Inside The Tower of London

The latest recruit to join the team of 37 beefeaters begins his career with some testing exams. Chris must learn the extensive history of the Tower by heart, a word-for-word knowledge which he will be tested on by the governor before being let loose alone on the 100,000 visitors who come to the Tower every week. Plus, chief curator Tracy Borman turns her attention to the time of Henry VIII, when the Tower gained its notorious reputation for imprisonment and execution, revealing the history of Anne Boleyn within the walls.

Documentary going behind the scenes at the castle and exploring its 900 years of history. The first episode focuses on the iconic Yeoman Warders, or Beefeaters, following their daily routine and the appointment of a new Chief Beefeater. Plus, a look at the tower's origins in the reign of William the Conqueror and a new exhibition dedicated to the infamous story of the princes in the tower.

Examining the execution of German spies captured in the two world wars. There's a profile of suffragette Leonora Cohen, who took aim at the crown jewels to publicise her cause. Plus, a look back to 2014, when the Tower hosted a display of nearly 900,000 ceramic poppies in the moat for Remembrance Day. And cameras follow Scott, a new recruit for the Beefeaters.

Cameras follow Chris, the ancient structure's Raven Master, and General Nicholas Houghton, former Chief of Defence staff and current Constable of the Tower. Plus, a look at the original document which reveals how brutally Guy Fawkes was tortured.

For more than 900 years, the Tower of London has dominated the city's skyline - symbolizing gruesome executions, notorious prisoners and absolute royal supremacy to the masses. But how much of that extraordinary history is based on legend and how horrific would it have been to await your grisly fate inside the walls of this powerful fortress? Bloody Tales of the Tower will challenge the public assumptions and myths surrounding the iconic Tower of London and will use original historical sources to shed new light on fascinating individual cases.

Lonely Planet’s Best of London 2019 is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Gallery hop along the Thames, explore dark history and glittering crown jewels in the Tower of London, and sample real ale in historic pubs – all with your trusted travel companion. Discover the best of London and begin your journey now!

Now more than ever, you can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you really need to know when traveling through London. From the sacred stones of Westminster Abbey to the top of the London Eye, the city is yours to discover!