Tower of London

What is it? 

Despite the exhausting crowds and long climbs up stairways, the Tower of London remains one of Britain's finest historical attractions. After all, who wouldn’t want a close-up with the crown of Queen Victoria or the prodigious codpiece of King Henry VIII? This eleventh-century fortress boasts an impressive 900 years of history. Within its walls and beyond the empty moats are interactive displays revealing the extravagant and at times controversial lifestyles of the British monarchs, as well as the torturous deaths of traitors.

Glimpse those Crown Jewels (but expect queues of ginormous proportions), or if jewellery’s not your bag, head on over to the White Tower where you’ll find a collection of shiny torture tools. Known as the Royal Armouries, this ancient Norman keep contains swords, suits of armour for both humans and horses, poleaxes, halberds, morning stars (spiky maces) and other means for separating limbs from torsos.

There's also a redisplay of the Line of Kings – an original exhibition dating back to the 1680s – which includes wooden horses carved by the prolific sculptor Grinling Gibbons, Henry VIII's armour and a scale model of tilting knights. For the little ones, there are swordsmanship games, coin-minting activities and even a child-sized longbow.

Why go? 

Get up close to 900 years of London’s history, featuring royals, weapons, torture, jewels, ravens and King Henry VIII’s bulging codpiece. Moving through rooms where some of history’s most important figures once walked will give you chills – in a good way.

Don’t miss: 

Make time for a nosey around the beautiful St John’s Chapel. Also, check out the ‘Royal Beasts’ show to learn about the exotic creatures that once lived in the Tower’s menagerie. 

When to visit: 

9am–5.30pm Tue–Sat; 10am–5.30pm Sun–Mon. Peak times at weekends and school holidays. 

Ticketing info:

£34.80,  £17.40 children (ages 5–15)

Time Out tip: 

If you want the real lowdown on the Tower, I'd advise joining a tour led by one of the costumed Yeoman Warders, or Beefeaters, who live and work here (they even have their own secret on-site pub). They’re a fun bunch, filling their talks full of jokes and fun jibes, as well as nitty gritty details you won’t find in the guidebook. 

See more of London's best museums and discover our guide to the very best things to do in London.