7.8
Wildland
Under 1 hour for the Bloody Tower itself
Time
Paid
Cost
Atmospheric
Feel
Why it's Wildland
7.8Its name grew from the story of the two young princes who disappeared from the Tower in 1483. The rooms also preserve a very different account of imprisonment: Sir Walter Raleigh spent 13 years here, with space for his family and a small garden.
This is a compact visit with an unusually concentrated story: the disputed fate of Edward V and Richard, Raleigh’s long imprisonment and the remains of his garden all meet inside one medieval tower. It is best experienced as a close look at the rooms and their interpretation within the wider Tower of London.
Atmospheric · Historic
Find your way
Open mapTower of London, London, EC3N 4AE
Opening map…
Know this place a little better?
The experience
Read the Bloody Tower as a sequence of rooms and stories: learn what is known—and what remains uncertain—about the princes, then visit Raleigh’s study and the account of his life as a prisoner. The tower is part of the wider Tower of London visit, not a separately ticketed attraction according to Historic Royal Palaces.
Things to do
Consider the Princes in the Tower
Visit the first-floor interpretation about Edward V and his younger brother Richard. Historic Royal Palaces describes their supposed murder as a tradition and says their disappearance remains unresolved; do not treat the murder story as established fact.
Visit Raleigh’s study
See the ground-floor study associated with Sir Walter Raleigh’s 13 years as a prisoner. The official account describes the rooms being partitioned to accommodate his family and three servants.
Read about Raleigh’s garden
Look for the interpretation of the courtyard garden Raleigh was allowed to use for exercise and to grow plants. The source describes the garden’s history, not a guarantee that original planting or features remain.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · Allow under 1 hour for the Bloody Tower; duration is an editorial estimate.
Quick Escape: the tower’s two stories
- 01
Enter the Bloody Tower as part of a Tower of London visit; its admission is included in palace admission.
- 02
Visit the first-floor interpretation about Edward V and his younger brother Richard, keeping the traditional murder story distinct from what is known about their disappearance.
- 03
See Sir Walter Raleigh’s study on the ground floor and read about his 13 years as a prisoner.
Half day · At least 2 hours for the wider Tower of London, as recommended by Historic Royal Palaces; allow additional time if you want a longer visit.
Make a half day of it: explore the Tower of London
- 01
Check the Tower of London’s current opening times, ticket information and temporary route closures before travelling.
- 02
Explore the Bloody Tower’s interpretation of the princes and Raleigh’s study.
- 03
Continue around the wider Tower of London, choosing other areas that interest you; Historic Royal Palaces recommends at least two hours for a visit, including the Crown Jewels.
Verified history
The Bloody Tower is strongly associated with the disappearance of Edward V and his younger brother Richard in 1483. Historic Royal Palaces says tradition holds that the boys stayed in these rooms on the orders of their uncle, the future Richard III; their disappearance remains unresolved. The tower was previously called the Garden Tower, and the name Bloody Tower grew as rumours about the princes spread. Sir Walter Raleigh was imprisoned here for 13 years during the reign of James I. Historic Royal Palaces says he had three servants, and that the interior was partitioned to provide more comfortable accommodation for his family. He was also allowed access to a courtyard where he exercised and grew plants.
Folklore & legend
The story that the princes were murdered in the Tower is a long-standing tradition, not a verified conclusion. Historic Royal Palaces says their disappearance remains one of the Tower’s unresolved historical stories.
Hidden details
A study within a prison — Raleigh’s ground-floor rooms were adapted for his family while he was imprisoned. The official account says he had three servants and that the interior was partitioned to make conditions more comfortable.
A prisoner’s garden — Raleigh was allowed to use a courtyard outside the tower for exercise and to grow plants. The supplied source does not establish which physical garden features survive today.
When to go
· No specific time of day is supported by the supplied sources. Check current opening times and temporary closures.
The supplied sources do not establish seasonal differences for the Bloody Tower.
The Tower of London has uneven, worn and sometimes slippery historic surfaces. Take care when walking and wear appropriate footwear.
What to look for
Look for the interpretation of the Princes in the Tower on the first floor, Raleigh’s study on the ground floor, and the account of the small courtyard garden where he exercised and grew plants. The supplied official source describes these features but does not establish that original garden fabric survives.
The story
The Princes in the Tower; high-status imprisonment; Sir Walter Raleigh
Best time to go
Check the Tower of London’s current opening times and any temporary closures before travelling; the supplied sources do not identify a best season.
No particular time of day is established by the supplied sources. Check current opening times and route closures before setting out.
How long to spend
Under 1 hour for the Bloody Tower itself; allow longer for the wider Tower of London
Perfect for
History lovers · Families
Before you go
Practical information
Opening & access
The Bloody Tower is inside the Tower of London and is included in palace admission. Check current opening information, ticket prices and any temporary route closures before visiting.
Check before visiting
Parking
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Toilets
The Tower of London lists toilets, including a Changing Places toilet in the ground-floor lobby of the New Armouries building; access to the Changing Places toilet is via radar key.
Food & drink
The Tower of London lists food and drink options inside the site and on Tower Wharf.
Dogs
Check before visiting
Check before visiting
Accessibility
The Tower of London describes its historic surfaces as uneven, worn and sometimes slippery. It lists dedicated accessibility facilities, a digital British Sign Language guide, tours and wheelchair hire; check its current access information for details relevant to your visit.
Check before visiting
Cost
Paid
Water
None
Gallery
Place photographs
Keep exploring
Around Bloody Tower
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
