Tower of London

Okay, so reading The Other Boleyn Girl doesn’t exactly qualify as preparation for a trip to London. But it did introduce me to the goings on at the infamous Tower of London, one of London’s most notorious sights. Set on the lovely Thames River right downtown, the Tower dates all the way back to the times of William the Conqueror, in 1078. It’s an amazing anachronism, standing as it is surrounded by modern buildings.

Since 1078, many additions have been added on, and today it is still an imposing fortress of buildings filled with secrets and stories. The purpose of the Tower has also shifted over the years, from harsh prison and execution grounds to a palace and even a zoo (once upon a time, there were even polar bears in the moat!). Since 1303, the Tower has also been home to the venerated Crown Jewel collection, complete with the illustrious koh-i-noor diamond.

Today, it’s a bustling tourist attraction, and the jewels are still on display. To control the crowds who come to see the jewels, they have rigged an ingenious system of moving sidewalks to funnel people past the treasures, so no one can linger too long over the glass-encased crowns, orbs, and scepters. Some of the objects are still in use today.

About three weeks ago, I got to visit the Tower and went on one of the free Yeoman Warder tours. Popularly known as “Beefeaters,” these colorful characters will keep you entertained for an hour straight as they take you inside the Tower walls, outside to the execution grounds, and into a lovely chapel. Our guide was filled with colorful stories about former prisoners, the ravens, Tower scandals, and much more. I high recommend one of these tours if you go. Not only are they free but they’re a great and entertaining introduction to the Tower and its grounds.

While I was there, there was a special exhibit on Henry VIII (you know, the one with all the wives, including the ill-fated Anne Boleyn) and his collection of armor. The exhibit, appropriately named “Dressed to Kill,” features many different types of armor, most of it intricately detailed, and very imposing. One of the more unusual pieces is a spectacular horned helmet dating back to 1511. Believe me, it would certainly frighten me away if I saw that coming towards me.