The Tower of London and Winsor Castle

Day 2 - The Tower of London and Windsor Castle

We are up early and off to take a tour of The Tower of London and Windsor Castle.  My mom is so good at scheduling these things, and booking the tickets ahead of time so we can avoid the long long lines at the popular attractions.

She was determined to get to The Tower right when it opened at 9:30am so we woke up by 8am and we were out the door by 9am...well her fussy daughter hadn't had breakfast yet.  I am so picky about my breakfast too and so we waited for the restaurant to open across the street from the hotel and I got some Starbucks coffee in the meantime.

Side note: One of my favorite things said in Britain was when I was in line for coffee or a drink anywhere when I was next and they wanted my order instead of saying "next"...they said "Yes Please".  It was so pleasant and I just loved it.  Sounded even better with an English accent;)

I finally got my breakfast (scrambled eggs, toast, and side of roasted tomato).  We took the next train out of Victoria Station and on our way to the Tower of London.  Now I thought this was going to be London Bridge with the pretty towers in the middle.  But it was totally different and full of history of executions and royalty.  My kind of spot.  It also houses the Crown Jewels on display which were absolutely insane to see in person!!!  They are unreal!!!! ("no pictures, please" -signs everywhere and when someone took a picture my mother scholded them...lol once a mom always a mom)

The best part of The Tower of London were the "Beefeaters" or Yeomen Warders.  These were the guards at the tower back in mid-evil times and they now give the tours.  It is a huge honor to be a member currently and you have to have a huge amount of accomplishments in the British Military.  There are only 37 of them and they actually live with their families in The Tower of London currently.  Crazy, because it is and still looks like an actual castle.

I actually also loved the story about 'Traitors Gate' a gate into the Castle Walls that would flood with water when the tide came in making it deadly, but also served as a possible escape route for the prisoners.  It was where they would bring in all those accused of being a Traitor to current King or Queen.  (Reminds me a little of the Bridge of Sighs in Venice.)

The Ravens were another cool sight to see.  If anyone knows my 'crow story' you will appreciate this even more.  Apparently the story is that if there are ever less the 6 Ravens alive and living at The Tower of London the current monarchy will crumble.  So, as a precaution The Tower of London houses 7 Ravens on the property (one as a back-up).  They are very smart calculating birds and so they just stare at you with suspicion the whole time you walk thru the courtyard.  Ravens are not to be trusted!!!

Next, lunch and off to Windsor Castle!  By this time, we have figured out the train system, we think so we dare to take the train directly from The Tower of London to Windsor.

As it turns out, we are getting good at the Trains and we end up in Windsor with almost 2 hours to enjoy the little town and tour the castle.  I had NO IDEA it was going to be so enormous!!!  ("that's what she said"...Office Fans)  It really was spectacular and the gardens were absolutely perfect.  The best part is that the Queen among other royalty actually still live there on occasion and hold royal functions in the rooms we toured.  There were rugs designed for the rooms that had been rolled up slightly to allow for the "tourist rugs" and you could see where they roll them back out when Royal Family is in Residence.


All I could think about while walking around this place was that William and Harry must have gone there and spent time playing around as children...in a castle...with gold everywhere...like a museum.  What must it have been like the first time William brought Kate there to visit.  They get to just walk around and sit and have tea, nothing is roped off...like seeing someones home for the first time.  The 'tour of the house' must have taken like a week....crazy!!!

Windsor town is so quaint, it is such a cute little spot..it would have been nice to be able to stay there a night!  Or at least have a whole day there, so much more to see, Im sure!