In London, few places carry the weight of history like the Tower of London. Standing on the north bank of the Thames, just downstream from London Bridge, this fortress has watched over the city for over 900 years-not just as a palace, prison, and treasury, but as the site of Britain’s first zoo. The Royal Menagerie wasn’t some side attraction. For nearly 600 years, it was a living symbol of royal power, where lions, bears, and even elephants were kept as gifts from foreign rulers-and displayed to awed Londoners.
The Animals That Once Roamed the Tower
The first recorded animal at the Tower was a white bear, given to King Henry III by King Haakon IV of Norway in 1252. It wasn’t kept in a cage like today’s zoo animals. Instead, it was chained to a long rope and allowed to swim in the Thames to catch fish. Locals would gather on the riverbank to watch it dive and surface, much like crowds today gather at the Southbank to watch street performers. By the 1300s, the menagerie had grown to include lions, leopards, and a polar bear. In 1287, records show a payment was made for ‘feeding the lion with sheep.’
By the 1700s, the collection had become a tourist draw. Londoners from all walks of life-merchants from Billingsgate, apprentices from the City, even royalty-came to see the beasts. A visit to the Tower wasn’t complete without a stop at the menagerie. In 1792, the Duke of York reportedly paid sixpence to see the tiger. The animals were kept in stone enclosures near the Wakefield Tower, where visitors could peer through iron bars. It was a spectacle, yes, but also a grim reminder of empire: exotic creatures brought from distant lands as trophies of conquest.
The End of the Menagerie and the Rise of the Zoo
The menagerie closed in 1835, not because of cruelty (though many now see it that way), but because it had become too dangerous and too outdated. A lion escaped in 1829 and killed a keeper. In 1831, a baboon bit a visitor’s finger off. The Royal Society of Arts petitioned to move the animals to a new, larger facility. So in 1835, the collection was transferred to Regent’s Park, where it became the London Zoo-the world’s first scientific zoo. The Tower’s animal era was over, but its legacy lived on.
Today, if you walk through the Tower’s inner ward, you can still see the original animal enclosures. One of them has been turned into a small exhibit with old engravings, chains, and feeding tools. A plaque reads: ‘Here stood the Royal Menagerie, 1204-1835.’ It’s quiet now. No roars. No growls. Just the echo of history.
The Beefeaters and the Ravens: New Guardians of the Tower
While the lions are gone, the Tower still has its own wild residents. The Beefeaters-officially known as Yeoman Warders-are former military personnel who live on-site with their families. They wear the same red and gold uniforms since Tudor times and give guided tours that blend dark history with dry British humor. Ask one why the ravens are still here, and they’ll tell you: ‘If the ravens leave, the kingdom falls.’
The Tower Ravens are the real stars now. There are always six, plus a spare, kept in a special aviary near the Waterloo Barracks. Each has a name-Merlina, Jubilee, Harris, Gripp, Rocky, and Branwen-and a clipped wing to keep them from flying off. The legend dates back to Charles II, who, after being told the ravens would bring disaster if they left, ordered that their feathers be trimmed instead of their lives. Today, the Ravenmaster, a Beefeater appointed to care for them, feeds them raw meat every morning. Locals believe the ravens are luck-bringers. Tourists leave coins near their enclosure. Some even whisper wishes into their feathers.
Visiting the Tower Today: What You Need to Know
If you’re a Londoner looking for something different on a weekend, or a visitor wanting to understand the soul of this city, the Tower of London is essential. It’s not just about the Crown Jewels-though those are dazzling, with the 530-carat Koh-i-Noor diamond and the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross, set with 317 diamonds.
Here’s how to make the most of your visit:
- Arrive early. The queues for the Crown Jewels can stretch past the White Tower by 10 a.m.
- Book tickets online. Same-day tickets at the gate often sell out, especially in summer.
- Take the Beefeater tour. It’s free with admission and runs every 30 minutes. The stories about Anne Boleyn’s execution or Guy Fawkes’ torture are told with chilling detail.
- Walk the battlements. The views over the Thames to the Shard and the City skyline are unbeatable.
- Visit the Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula. It’s where many of the Tower’s victims are buried. Quiet, somber, and rarely crowded.
Don’t miss the gift shop. It’s one of the best in London. You’ll find handmade wooden ravens, replica medieval armor, and books on Tudor history by local authors like David Starkey and Tracy Borman. No cheap keychains here.
Why the Tower Still Matters in Modern London
The Tower of London isn’t just a relic. It’s a mirror. It reflects how London has changed-from a medieval capital where kings kept lions to show off power, to a modern metropolis where we still gather to witness spectacle, but now in the form of the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace or the fireworks over the London Eye on New Year’s Eve.
When the Tower’s ravens flap their wings on a misty morning, or when a Beefeater tells a child the story of the last lion, you’re not just hearing history. You’re feeling it. The same stones that once held wild beasts now hold the stories of queens, traitors, and kings. And in a city as fast-moving as London, where the Underground runs 24/7 and the City never sleeps, the Tower stands still. It reminds us that beneath the coffee shops of Shoreditch and the neon of Soho, this city was built on blood, power, and the strange, wild things we once believed could control our fate.
Next time you’re near Tower Hill, take the short walk. You don’t need a ticket to feel the weight of it. Just stand by the river, look up at the walls, and remember: this is where lions once swam in the Thames-and where ravens still guard the crown.”
Are the ravens at the Tower of London real?
Yes, the ravens are real. There are always at least six resident ravens, plus a spare, cared for by the Ravenmaster, a Yeoman Warder. Their wings are clipped to prevent them from flying away, as legend says the kingdom will fall if they leave. They’re fed raw meat daily and have names like Merlina and Branwen. They’re protected by law and are considered national treasures.
Can you see the original animal enclosures at the Tower of London?
Yes. The stone enclosures where lions, bears, and leopards were kept are still visible near the Wakefield Tower. One has been turned into a small exhibit with historical engravings, chains, and feeding tools. It’s not a flashy display, but it’s powerful-especially when you realize these were the first zoo cages in Britain.
Why did the Royal Menagerie close in 1835?
The Royal Menagerie closed because it had become unsafe and outdated. In 1829, a lion escaped and killed a keeper. In 1831, a baboon bit off a visitor’s finger. Public opinion was shifting, too-people were starting to see the treatment of animals as cruel. The animals were moved to the new London Zoo in Regent’s Park, which opened in 1828 and was designed for scientific study, not just public spectacle.
Do Beefeaters still live at the Tower of London?
Yes. The Yeoman Warders, or Beefeaters, live in apartments inside the Tower with their families. They’re retired military personnel who serve as guides, guardians, and ceremonial figures. They’ve lived on-site since the 15th century. Their homes are some of the oldest continuously occupied residences in London.
Is the Tower of London worth visiting if you’re from London?
Absolutely. Many Londoners visit only once as tourists and never go back. But the Tower changes with the seasons-there are special events like medieval reenactments in summer, candlelit tours in winter, and themed exhibitions on Tudor treason. It’s not just a museum; it’s a living part of London’s identity. Locals who know its stories often return to walk the battlements, listen to a Beefeater’s tale, or just sit by the river and imagine lions swimming in the Thames.
