We are planning to go see the Tower of London on 9/21/15. I believe I read it opened at 10 am and I have seen recommendations to see the Crown Jewels first.
My question is, can you get to it on the Thames and if so, can someone direct me to a site with times and locations (we are staying at the May fair and we have heard that it is nice to go from the Thames and then go back another way. We plan to see St. Paul's Cathedral while we are in that area.
Thank you for your help.
The Tower of London is right on the Thames. You can take a river cruise and make stops along the way all up and down the river. We stayed in Bloomsbury and walked to Piccadilly Square to catch a double decker to the Tower of London. We did the Tour with the Beefeater first and then saw the Crown Jewels on the way out. It was not a long line and we did not get there until well after 10 a.m. in June. It was well worth the trip. The Beefeater was hilarious.
Thames Clipper boat service (RB1) from Embankment at 09:08 or 09:28 to Tower Millenium (20 minute service)
http://www.thamesclippers.com/route-time-table
http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/planyourvisit/gettinghere
Take a Red Bus #15 to return to Trafalgar Square, travelling down Fleet St and The Strand.
Please add a jaunt up to the lovely glass covered Leadenhall Market in route from the Tower to St Paul's and if you are looking for a gorgeous pub, then stop at The Blackfriar after you've left St.Paul's. Right across from the Blackfriar tube station.
As soon as you get into the grounds of The Tower go straight to the Jewel Tower. You will have the jewels all to yourself and then go join a Beefeaters tour. Monday through Friday the Blackfriar's Pub is packed so just be warned. Enjoy your trip. Pam
I agree with seeing the Crown Jewels first. There is a tower that has loose diamonds on display---lots of them in a pile. Saw them quite by accident -- tight security as you enter the tower. We just returned from London and toured Buckingham Palace and it will be open for tours as late as 9/27 if that is of interest.
Susan -
Thank you for your input. That is the plan - to go straight to the jewels.
BTW, how did you like the Buckingham Palace Tour? A friend of mine who goes to London a lot said that she felt like you would just see a lot of art and they do that at museums anyway. We are really not into museums. However, she did say to tour the Mews and the Queens Gallery. We thought about doing that and then also touring the Spencer House.
I would be curious to know your thoughts on Buckingham and the highlights for you.
Thank you.
We had toured B Palace 2 years ago and the highlight then were the coronation robes, tiaras, etc. This visit did not disappoint--lots of displays of china, silver, how the kitchen is run, preparations for a state dinner--audio phone will guide you along. The art gallery is fantastic--most was collected by George IV. Lots of details on the Queen's clothing, fabrics, jewels,etc. We skipped the Mews this time but if you have not seen them the coaches are sure to be a highlight for you. The Queen's Gallery was, IMO, not so interesting. Tickets can be bought separately. Gift shop and cafe are fun at the end of your visit. The Palace sits on 39 acres and some of the gardens can be seen if it is not raining…it rained on both visits for us. Allow about an hour and a half. If you have never seen the Churchill War Rooms you may want to add that to your list--an easy walk from the Palace. Hope you enjoy London--there is so much to see!
I loved touring the Tower. The sense of history was amazing, especially if you know anything about what happened there and the people that were "guests." Visiting the little Chapel Royal Of St Peter Ad Vincula was very thought-provoking and emotional. There rest the remains of Anne Boleyn (and, her brother, George), Catherine Howard and Jane Grey (and, her husband, Guildford Dudley), as well as Thomas More and Thomas Cromwell, and many others. There were so many that spent so long in the Tower, some fortunate enough to leave alive and, again, so many that left under other circumstances. I am not a religious or spiritual person, in the least. However, I felt "something" while walking within the walls of that massive structure.
And, though I'm sure I'll be flamed for this, the crown jewels were just okay. Lots of glitter and quite beautiful, obviously. I didn't care for the presentation, too fast and crowded, as well. I found the personal jewelry and lesser/smaller adornments, seen at the V&A and the British Museum much more wonderful, as the "personal" connection to their wearers was more easily understood.
There is another important site at the Tower of London. If you are a Wolf Hall fan, you can pay a visit to the graves of Thomas Cromwell, Thomas More, Anne Boleyn, and George Boleyn. (Also Catherine Howard and Lady Jane Grey) They are buried in the Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula, the Tudor church at the Tower of London. Yes, plot spoiler. Next season on Wolf Hall, Henry VIII turns on poor old Thomas Cromwell. It's off to the Tower for him, just like everybody else.
This is a repeat of a post I did two days ago on another thread about the Tower of London.
The RS London guidebook advice to see the Crown Jewels first was absolutely correct on my visit. Unlike the poster who said:
And, though I'm sure I'll be flamed for this, the crown jewels were just okay. Lots of glitter and quite beautiful, obviously. I didn't care for the presentation, too fast and crowded, as well.
I found seeing them absolutely worthwhile and one of the best things about the visit to the Tower. But that might be due to the fact that I showed up early in the morning to the Tower just before it opened and while everyone else immediately went and started jockeying to get on the first Yeoman Warder tours, I skipped right past that and went straight to the Jewels and, aside from the one guard stationed in the room where the jewels were kept, I was the only person there for a good 15 minutes so got to look at them for as long as I wanted. When I left there, I went to get on one of the next Yeoman Warder tours and was able to get hooked up with a tour group fairly quickly. Shortly after that, the place was packed - but after my tour was over, it didn't much matter. I spent a few more hours just checking out some of the other buildings on the grounds.
The next time I plan a trip to London, I would most definitely try to get tickets for the Ceremony of the Keys. With your trip scheduled for just a few weeks away, it won't be possible as they are already booked months in advance, but it's something to note for a future visit.
