Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sir Walter Raleigh—poet, explorer, and political radical—was imprisoned here for 13
years. In 1603, the English writer and adventurer was accused of plotting against King
James and sentenced to death. The king commuted the sentence to life imprisonment in
the Bloody Tower. While in prison, Raleigh wrote the first volume of his
History of the
World.
Check out his rather cushy bedroom, study, and walkway (courtesy of the power-
ful tobacco lobby?). Raleigh promised the king a wealth of gold if he would release him to
search for El Dorado. The expedition was a failure. Upon Raleigh's return, the displeased
king had him beheaded in 1618.
• Next door to the Bloody Tower, inside the base of the Lower Wakefield Tower, is a cellar
filled with some replica torture equipment
To reach the next sight, walk under the Bloody Tower, cross the cobbled road, and
bear right a few steps to find the stairs up onto the wall.
Medieval Palace
The Tower was a royal residence as well as a fortress. These rooms were built around
1240 by Henry III, the king most responsible for the expansive Tower of London complex
we see today. The well-described rooms are furnished as they might have been during the
reign of his son, Edward I (“Longshanks”). You'll see his re-created bedroom, then—up
a flight of stairs—his throne room, both with massive fireplaces to keep this cold stone
palace cozy. After Cromwell temporarily deposed the monarchy (in the 17th century), the
Tower ceased to be a royal residence except in name.
• From the throne room, continue up the stairs to...
Walk the Wall
The Tower was defended by state-of-the-art walls and fortifications in the 13th century.
This walk offers a good look. From the walls, you also get a fine view of the famous bridge
straddling the Thames, with the twin towers and blue spans. It's not London Bridge (which
is the nondescript bridge just upstream), but
Tower Bridge.
Although it looks somewhat
medieval, this drawbridge was built in 1894, of steel and concrete. Sophisticated steam en-
gines raise and lower the bridge, allowing tall-masted ships to squeeze through.
