Tower of London history stretches over almost a thousand years, from a Norman fortress to a royal palace, a prison, a zoo and a treasury, so this page gives you a timeline first and then the story by period. At the end there are 14 numbered facts, each with its source (Wikipedia, Wikidata and the official Historic Royal Palaces site), and where sources disagree I give both figures. If you are ready to go inside, my page on tickets for the Tower of London compares all 10 options.
Tower of London History Timeline
Year
What happened
1066
The Tower is founded toward the end of the year after the Norman Conquest
1078
Usually taken as the start of the White Tower’s construction
1097
William II orders a wall built around the Tower
1190s
Richard I’s reign: the inner ward is created
1240
Whitewashing of the White Tower begins
1275 to 1285
Edward I remodels the castle at a cost of £21,000
1381
The Peasants’ Revolt: the Jewel House is looted
1483
The Princes in the Tower are last seen in June
1536
Anne Boleyn is beheaded for treason
1554
Lady Jane Grey is executed on 12 February
1605
Guy Fawkes is brought to the Tower on 6 November
1661
Charles II’s coronation procession, the last to leave from the Tower
1666
The Great Fire of London threatens the Tower on 4 September
1835
The last animals leave the menagerie for Regent’s Park
1843
Draining of the moat begins
1941
Rudolf Hess is held for four days; Josef Jakobs is shot on 15 August, the last execution
1988
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
1994
The Crown Jewels go on display in the Jewel House in the Waterloo Block
Tower of London History: The Norman Fortress
The Tower was founded after William the Conqueror took London in December 1066, according to Wikipedia. The White Tower, which gives the castle its name, is usually taken to have begun in 1078. William died in 1087 and the tower may not have been finished until after that, but it was probably complete by 1100, when Ranulf Flambard was imprisoned there. He escaped on 2 February 1101. In 1097, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records William II ordering a wall to be built around the Tower.
At 27 metres high (Wikipedia gives 89 feet in the infobox and 90 feet in the White Tower section), it was a symbol of Norman power that, the article says, locals initially resented.
Tower of London History: Growth Under Three Kings
The castle you see today was shaped by Richard I, Henry III and Edward I. Under Richard, the inner ward was created, and Wikipedia records £2,881 1s 10d spent between 3 December 1189 and 11 November 1190. Henry III expanded the Tower to the east, north and north-west from 1238, and Wikipedia says he spent nearly £10,000 between 1216 and 1227. His son Edward I remodelled the Tower from 1275 to 1285 at a cost of £21,000 and built St Thomas’s Tower, later called Traitors’ Gate, in 1275 to 1279.
The Tower was also tested in war. It was besieged in October 1191, in 1214 and in April 1267, when Gilbert de Clare failed to take it. Wikipedia describes the finished complex as buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat, and its area as 12 acres (4.9 ha). For how those areas sit on the ground, my Tower of London map walks through them.
Tower of London History of Prisoners and Executions
The Tower’s reputation as a prison is easy to overstate in any Tower of London history. Wikipedia says only seven people were executed within the Tower before the 20th century, while 112 were put to death on Tower Hill over 400 years. The famous names are still a long list: Margaret de Clare in 1321, Richard II in 1399, James I of Scotland kidnapped and held in 1406, and the Princes in the Tower, last seen in June 1483 and traditionally believed to have been murdered late that summer. Anne Boleyn was beheaded in 1536 and Lady Jane Grey was executed on 12 February 1554. Guy Fawkes was brought in on 6 November 1605 and confessed after torture.
The last chapter was in the world wars. Wikipedia’s introduction says 12 men were executed for espionage across both wars, but the First World War section says eleven were shot in that war, so the count differs between passages. Rudolf Hess was held for four days in 1941 and was the last state prisoner, and Josef Jakobs was shot on 15 August 1941, the last execution at the Tower.
Tower of London Facts About the Menagerie and Crown Jewels
The Tower once held a zoo. Edward I added a lion and a lynx in 1288, and Wikipedia says the menagerie closed after George IV died in 1830 on the orders of the Duke of Wellington. Most animals moved to London Zoo in 1831 and the last left for Regent’s Park in 1835. The Lion Tower was demolished in 1853. The sources differ on why it closed, with one account blaming a lion that bit a soldier and another a monkey that bit Ensign Seymour.
The Crown Jewels have an old connection too. The tradition of keeping them here probably dates from Henry III’s reign, per Wikipedia, and they were kept in the Martin Tower from 1669 until 1841. They have been displayed in the Jewel House in the Waterloo Block since 1994. In 1381 the Jewel House was looted during the Peasants’ Revolt.
Later Tower of London History: The 17th Century On
Wikipedia records that the Great Fire of London began on 2 September 1666 and threatened the Tower on 4 September. A fire in 1841 destroyed the Grand Storehouse, and in 1843 the moat began to be drained, with the work mostly done two years later. The Tower also kept its ceremonies. The Yeomen Warders have served as the Royal Bodyguard since at least 1509, and at least six ravens are kept at the Tower at all times.
14 Tower of London Facts With Sources
The Tower was founded toward the end of 1066 (Wikipedia).
Wikidata gives 1066 as the opening year (Wikidata).
The White Tower’s construction is usually taken to have begun in 1078 (Wikipedia).
The White Tower is 27 metres high, stated as 89 feet in one place and 90 feet in another (Wikipedia).
Edward I’s remodelling from 1275 to 1285 cost £21,000 (Wikipedia).
The Princes in the Tower were last seen in June 1483 (Wikipedia).
Seven people were executed within the Tower before the 20th century, and 112 on Tower Hill over 400 years (Wikipedia).
The last execution at the Tower was Josef Jakobs on 15 August 1941 (Wikipedia).
The menagerie’s last animals left for Regent’s Park in 1835 (Wikipedia).
The Crown Jewels have been in the Jewel House in the Waterloo Block since 1994 (Wikipedia).
At least six ravens are kept at the Tower at all times (Wikipedia).
The Tower was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, reference 488 (Wikipedia).
Wikipedia gives 2,817,852 visitors in 2025; Wikidata gives 2,741,126 for 2016 (Wikidata).
See the Tower of London History on a Guided Tour
A Yeoman Warder or guide turns the Tower of London history above into a route, and the guided option I would pick is the Easy Access Tower of London and Crown Jewels Tour. It runs about 3 hours at $119, rated 4.7 from 1,712 reviews, and the listing includes entry to the Crown Jewels Exhibition, the White Tower and the Tower Armoury.
LetzGo City Tours Britain
Easy Access Tower of London and Crown Jewels Tour
★4.7 (1,712 reviews)
3 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: The most-reviewed guided tour: 4.7 from 1,712 reviews, about 3 hours with Crown Jewels, White Tower and Armoury entry.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Entry to Tower of London
✓ Entry to Crown Jewels Exhibition
✓ Entry to White Tower
✓ Entry to Tower Armory
✓ Visit to the Raven House
✓ Visit to Tower Green and Scaffold Site
Not included / not suitable
✕ Hotel pickup and drop-off
✕ Food and drinks
✕ Tips
✕ Transportation
Meeting point: Meeting point may vary depending on the option you select. Check availability for more details.
If you would rather walk the Tower of London history at your own pace and join the public Beefeater tours, the standard ticket is the one with the review volume behind it.
Historic Royal Palaces
Tower of London and Crown Jewels Exhibition Ticket
★4.6 (33,523 reviews)
24-hour ticket
Free cancellation
My pick: The entry ticket at $51: 4.6 from 33,523 reviews, with the Crown Jewels and public Beefeater tours included.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Standard access to the Tower of London
✓ Public Beefeater tours
✓ Admission to the exhibitions, including the Crown Jewels
✓ Children's activity trails
✓ Printed maps (available at the Tower ticket desk and entrance points)
✓ Unlimited free Wi-Fi access whilst you are visiting
Not included / not suitable
✕ Audio guide tour
✕ Food and drinks
✕ Skip-the-line access
Meeting point: Show this ticket at the main entrance gate to enter the attraction London EC3N 4AB, UK
Duration: 1 day
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Enjoyed our visit to the Tower of London. We had a very interesting and informative tour with Tam who was very entertaining. Visited the crown jewels which was fascinating” – GetYourGuide review
Wikipedia says it was founded toward the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest, and that 1078 is usually taken as the start of the White Tower. The White Tower was probably finished by about 1100. Wikidata gives 1066 as the opening year.
Who built the Tower of London?+
William the Conqueror started it, and Wikipedia credits him with the White Tower from 1078. Richard I, Henry III and Edward I expanded it in the 12th and 13th centuries into a complex inside two concentric rings of walls and a moat.
Who was imprisoned in the Tower of London?+
Wikipedia lists Ranulf Flambard, held by 1100, Margaret de Clare in 1321, Richard II in 1399, James I of Scotland in 1406 and Guy Fawkes, brought in on 6 November 1605. Rudolf Hess was held for four days in 1941 and was the last state prisoner.
How many people were executed at the Tower of London?+
Wikipedia says seven people were executed within the Tower before the 20th century, and 112 on Tower Hill over 400 years. Its introduction counts 12 men shot for espionage across the two world wars, while the First World War section says eleven, so the exact figure differs between passages.
Why are there ravens at the Tower of London?+
Wikipedia says at least six are kept there at all times, and the belief is that if they are absent the kingdom will fall. They are looked after by the Ravenmaster, who is one of the Yeoman Warders. I found no source in the data that confirms where the legend started.
Is the Tower of London a World Heritage Site?+
Yes. Wikipedia says it was added to the UNESCO list in 1988, under reference number 488, at the 12th session. It also notes that nearby skyscrapers have raised concern about the site being put on the Heritage in Danger list.
