Tim & Gerri's Wild Ride
Email & Facebook Gerri:
  • Home
  • Worldwide Travel
    • A Bit of Asia 2025 >
      • A Bit of Asia 2025 Blog Summary
    • Everest 2025 >
      • 2025 Everest Packing List
      • Everest Blog Summary
    • 2024 Europe Tour >
      • 2024 Europe Tour Packing List
      • Europe 2024 Blog Summary
    • Asia 2023 >
      • Asia 2022 Packing List
      • Asia 2023 Blog Summary
    • Eastern Europe 2022 >
      • Eastern Europe 2022 Blog Summary
      • Eastern Europe 2022 Packing List
    • Narrowboat Holiday 2022 >
      • Narrowboat 2022 Blog
      • Narrowboat 2022 Packing List
    • Ireland & UK 2019 >
      • Ireland & UK Itineray
      • Ireland & UK Blog Summary
      • Ireland & UK Packing List
    • France 2018 >
      • France Itinerary
      • Blog Summary
    • European Tour 2017 >
      • European Vacation Blog
      • Blog Summary
    • Southeast Asia 2014-15 >
      • Southeast Asia Blog
      • Packing List
      • Blog Summary
    • Afghanistan 2011-12
  • United States Travel
    • Great Lakes Sail 2020 >
      • Great Lakes Sail 2020 Blog
      • Blog Summary
    • Trans-America Bicycle Ride >
      • Blog Summary
      • Our Team
      • Equipment
      • Breweries Along Route
    • Pacific Crest Trail >
      • Pacific Crest Trail 2016 >
        • What is the PCT? - 2016
        • Why Hike the PCT? - 2016
        • Gear - 2016
        • Itinerary - 2016
        • PCT Blog Summary - 2016
        • Where are we now? - 2016
      • Pacific Crest Trail 2014 >
        • What is the PCT?
        • Why Hike the PCT?
        • Gear
        • Food
        • Itinerary
        • Blog Summary
        • Where are we now?
    • Motorcycle Ride 2014 >
      • Motorcycle Blog
  • Brewery Visits
    • 2025 Breweries
    • 2024 Breweries
    • 2023 Breweries
    • 2022 Breweries
    • 2021 Breweries
    • 2020 Breweries
    • 2019 Breweries
    • 2018 Breweries
    • 2017 Breweries
    • 2016 Breweries
    • 2015 Breweries
    • 2014 Breweries
    • 2013 Breweries
    • 2012 Breweries
    • 2011 Breweries
    • 2010 Breweries
    • 2009 Breweries
    • 2008 Breweries
    • 2007 Breweries
    • 2006 Breweries
    • 2005 Breweries
    • 2004 Breweries
    • 2003 Breweries
    • 2002 Breweries

London Day 5 - Tower of London

12/4/2019

0 Comments

 
Wednesday, 4 December 2019
The Tower of London opens at 10 AM and we wanted to try to get there as close to opening as we could.  We bought our ticket online to save waiting on line, plus you get a discount...win win.  We took the train to Tower Hill station and popped out just after 10 AM.  At least that is what this sundial told us:
Picture
We entered the gate of Tower of London around 10:45 AM.  We had 15 minutes till the Yeoman Warder tour, so we walked around a bit as we waited.  Tower of London was built by William I (William the Conqueror) starting in 1077.  It served to keep Londoners in place as well as a lookout for seeing invaders coming up the Thames River.  It was built on and built up throughout the years and has served as a royal residence, the Royal Mint, the Royal Jewel House, and as a prison / execution site for those opposing the Crown. As you can see, we arrived before the crowds.
Picture
Picture
The tours here are given by the Yeoman Warders AKA Beefeaters.  Looking at this guy makes we want a G&T AKA Gin and Tonic. The tour group wasn't too big.
Picture
Picture
This is Traitors' Gate.  It is the boat entrance to Tower of London from the Thames.  This is the entrance used for "traitors" that were eventually executed including Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII.  She was beheaded in 1533.
Picture
This is White Tower, the original structure dating from 1077 in which William the Conqueror lived.  Over the years, the other walls and buildings were built around it.
Picture
The tour continued, and as as I watched our guide, I still thought of a drinking a G&T.  Oh look...that is Tower Bridge behind him...pretty good shot Tim!
Picture
Here is Tower Green, the town square for those who lived in the castle.  Can you see the Queen's Guard standing in front of a door straight ahead?  This is still officially a royal residence.
Picture
The tour ended here and we all dispersed to enter the various buildings.  We first went into the White Tower to see the armory and arsenal collection.  Check out the father and son armor:
Picture
Picture
Some more nice photo by Tim.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
This guy is guarding one of the doors to the crown jewels.
Picture
We did go in to see the crown jewels, but photography wasn't allowed.  I "stole" these photos from the official website to show you what we saw. This is the collection of Cornation Regalia that one day will be bestowed upon Prince Charles when he becomes king.  The crown is "St. Edward's Crown" and dates back to 1661.  The original crown dating to the 11th-century was melted down in 1649.
Picture
And now, a bunch of Tower Bridge (not London Bridge) photos:
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
This photo was taken during our "Walk on the Wall" of the Tower of London:
Picture
Time to walk over Tower Bridge.
Picture
Picture
How about a photo  of Tower Bridge on the south side of the Thames:
Picture
Picture
That is all for today. Tomorrow we do the Westend Walk and checkout the National Gallery.  Until then...
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Ireland & UK Home
    Blog summary

    Archives

    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.