Tower of London - London, UK

Once a jail. Now a treasure chest. The Tower of London has lived many lives. Originally founded around 1066, the tower was meant to be a residence for the royal family. It has all the key elements of a traditional fairy tale castle, including moat. But in 1100 everything changed. That’s when the first prisoner came to the Tower. And oh, what an interesting character he was. 

Ranulf Flambard is the first known prisoner of the Tower of London and also the first to escape it. The Bishop landed himself in the original Azkaban after being accused of extortion by Henry I when he took power. Ranulf had been a high ranking financial advisor to the previous king, William I, and had overseen efforts to improve the design of the tower. So, it’s no surprise he knew how to escape. Ranulf climbed down from the White Tower with a rope smuggled into his cell. 

Ranulf then fled to Normandy where Henry and William’s older brother Robert was plotting to overthrow Henry. However, the attempt was unsuccessful. You would think after escaping prison and helping in an attempt to overthrow the King, Ranulf would go back to prison or worse. Well (plot twist!) instead Ranulf was able to remain free and retired to a quiet life.

But Ranulf’s story isn’t the only fascinating part of the Tower’s history. Throughout the years the tower has been the home to an armory, a treasury, and even a collection of exotic animals. There are also stories of ghosts who still call the tower home, like Anne Boleyn who is said to haunt the Green Tower where she was beheaded.

Today the Tower of London is home to the Crown Jewels. The collection includes all the items in the Coronation Regalia, used since 1661 to crown a new monarch. The objects were used last for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. 

The most important piece is St Edward’s Crown. It is only used during the moment of crowning. The purple velvet fabric is surrounded by solid gold arches as well as royal symbols like the fleur-de-lis. Other coronation items include the Sword of Offering, the Sovereign’s Sceptre and Rod, and the Sovereign’s Orb, symbolizing the Christian world.

Visitors are not allowed to take photos of the crown jewels. But the impression they leave in your mind is just as permanent.

Ravens are another important part of the tower’s folklore. It is said that if the ravens ever leave the Tower, then the british kingdom will fall. That’s why there are still 7 ravens kept in the tower. These ravens are cared for by a Ravenmaster, part of the Yeoman Warders. 

As I headed for the exit, I encountered one of the black birds walking among the tourist in a ceremonious way as if aware of the importance of its presence.  

 

Useful info:
The tower is more than a tourist attraction. In fact, it also serves as the residence of the Yeomen Warders and their families, the Resident Governor, and a garrison of soldiers. There’s even a pub!

Hours:
Tuesday-Saturday: 9:00am - 4:30pm
Sunday-Monday: 10:00am - 4:30pm
Last admission: 4:00pm

Entry: 
Adult: £24.70
Children (5-15): £11.70 
Family (1 adult, up to 3 children): £44.40
Family (2 adults, up to 3 children): £62.90

Website: https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/

Stonehenge - Wiltshire, UK

I arrived at Victoria Coach Station in London around 7:30 am. I had booked a ticket on the Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Oxford Day Trip with the Evan Evans Tour company departing at 8 o’clock. This was my second weekend in London on what would be a three-week trip and I was determined to see as much of the UK as quickly as possible. This tour allowed me to see some of the greatest hits in one day. Exactly what I wanted.

So, there I was—a hot coffee and a printed ticket in hand—ready to go. It took me a minute to figure out what gate my tour was departing from, but after looking at the time boards and asking around I found my door, boarded the coach and we were off.

Stonehenge was our second stop. We arrived around noon and, while the sun was obscured by a myriad of clouds, the day was bright. We debarked our coach in a car park about a mile away from Stonehenge, next to the visitor center. Then boarded a smaller bus that took us up to the rocks.

I walked up the plains that lead to the circle briskly, eager to see the famous structure. My architecture and history Spidey senses on fire.

Sheep flanked the long walkway leading to the stone circle known as The Avenue. They ate away at the pasture without paying any attention to the hundreds of people passing by them.

And there it was. A series of massive stones lined together like a house of cards. Even from a distance I could feel the heavy weight that gave them stability.

The walkway continued in a loop around the stones leading seamlessly back to where I had come from. I had the option to do a few loops around but as I was strapped for time, ended up doing only one full circle. I turned on my little tour radio and pressed the numbers marked on different posts to hear about the history. I moved slowly, taking in every angle. The brisk walk that had taken me there now transformed to a crawl.

It’s hard to imagine that these stones where put in place 2500 before Christ. For hundreds of years, people believe it was Merlin who had built the iconic circle. Some even believe Aliens had something to do with the building. Considering the stones can weight almost 30 tons, it’s easy to see why the building has become such a source of interest throughout the ages. However, while scientists and researchers aren’t entirely sure how the stones were transported, a more accepted theory is that they were brought through water networks and moved around on wooden rollers.

There are two types of stones, sarsen stones and bluestones. The term ‘bluestone’ actually represents over 20 different types of smaller rocks found in a concentric circle within the larger sarsen stone circle.

But this is not the only structure found on the site. Before Stonehenge came to be in the Neolithic period, this was already an important place for a previous civilization. The earliest structures found on the site date from 8000 to 7000 BC, during the Mesolithic period, and it is still unknown whether these are related to Stonehenge.

The purpose of Stonehenge is still shrouded in mystery. But in recent years, archeologists have found this was a spiritual burial site.

Another fascinating fact is the way the stones are positioned. The structure was built so that the Heel stone aligns perfectly with the sunrise during the summer solstice and with the sunset during the winter solstice. At those times the light shines through to the middle of the circle. Today, thousands of people visit Stonehenge during the solstice to experience the mesmerizing event.

As I concluded my loop around the impressive stone circle, I couldn’t help but continue to look back over my shoulder stealing a few last looks as the sheep continued to graze and stare at the visitors without a care in the world.

Useful Information:
I bought my ticket on the Evan Evans Tours through Viator.com. They are a good option to book local tours when you don’t know much about your location. (Not sponsored.) But you can also rent a car and drive directly there and take it all in on your own time.

Hours:
Open Tuesday – Sunday
9:30am – 5pm (Last entry 2 hours before closing.)

Entry:
Adults: £19.00
Children 5-17: £11.40
Family (2 adults, up to 3 children): £49.90

Websites:
www.english-heritage.org.uk
https://evanevanstours.com/

 

Leadenhall Market - London, UK

If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you probably recognize Leadenhall Market as the location of The Leaky Cauldron and entryway to Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone film. However, while there are no real entryways into the wizarding world here, there is a sense of magic you feel while exploring this unique passageway.

I took the Northern line to Bank Station and walked a few minutes to get there. It was early on a Friday morning and the financial district was alive with commuters in jackets and slacks. Most of the shops were still closed, and as the rush hour slowed down, it felt as if I had the market all to myself.

The history of the market runs deep. Leadenhall Market dates from the 14th century and sits atop the remains of a Roman Basilica and Forum dating back to 40 AD. Parts of the base of the basilica remain in the basement of a barbershop at the corner of Gracechurch Street and Leadenhall market. It is believed that this Basilica and Forum where the site of the first market located at Leadenhall.

Parts of its history have been obscured in mystery. As the Dark Ages took hold of Europe, very little is known of what happened to the area around that time. But in 1309 the owner of the Leadenhall Manor (a lead-roofed house) opened its grounds to local merchants and by 1321 the area around Leadenhall Manor was already known as a meeting point for poultry merchants. By the1400s, it had already become the center of the meat and fish trade.

The Great Fire of 1666 destroyed a part of the market, but it was rebuilt with a covered structure for the first time, paving the way for its iconic ornate ceiling. It was Sir Horace Jones who designed today’s iron and glass structure and built in the late 1800s. 

Today, the meat stands have been replaced with a series of boutiques, cafes and even an award-winning pub. My personal favorite was the Pen Shop, located right at the center of the market, which unfortunately closed permanently earlier this year.

 

Useful information

How to get there:
Take the tube to Bank Station or Monument Station

Hours:
Public areas of the market are open 24/7.
Shops and restaurants hold their own opening hours.

Website:
https://www.leadenhallmarket.co.uk/