We really enjoyed our private tours when we were in Paris so we arranged a few for London as well. It is nice to hear someone speak so enthusiastically and passionately about the places we are visiting. They are often previous history majors and are full of amazing facts and stories. We usually pick a tour that is geared towards children to help keep the kids interested. Our first tour was at the Tower of London. Sarah was amazing and we really enjoyed our time with her.
We learned about the three different entrances you had to pass through in order to get into the Tower of London.
The Beefeaters are ceremonial guardians of the Tower of London. They guard the palace and the British Crown Jewels. They are all retired from the British Armed Forces and are former warrant officers with at least twenty-two years of service. There are thirty-two Yeomen Warders and one Chief Warder who live with their families (and pets) at the Tower of London.
They live here and in the inner square.
The Traitors' Gate where the prisoners would enter the Tower.
This is where they could shoot arrows at attacking forces.
I love the Tower Bridge.
We learned all about the menagerie of animals that were kept at the Tower of London.
There is an elephant buried just behind our bench.
We were able to see all of the Crown Jewels, although we could not take any pictures. Sarah taught us about the different crowns and how you can differentiate between an emperor's crown and a royal crown by band number. We saw the coronation crown and accessories including the 530-carat Cullinan I diamond in the Sovereign's Scepter.
This is where many beheadings took place. Ethan kept calling it de-headings.
There is a cat who lives in one of the houses on this row. He often sneaks into the exhibits to sleep. There is also apparently a tame squirrel that runs around.
We were able to see the prison holding site for many famous people, including the Princes in the Tower.
Prisoners would carve into the walls. Some would pay an artist to come create an elegant carving!
Sarah taught the kids a poem regarding the fate of Henry VIII's wives - divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.
Little Harper
Big Harper
We saw where Sir Walter Raleigh was kept.
We learned about the ravens at the Tower. At least six ravens are required to live at the Tower of London to protect the Crown according to a four hundred year old legend claiming the kingdom will fall if they leave. There are also a few spare ravens. The new Ravenmaster does not clip their wings. He believes if they are happy, they will not leave the Tower.
This was an old chess piece!
One of the current flock is named Poppy!
Tower Bridge
We headed over to Borough Market for lunch after our tour.
It was very crowded.
I got the famous chocolate-covered strawberries for me and Harper.
We went to Neal's Yard Dairy for cheese afterwards.
There was lots of sampling. Harper enjoyed this as a baby as well!
We rode the Tube home for a break after lunch.
We met up with Alex's parents at Harrods for dinner and toy shopping.
I decided to pierce my ear!
The kids were very into playing royalty games with their stuffed animals.
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