The White Tower is a central tower, the old keep, at the Tower of London. It was built by William the Conqueror during the early 1080s, and subsequently extended. The White Tower was the castle's strongest point militarily, and provided accommodation for the king and his representatives, as well as a chapel. Henry III ordered that the tower be whitewashed in 1240.HistoryThe castle which later became known as the Tower of London was begun by William the Conqueror in 1066. It began as a timber fortification enclosed by a palisade. In the next decade work began on the White Tower, the great stone keep that still dominates the castle today. The precise date of the White Tower's foundation is unknown, and it is also uncertain how long building took. It is traditionally held that construction began in 1078. This is because the Textus Roffensis records that Gundulf, Bishop of Rochester, oversaw the building work under instruction from William the Conqueror. Dendrochronological evidence suggests construction of the White Tower began in 1075–1079. The archaeology of the standing building suggests there was a pause in construction between 1080 and 1090–1093, although it is unknown why. Gundulf did more than just oversee work and was a skilled architect. Rochester's castle and cathedral were rebuilt under his auspices. As the main castle in England's capital, the Tower of London was an important royal building. The keep built by Gundulf bears testament to this as it was one of the largest in Christendom.By using our London vacation builder tool, you can arrange your visit to Royal Armories and other attractions in London.
Source
Create an itinerary including Royal Armories
Unable to display map at this time. Please try again later.
© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap contributors
Royal Armories reviews
-
When you are visiting the Tower of London, the "Line of Kings" is a diiplay not to be missed. In the 17th century, the Board of Ordnance (which was mainly concerned with providing arms for the navy..... more »
-
The way they have the different areas/rooms organized at the tower of London, make the past come alive. They have life size horses with full armor, in one section, so you really can see the scale of..... more »
-
The finest collection of armor and weapons I've ever seen. It's amazing how much they are able to fit in such a small space. Be prepared to spend about an hour here, a very awesome hour!
-
Gotta be said man this was the best armory museum outside of the US that I've ever seen. I've been to Canada, Mexico and Germany, but this one was super! The wings dedicated to the Great War and even the Boer War were especially cool.
Plan your trip to London
Get a personalized trip
A complete day by day itinerary
based on your preferencesCustomize it
Refine your trip. We'll find the
best routes and schedulesBook it
Choose from the best hotels
and activities. Up to 50% offManage it
Everything in one place.
Everyone on the same page.
Popular things to do in London
Museums in London
Kid-friendly things to do in London
Hidden gems in London
Side trips from London
Nearby attractions in London
Trips to Royal Armories by other users
60 days in London
BY A USER FROM UNITED KINGDOM
Food Tours
·
The British Museum
·
Queen Elizabeth II Great Court
32 days in London
BY A USER FROM UNITED KINGDOM
ISKCON-London Radha-Krishna Temple
·
The Russian Orthodox Church
·
Victoria and Albert Museum
42 days in London
BY A USER FROM MALAYSIA
Mary Seacole Statue
·
Speed Boats Tours
·
London Transport Museum
60 days in London
BY A USER FROM BANGLADESH
St. Katharine Docks
·
Tower Bridge
·
Royal Armories
17 days in London
BY A USER FROM SAUDI ARABIA
Church of St. Bartholomew the Great
·
St. Paul's Cathedral
·
The British Museum
60 days in London
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Shad Thames
·
Tower Bridge
·
St. Katharine Docks