7.8
Wildland
Under 1 hour
Time
Paid
Cost
Atmospheric
Feel
Why it's Wildland
7.8Built around 1281 as part of the Tower’s inner defensive wall, Beauchamp Tower later held prisoners including Thomas Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick. Prisoners’ graffiti remains carved into its walls.
This is a rare chance to encounter the Tower of London’s prison history in the very rooms where prisoners were held. Its surviving wall carvings make the stories tangible rather than distant.
Atmospheric · Ancient-feeling
Find your way
Open map35 Tower Hill, London EC3N 4DR
Opening map…
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The experience
Visit the permanent Imprisonment at the Tower exhibition inside Beauchamp Tower. Learn about the varied lives of Tower prisoners and look for the graffiti carved into the walls.
Things to do
Look for prisoner graffiti
Examine the tower’s walls for carvings left by prisoners. The official exhibition describes these marks as a lasting connection to the stories and beliefs of people held there.
Explore the imprisonment exhibition
Learn why people were imprisoned in the Tower and how their treatment varied with their crime and social status. The exhibition is in the rooms where some prisoners were held.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · Check before visiting
See the prisoners’ marks
- 01
Visit Beauchamp Tower within the Tower of London.
- 02
Explore the permanent Imprisonment at the Tower exhibition.
- 03
Look for graffiti carved into the walls by prisoners.
Verified history
Beauchamp Tower was built around 1281 during Edward I’s reign as part of the Tower’s inner defensive wall. It takes its name from Thomas Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, who was imprisoned there at the end of the 14th century for rebelling against Richard II. The tower was used to house prisoners, and graffiti carved by some of them can still be seen. The permanent exhibition discusses prisoners including Elizabeth I, Guy Fawkes, Anne Boleyn and the Krays.
Hidden details
Graffiti as a record of imprisonment — Some prisoners carved marks into the tower’s walls while under psychological strain and facing long periods of confinement. The surviving carvings connect visitors with their stories and beliefs.
When to go
· No evidence-supported recommendation; check current visitor information.
The supplied sources provide no seasonal visiting guidance.
Check conditions and current visitor information before travelling.
What to look for
- 01
Prisoner graffiti carved into the tower’s walls
- 02
the tower’s position west of Tower Green
- 03
details of the rooms used to hold prisoners.
The story
Medieval fortification; imprisonment; prisoner graffiti
Best time to go
No season-specific advice is supported by the supplied sources; check current opening and admission information before visiting.
No preferred time of day is established by the supplied sources. Check current visitor information before setting out.
How long to spend
Under 1 hour
Perfect for
History lovers · Photographers
Before you go
Address
Listed hours
- Monday: Open 24 hours
- Tuesday: Open 24 hours
- Wednesday: Open 24 hours
- Thursday: Open 24 hours
- Friday: Open 24 hours
- Saturday: Open 24 hours
- Sunday: Open 24 hours
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Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
Inside the Tower of London, to the west of Tower Green. The permanent Imprisonment at the Tower exhibition is included in Tower of London admission; check current visiting arrangements before travelling.
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Parking
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Toilets
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Food & drink
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Dogs
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Accessibility
The supplied source reports a wheelchair-accessible entrance. Check current access details with the Tower of London before visiting.
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Cost
Paid
Gallery
Place photographs
Keep exploring
Around Beauchamp Tower
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
