Tour - 10th of September, 2025 The Tower of London

 We moved from Windsor back to London today. Very sad to say goodbye to Windsor, it's a gorgeous place - and holds very special memories of my time (although fleeting) with Prince Harry and The Duke of Edinburgh...

I am so incredibly grateful and happy to you both Lisa and Ruth for convincing me to jump in the deep end and book this tour. I am loving absolutely every single second of every single minute. The people are lovely, the Tour Leaders are wonderful and the things we are learning and experiencing and feeling, I don't have words for how fantastic it all is.

Funnily enough in it's 1,000 year history, the Tower hasn't changed much since I last visited 30 years ago. It felt like yesterday - except also - it didn't. We had the same Blue Badge Guide that we had at Windsor Castle - love Derry-Anne, she's wonderful. I must remember to book a tour with a Blue Badge Guide, preferably Derry-Anne, next time I make it to London Town. Sarah and Adam gave us so many little extras that open the Tower and make everything feel real. "This is the door that Anne entered by both for her Coronation and following her arrest". "This is the graffiti that Jane Grey left scratched into the stone wall." "Ignore that BeefEater. That is NOT the spot where Anne was executed, THIS is the spot where the scaffold stood and now Sarah will read out loud the speech that Anne made to the crowd at her execution, on this spot". Spine-tingling stuff.

We had a really extensive tour, saw The Crown Jewels, chatted with the Ravens and the Tower squirrel (not sure if this one was Scruffy or Squidgy!) and then had time to wander off on our own and see what we wanted to. I headed straight to the rooms of the missing Princes in the Tower and then to the spot where the skeletons of 2 boys were found who may or may not have been the Princes. Then I went inside the White Tower which holds an Exhibition all about Armoury and Weapons through the Ages. Four floors and a LOT of armour. Problem was, it was a one way thing, so once I went in it took me ages to get out and I missed the Medieval parts of the Tower. Bugger. Oh well, just means I'll have to go back again. I don't have time this trip. I guess that means I'll be back London.

I love The Tower of London. There's a reason it's such a globally phenomenal icon.

Also, the poppy displays were to mark 80 years since the end of WWII. Stunning - and very moving.

Best Day Ever.










THIS is the gate Anne came in by for both her Coronation and when she was arrested - NOTE this is NOT Traitors' Gate!!

Although Traitors' Gate is lovely




Scruffy - or Squidgy?

The Monarachy is safe - for now.










Comments

  1. lisab16 September 2025 at 14:40

    Aww Treins - it's a wonderful record. Thank you for sharing. Although looking at the post I do wonder if the Scruffy/Squidgy debate refers to the photo above or below it? "Off with my head" for disrespect!

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