museum. The most famous of these are the crown jewels, but there’s much more to see.

The crown jewels

Many people visit the Tower of London chiefly to see the crown jewels, which are, after all, the main attraction. 

The crown jewels aren’t just a single crown with precious stones set in it as the name might imply. They’re actually a number of royal items inlaid with gems and metalwork (think, lots of gold).

In fact, the U.K. crown jewels are the most complete collection of royal jewels and regalia in the world, though the collection you see today isn’t the original crown jewels of the kings and queens of England. Those were destroyed during the rule of Oliver Cromwell. 

Still, the collection you can see today on your Tower of London tour is very impressive. It’s the original collection created for Charles II in the 17th century. It also includes the crown and scepter the current King Charles III wore during his recent coronation.

But the tower also has other exhibitions, which take you through the other uses of the Tower of London over the centuries.

The Line of Kings

In the White Tower, a collection of royal armor called the Line of Kings takes you through the ceremonial tournament outfits worn by kings like Henry VIII and Charles I. This is the oldest exhibition in the tower.

The Royal Mint

In the tower’s mint, you’ll learn all about the Royal Mint, how it works now and has worked during its entire time in operation — since 1279. 

This area of the Tower of London includes interactive experiences, displays, and exhibitions and is educational while being entertaining.

The Fusilier Museum

The headquarters of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers is still located within the Tower of London, as it has been since 1685 when the regiment was formed to guard the guns at the tower. The regiment went on to fight in the Napoleonic Wars as well as both world wars. 

You can see the mess hall and the regimental headquarters along with interesting artifacts like a bearskin worn by King George V. Displays and information boards tell the story of the regiment throughout its long history.

Beefeaters

Officially called the Yeoman Warders, it’s thought Beefeaters got their nickname because they were once paid in beef.

Today, the beefeaters are popular with visitors, and many tourists want their photos taken with the guards.

Local tip: Not to be confused with the Buckingham Palace Guards, beefeaters aren’t the ones wearing the tall furry hats. Beefeaters are the warders you’ll see wandering around in their dark blue and red uniforms. 

Although they were once in charge of security at the tower, these days they answer visitors’ questions and lead guided tours of the tower. On the London in a Day Guided Tour, you’ll hear fascinating stories from the beefeaters. It’s always a highlight of the full-day experience!

The guards, in their bearskin hats, can also be seen at the tower, and this is what most visitors are looking for. The guards are there to protect the crown jewels and keep security tight, so although they don’t mind having their photo taken, remember they are there to do a job and you should respect their private space. 

It’s especially important to stand clear of the guards when they are performing their military duties, including ceremonies throughout the day, which all visitors can watch.

Ravens

Although there are many fascinating attractions here, the sight of these beautiful black ravens at the Tower of London, who seemingly live there in complete contentment, was one of my favorites. 

No one is entirely sure why the ravens were first encouraged to live at the tower, though some say it was to bring an extra element of drama to the executions that occurred here.

Whatever the reason, six captive ravens were kept here by Charles II in the 17th century, and at least six ravens have lived here ever since. You’re most likely to see the ravens near the beefeaters, as they’ve come to understand that it’s the warders who’ll feed them.

The towers

Although the name Tower of London suggests one tower, there are actually several towers making up the whole of the tower complex.

The White Tower

Right in the center of the Tower of London is the White Tower, the oldest part of the entire complex and one of the oldest structures in all of London. It was built in 1078 — or rather started around that time. It actually took about 20 years to complete. It was originally designed, as the most protected part of the tower, to be the royal quarters.

Over time, the 92-foot-tall White Tower has been used for many different purposes, but most famously as a prison, and this is why most visitors are eager to see it. This is where Anne Boylen and Guy Fawkes were held in their last days before their executions.

The Bloody Tower

The White Tower isn’t the only tower to be used as a prison. The Bloody Tower was originally called the Garden Tower, but after Richard III imprisoned the two young boy princes, one of whom was to inherit the crown, and supposedly killed them, it was renamed. Sir Sir Walter Raleigh was also held here for 13 years.

Lower Wakefield Tower

Otherwise known as the Torture Tower, this unassuming looking tower is where prisoners were taken to be tortured. Most of this happened in the 16th and 17th century and was used to extract information from those prisoners who were thought to be withholding something the current powers needed to know.

Today, the Lower Wakefield Tower houses the Torture at the Tower exhibition, where you can see some gruesome but authentic examples of torture implements and devices.

Beauchamp Tower

For me, this is the most interesting tower, not only because it has a long history of being used as a prison — suspected criminals against the crown were being held here from as early as the 14th century — but because many of these prisoners have left their mark on the walls.

As you wander around the tower you’ll see names and dates scratched into the walls, bringing to life some of the poor souls who were held here. But you’ll also see some intricate and quite beautiful carvings in the stonework.

Tower Green

Near the White Tower you’ll see a small patch of grass with a modern memorial. This is Tower Green, the location for 10 executions, all of high-profile figures in society, most notably Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, and Lady Jane Grey. 

The memorial lists the names of all 10 executed prisoners and serves as a remembrance sculpture.

Summing up: Visiting the Tower of London

This historic old fortress is a must-visit while you’re in London. Packed full of dramatic tales and intriguing exhibitions, the best way to see the Tower of London and get the most out of your visit, is on an organized tour. A local helps share the history and makes sure you don’t miss anything inside this world-famous landmark!

Learn about more of our London tours, or, if you want to get a little outside of London on a day trip, there’s another incredibly famous landmark I can recommend. Read my guide on what to see when you visit Stonehenge.