Take a 360º virtual visit to the Tower of London!
360 virtual tour londonLondon is one of the world’s most magnificent cities. It’s bubbling with culture, arts and history. There’s liteally so much to see and do in London, that’s it’s often difficult for visitors to know just where to start …
So, if you’re planning a vacation, holiday or short trip to London, let the 360º VR Tour Bus be your perfect introduction and guide. This 360º online virtual tour is a fantastic way to virtually explore London’s top tourist attractions and famous city views – all within the comfort of your own home!
The interactive tour includes thirty-six locations, and the online “Demo tour” will give you a taste of the full experience. The demo tour showcases four of London’s most popular tourist locations, it’s completely free, and it can be viewed here.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at one of these four locations … The Tower of London!
The Tower of London is officially called ‘His Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London’.
The Tower of London
The Tower of London Wharf, flanks the River Thames, and runs adjacent to the great stone walls of the famous, historic castle. If you look behind you, you’ll see the Tower of London itself, one of England’s most popular tourist attractions and a World Heritage Site.
The Tower of London was founded in 1066, soon after the Norman invasion and King Harold’s defeat by William the Conquerer at the Battle of Hastings. The central White Tower was added in 1078 as a formal keep, facilitating a secure royal residence for the new king and his representatives.
‘View of Tower of London on his Majesty’s birthday’ by Samuel Scott (1771).
The Tower of London is patrolled by the famous “Beefeaters”, or the ‘Yeomen Warders of His Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, and Members of the Sovereign’s Body Guard of the Yeoman Guard Extraordinary’, as they are more formally known. Their main job is to watch over the Tower, protect the Crown Jewels, and guard any state prisoners help captive within the walls.
Beefeaters are the ceremonial wardens of the Tower of London who guard the Crown Jewels.
From 1100 until 1952, the Tower gained its notorious reputation as a prison. It held captive the likes of Anne Boleyn, Sir Walter Raleigh, Guy Fawkes and even the infamous, East End gangsters the Kray twins. During medieval times, prisoners would often be taken by boat along the river to pass beneath the old London Bridge, through ‘Traitors’ Gate’ and into the dungeons of the Tower, to await their unfortunate fate.
The Traitor’s gate is the most infamous entrance to the Tower. Prisoners were taken under here by river to the Westminster Courts for trial.
Since 1661, the Tower has also been the home of the nation’s most famous treasures – the Crown Jewels. Over the years, the precious jewels have been subject to several attempted thefts. Perhaps the most famous was in 1671, when a notorious villain named Colonel Thomas Blood, dressed in disguise and attempted to steal the jewels. He had concocted a cunning plan, but after a vicious scuffle with armed guards, he was apprehended and the Crown Jewels were fortunately recovered before he was able to take his escape.
The Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom are kept under armed guard in the Jewel House.
Conclusion
The Tower of London is also the home of at least six black ravens. These famous birds are looked after and cared for by the Ravenmaster of the Yeoman Warders. Traditionally, the ravens are believed to protect the Crown and the Tower. Indeed, an age old superstition suggests that “if the Tower of London ravens are lost or fly away, the Crown will fall and Britain with it.”
Don’t forget to try the free tour by clicking this demo link! You can also view the free demo tour on the Apple or Android smartphone app, just search the App Stores for VR Tour Bus! For an even more immersive experience, why not buy the official VR Tour Bus Google Cardboard viewer – it’s available from Amazon UK.
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