One of London's most famous castles and a World Heritage Site, The Tower of London is a must see during your time at David Game College. Once a notorious prison, here you can meet the scarlet-attired Yeoman Warders and famous ravens – these surprisingly large corvids are apt to spook anyone out, and legend has it that should the ravens depart the castle, the Crown and nation will fall. It was also London’s first zoo, known as the Royal Menagerie, and from the 1200s until 1835 housed a number of exotic wild animals including lions, a polar bear, and an African elephant.
These days, the Tower is known for its commemorative installations, including World War I tribute Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red (2014), which placed thousands of ceramic poppies in the moat to mark the centenary of the start of the First World War, and drew millions of visitors from around the world. A lesser known, atmospheric event at the Tower is the nightly Ceremony of the Keys, performed for over 700 years and costing just £5 to attend.
The Crown Jewels, a collection of 23,578 gemstones comprising the Royal Collection, are kept under armed guard at the Tower and, when not in use for royal ceremonies, are on display for visitors. Further to King Charles’ coronation in May 2023, the Jewel House has been updated to include further origin stories of the objects and the significance of the Crown Jewels, opening weeks after the Coronation Regalia being used at the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort.
