Of all the times I've been to London, for work or leisure, I've never been inside the walls of the Tower of London. Not sure why, really, but it was one of the things G really wanted to do while we were here.
We woke up very early, owing to an early night before, and explored the Portobello market. Vendors were still setting up their stalls for the Saturday open market, and it was a lot of fun to watch the bustle of activity. It was some time before anything opened, so we spent the dawn strolling and enjoying the cool morning air.
After breakfast in the hotel lounge and some shopping at the Market, it was time to make our way to the Tower.
Shard sighting!
The Tower Hill Memorial is en route to the Tower from the tube station.
It was also really cool to see London Bridge as we walked along the Thames to the Tower entrance.
One of the first features as we walked into the Tower yard was the Traitors' Gate. Three guesses as to where it got its name from.
The Medieval Castle comprised most of the outer towers and battlements. This was a pleasant surprise, as I wasn't aware of how extensive the Tower complex really is! The site is broken up into multiple individual features that are walkable (and climbable; some of the spiral staircases are very steep and narrow!)
The battlement walls are decorated with several of these sculptures, welded together from iron bands.
These images and texts carved into the walls of many of the towers affected both myself and G profoundly. Most were carved by prisoners, a few by guards, and were incredibly eloquent and poignant. Some of the images were rendered with remarkable skill, especially considering the environment these people must have found themselves in.
The city skyline from the battlement, including the Gherkin.
History often speaks to us, but not so often this directly. I felt very much not the impersonal observer.
Just prior to taking a bite for lunch, we visited the Fusilier Museum, a collection of artefacts and historical commentary on the City of London regiment founded at the Tower. Despite the size, it felt almost cosy and welcoming, like the home or lodge of an older relative who served and had many stories. I suspect it likely stimulated childhood memories of exactly that.
Remains of the original Roman wall of Londinium.
A quick snack at the Fusilier dining hall. In hindsight, we should've had lunch.
That is a lot of armor.
When right side up, Ultima Ratio Regum, or The Last Argument of Kings, famously stamped on the cannons of Louis XIV. This one was captured by the British during the Nine Years' War.
Westminster. We didn't make it in, owing mainly to wandering about the place looking for a restaurant first and not finding anything suitable. Hot, tired, and hungry, we headed back to the hotel.
