We arrived at the Tower at about 8:45am, well before the large number of people who would arrive within a few hours. We had wisely purchased advanced entry tickets which allowed us an easy entrance. It is a good idea to purchase a guidebook to show yourselves around. We went directly to the crown jewels, which have been stored in the Tower for hundreds of years. We were the only people in the room and were able to observe the crowns that had adorned heads of kings and queens for centuries.

We then joined a tour that was very educational and entertaining. Our guide explained the construction and history of the Tower. It actually consists of over a dozen Towers each used for different reasons. From the Bloody Tower to the White Tower, I was in awe as I walked the same floors of royalty and prisoners of yesteryear. The history of the beefeaters who have lived within the tower walls since its inception was also fascinating. The day we were there the beefeaters were in a formal uniforms because it was the queens husbands birthday. The beefeater known as the "raven master" cares for the ravens which haved lived at the Tower for several hundred years. Legend has it that without the ravens the Tower would fall, without the Tower, London would fall.

A few months before we went to the Tower we ordered special tickets from the address listed on the Tower website to watch the ceremony of the keys. Each night for nearly a thousand years the Tower doors have been locked at 10:00pm. A few dozen spectators are allowed to watch the ceremony and learn the history of it. It was definitely worth attending.

Our visit to the Tower of London was probably the highlight of my visit to London. We spent nearly 5 hours there, and only toured a handful of the Towers. If I were ever fortunate enough to visit it again I would allow 7-8 hours. There was just too much to see!