7 Fascinating Details About the Tower of London

With a history spanning nearly a millennium, the Tower of London continues to captivate with its blend of grandeur, mystery, and historical significance. Constructed in 1066 by William the Conqueror, the White Tower was the centerpiece of his formidable fortress along the River Thames, symbolizing his dominance. Over time, the complex grew to include 21 towers. Today, this UNESCO World Heritage Site stands as a must-visit attraction in London, drawing millions annually.

Throughout its storied past, the fortress has served numerous purposes, including a royal residence, a zoo, a prison, the Royal Mint, and a secure location for royal records and the Crown Jewels. Below are seven intriguing facts about the Tower of London that might surprise you.

The Tower of London has housed many famous prisoners throughout history.

From royals accused of treason and religious conspirators to thieves and even sorcerers, countless individuals have been held captive in the Tower of London, though their experiences varied widely—some endured torture and starvation, while others enjoyed the luxury of servants. Tragically, some met their end through execution. In the 16th century, three queens were beheaded at the tower. Elizabeth I was only 2 years old when her mother, Anne Boleyn, was sentenced to death by her husband, King Henry VIII. The king later executed his fifth wife, Catherine Howard. The third royal to lose her head was Lady Jane Grey, known as the “nine days’ queen,” who was just 17 when she was accused of high treason by Queen Mary I.

Queen Mary also imprisoned her half-sister Elizabeth I in the tower in 1554, but Elizabeth avoided execution due to insufficient evidence. In 1559, after Mary’s death, Elizabeth returned to the tower, this time to prepare for her coronation.

The most recent execution at the tower occurred surprisingly late in history: in 1941, when German spy Josef Jakobs was executed by firing squad. In 1952, the infamous gangster brothers Ronnie and Reggie Kray were among the last prisoners held in the tower.

In 1597, a Catholic priest made a daring escape from the Tower of London using invisible ink.

Under the rule of Protestant Queen Elizabeth I, the persecution of Catholics led to the imprisonment and torture of Jesuit priest John Gerard. His escape remains legendary—he communicated with fellow prisoner John Arden and external allies using invisible ink made from orange juice, which became visible when heated. He later used a rope to descend to a boat waiting across the moat. This incredible prison break is portrayed in the second episode of the HBO series Gunpowder.

The Tower of London once housed a zoo that included a now-extinct subspecies of Barbary lion.

In the 13th century, King John established a royal menagerie at the Tower of London to house exotic animals gifted by other rulers. It became a popular attraction, with Londoners flocking to see lions and even a white bear that was often taken to the Thames to hunt. The menagerie closed in the 1830s, and its animals were relocated to the London Zoo. Today, the tower commemorates this history with animal sculptures created by artist Kendra Haste.

During excavations in 1936, a remarkable discovery was made in the moat: two medieval lion skulls. Genetic analysis revealed they belonged to a subspecies of Barbary lion, which once roamed Africa but went extinct a century ago.

The Tower of London honored World War I with an installation of 888,246 ceramic poppies.

In 2014, an art installation featuring millions of ceramic poppies by artist Paul Cummins drew 5 million visitors to the tower’s moat. Each poppy symbolized a British soldier who died in the war. The poppies were sold for £23 million (each priced at £25) to support armed forces charities. However, controversy erupted when it was revealed that £15 million of the funds covered expenses (Cummins earned £7.2 million), leaving £9 million for the charities.

In 2019, archaeologists discovered two 500-year-old skeletons beneath the Tower of London’s chapel.

The remains of an adult woman and a child, dating between 1450 and 1550, were found near the burial site of Anne Boleyn’s headless body. These two skeletons provide a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people who resided at the tower during the medieval and early modern periods.

Beefeaters reside in the Tower of London alongside their families.

The Yeoman Warders, or Beefeaters, have protected the tower since the Tudor period. Dressed in striking red uniforms, they conduct tours of the fortress. Each night at 9:53 p.m., they perform the 700-year-old Ceremony of the Keys to lock the tower. Around 150 Beefeaters and their families live within the reportedly haunted Tower of London and have access to a secret pub on the premises.

A longstanding superstition warns that if the ravens ever depart the Tower of London, the kingdom will collapse.

Legend has it that in the mid-17th century, King Charles II was advised that the monarchy would fall if the ravens left the Tower of London. To prevent this, he decreed that six ravens must always remain at the tower, believing they brought good luck. (Some claim this story is Victorian folklore, while others argue it originated during World War II.) Today, seven ravens (including a spare) reside in the Tower of London in an on-site aviary. Their wings are carefully clipped to allow limited flight, ensuring they stay nearby, where they are fed blood-soaked biscuits and meat.