The Tower of London was founded in 1078 when William the Conqueror ordered the White Tower to be built inside the SE angle of the City walls, adjacent to the Thames. This was as much to protect the Normans from the people of the City of London as to protect London from outside invaders. William ordered the Tower to be built of Caen stone, which he had specially imported from France, and appointed Gundulf, Bishop of Rochester as the architect. Some writers, such as Shakespeare in his play Richard III, have ascribed an earlier origin to the Tower of London and have stated that it was built by Julius Caesar. This supposed Roman origin is a myth, however, as is the story that the mortar used in its construction was tempered by the blood of beasts. In the 12th century, King Richard the Lionheart enclosed the White Tower with a curtain wall and had a moat dug around it filled with water from the Thames. The moat was not successful until Henry III, in the 13th century, employed a Dutch moat-building technique. This king greatly strengthened the curtain wall, breaking down the city wall to the east, to extend the circuit, despite the protests of the citizens of London and even supernatural warnings (if the contemporary monastic chronicler Matthew Paris is to be believed). Henry III transformed the Tower into a major royal residence and had palatial buildings constructed within the Inner Bailey. The fortification was completed between 1275 and 1285 by Edward I who built the outer curtain wall, completely enclosing the inner wall and thus creating a concentric double defence. He filled in the pre-existing moat and built a new moat around the new outer wall. The Tower remained a royal residence until the time of Oliver Cromwell, who demolished the old palatial buildings.

Eastgate Tower Hotel | 39th between 2nd and 3rd

Directions Eastgate Tower Hotel 222 East 39th Street New York, New York From Long Island: Take I-495 WEST to MIDTOWN TUNNEL Go through toll and Enter RIGHT TUBE in Midtown Tunnel Exit Tunnel and stay in FAR RIGHT LANE Go RIGHT at the fork in the ramp - Follow STRAIGHT to 40th Street Turn RIGHT on 40TH ST Turn RIGHT on 2ND AVE Turn RIGHT onto E 39TH ST Hotel is on south side of 39th Street From Connecticut: Merge onto I-95 S (Portions toll) (Crossing into NEW YORK) Keep LEFT to take I-278 W via EXIT 6B toward TRIBORO BR Take the exit toward RANDALLS-WARDS IS / MANHATTAN / FDR DRIVE Stay STRAIGHT to go onto TRIBOROUGH BRIDGE (Portions toll) Merge onto FDR DR S Take EXIT 8 toward I-495 / MIDTOWN TUN / E 34 ST Stay STRAIGHT to go onto FDR DR SERVICE RD W Turn RIGHT onto E 38TH ST Turn RIGHT onto 1ST AVE Turn LEFT onto E 39TH ST Hotel is on south side of 39th Street From New Jersey: Take the N.J. TURNPIKE ramp toward NEW YORK AND NORTH Merge onto I-95 N / NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE N toward CARS / TRUCKS-BUSES (Portions toll) Keep RIGHT to take I-95 N / NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE N toward I-80 / EXITS 15E - 18E / US-46 / LINCOLN TUNNEL (Portions toll) Take EXIT 16E toward LINCOLN TUNNEL / NEW YORK CITY Keep LEFT to take NJ-495 E toward LINCOLN TUNNEL (Portions toll) (Crossing into NEW YORK) NJ-495 E becomes I-495 E / LINCOLN TUNNEL Take the exit on the LEFT toward I-495 E / 42 ST / RT-9A / ALL POINTS Stay STRAIGHT to go onto DYER AVE Turn LEFT onto W 34TH ST Turn LEFT onto 3RD AVE Turn RIGHT on 40TH ST Turn RIGHT on 2ND AVE Turn RIGHT onto E 39TH ST

From JFK: Start out going SOUTHEAST, Turn SLIGHT LEFT to take the ramp toward AIRPORT EXIT / OTHER TERMINALS Stay STRAIGHT to go onto JFK EXPY Merge onto I-678 N / VAN WYCK EXPY toward AIRPORT EXIT / RETURN TO TERMINALS / LONG TERM PARKING / RENTAL CAR RETURNS Merge onto GRAND CENTRAL PKWY W via EXIT 10 on the LEFT toward LA GUARDIA AIRPORT / TRIBORO BR Take the I-495 / LONG IS EXPWY exit- EXIT 10E-W- toward EASTERN LONG IS / MANHATTAN Merge onto I-495 W via EXIT 10W on the LEFT (Portions toll) Take I-495 WEST to MIDTOWN TUNNEL Go through toll and Enter RIGHT TUBE in Midtown Tunnel Exit Tunnel and stay in FAR RIGHT LANE Go RIGHT at the fork in the ramp - Follow STRAIGHT to 40th Street Turn RIGHT on 40TH ST Turn RIGHT on 2ND AVE Turn RIGHT onto E 39TH ST Hotel is on south side of 39th Street From Newark: Take the N.J. TURNPIKE ramp toward NEW YORK AND NORTH Merge onto I-95 N / NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE N toward CARS / TRUCKS-BUSES (Portions toll) Keep RIGHT to take I-95 N / NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE N toward I-80 / EXITS 15E - 18E / US-46 / LINCOLN TUNNEL (Portions toll) Take EXIT 16E toward LINCOLN TUNNEL / NEW YORK CITY Keep LEFT to take NJ-495 E toward LINCOLN TUNNEL (Portions toll) (Crossing into NEW YORK) NJ-495 E becomes I-495 E / LINCOLN TUNNEL Take the exit on the LEFT toward I-495 E / 42 ST / RT-9A / ALL POINTS Stay STRAIGHT to go onto DYER AVE Turn LEFT onto W 34TH ST Turn LEFT onto 3RD AVE Turn RIGHT on 40TH ST Turn RIGHT on 2ND AVE Turn RIGHT onto E 39TH ST Hotel is on south side of 39th Street From LaGuardia: Start out going NORTHEAST on LA GUARDIA RD Turn SLIGHT LEFT toward TERMINAL A / MARINE AIR TERMINAL / RENTAL CAR RETURNS Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto CENTRAL TERMINAL DR Take the AIRPORT EXIT ramp Merge onto GRAND CENTRAL PKWY W toward MANHATTAN Take the BKLYN-QNS EXPWY exit- EXIT 4- toward STATEN ISLAND / I-278 W Merge onto BROOKLYN QUEENS EXPY E Merge onto I-278 W / BROOKLYN QUEENS EXPY Take the L.I. EXPWY / I-495 exit- EXIT 35- toward MIDTOWN TUN / EASTERN L.I. / GREENPOINT AVE Merge onto I-495 W via EXIT 35W on the LEFT toward MIDTOWN TUN / MANHATTAN (Portions toll) Take I-495 WEST to MIDTOWN TUNNEL Go through toll and Enter RIGHT TUBE in Midtown Tunnel Exit Tunnel and stay in FAR RIGHT LANE Go RIGHT at the fork in the ramp - Follow STRAIGHT to 40th Street Turn RIGHT on 40th ST Turn RIGHT on 2ND AVE Turn RIGHT on E 39TH ST Hotel is on south side of 39th Street

View Map 1 March-31 October: Tuesday-Saturday: Sunday-Monday: (last admission: 17.00) 1 November-28 February: Tuesday-Saturday: Sunday-Monday: (last admission: 16.00) Closed: December, 1 January This attraction does offer access and facilities for the disabled. The Tower of London, Tower Hill, London EC3 Get free Tower Of London tickets and 20% discount off food and drink purchases in the New Armouries Café in the Tower Of London with London Pass. As one of the most famous castles in the world, Tower Of London tickets normally cost £16.00 for an adult ticket and £9.50 for children making this one of the best savings on London attractions to be had for pass holders. For over 900 years the Tower Of London has dominated the city of London – no surprise then that it is one of the capital’s most prominent landmarks and an essential place to visit if you’re on the London sightseeing trail. Throughout its long history the Tower Of London has been England’s most feared castle, a place of execution, torture and imprisonment – its nickname “The Bloody Tower” says it all! It is definitely a must see on a sightseeing tour of London. However, during its colourful past the London Tower has also been a Royal Palace, an arsenal, a fortress, the royal mint, a menagerie, a jewel house, and now a major tourist site. London visitors can discover its long and eventful history, its buildings and collections – Tower Of London prices include access to the Crown Jewels exhibition and Royal Armouries. Take look at the Tower Of London on the map and you’ll notice it’s close to Tower Bridge where London Pass holders can get into the Tower Bridge Exhibition for free. Other attractions in the area offering free entry to pass holders include Southwark Cathedral, HMS Belfast and the Old Operating Theatre, Museum and Herb Garret (at London Bridge).

HOW TO GET THERE? The Tower of London is situated in East London on the boundaries of the boroughs of Stepney and the City of London. Directly south, spanning the River Thames, lies the famous Tower Bridge. To the east of the Tower are the St Katherine's Docks. The Tower of London dominates the river approaches to the City of London, and can be reached by Underground Tower Hill Circle and District lines, or by buses 42 and 78.