There are a variety of ways to get to Tower Hill, these include:
Tube: Tower Hill.
Train: London Bridge; there’s a walkway from the station. Follow signs to the river and cross Tower Bridge.
Docklands Light Railway: Tower Gateway Station.
Riverboat: Tower Pier – really fun for children. Indoor and outdoor seating and great views.
Things to do: Tower of London
An ancient fortress founded almost 1,000 years ago by William the Conqueror. It’s ancient walls have held prisoners such as Anne Boleyn before her execution, Guy Fawkes for interrogation, plus Richard II and Elizabeth I. There are plenty of impressive castle walls to climb, towers to explore and the crown jewels to see. If you don’t mind parking your buggy and carrying little ones, you can get around the battlements fairly easily. Costumed actors also roam around and are very willing to have a conversation with children. We met Edward I’s daughter who taught the children how to play Nine Men’s Morris which was a real highlight of the day.
Buggy Terrain: lots of cobbled pathways and stone steps to negotiate if you want to climb the towers. But all worth it, so if you have a papoose, bring it along. There are places to leave buggies, and a secure buggy park.
Admission: Adult £17.00; Child £9.50; Under 5 years Free; Family ticket £47.00
Baby-changing facilities: Yes, plus a female only baby care facility.
Children’s Trail: A Medieval Palace family trail for primary-age children.
Warning: The Torture Chamber is a bit scary for little ones – may be worth rushing through this room. Don’t try to feed the ravens. They are fed daily by the Ravenmaster and if threatened may bite chubby little fingers.
Child wristbands: No, but point out the Yeomen Warders to your children in case you should get separated.
Eating: The Armouries Restaurant
A surprisingly decent restaurant (not a cafe by any means.) that serves a jolly good lunch for children and adults alike. Jugs of cold water and glasses are on offer (free) and a microwave is available for heating food/bottles. Children’s meals are simply half portions of the adult food which includes favourites such as pork and apple sausages, with roasted vegetables, and chunky chips or individual steak and ale pie with mushy peas and mustard mash. Collect a voucher from the website to benefit from a meal deal for children: main course, glass of homemade lemonade and a fairy cake for £3.95.
Highchairs: Yes, plenty.
Baby-changing facilities: Yes.
Colouring/activity packs: No.
Style: refectory-style tables in a large, spacious restaurant. Loads of space to park buggy and spread out a little bit.
The Armouries Restaurant, Tower of London
www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon
