Behind the scenes at the castle and exploring its 900 years of history. This 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. This royal palace houses the Crown Jewels, but also used to be the Royal Mint and, until the Second World War, a prison. It once had a moat (to flush away medieval sewage) that was later drained to accommodate exotic animals including lions, polar bears and an elephant. The Tower’s residents now use it to exercise their dogs.
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.
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.
Raven chicks are born in the tower for the first time in 30 years - but only one of the newborn birds can stay, and ravenmaster Chris faces the tough decision of choosing one to keep and finding suitable homes for all the others. The tower director prepares to retire after 15 years, and takes a moment to enjoy his final gun salute, while AJ Clarke, only the second woman to join the Yeoman warders, embarks on a fitness regime that soon leaves her in need of a new uniform. Plus, a look at the story of the time the future Queen Elizabeth I was imprisoned in the tower for plotting to overthrow her sister, Queen Mary.
The chief yeoman warder oversees the tower's celebration of the end of the First World War, and special preparations are made for the tower director's retirement party, involving a military band and a unique farewell as he leaves the tower for the last time. Newly hatched raven George is introduced to the rest of the birds, not all of whom take kindly to newcomers, and historian Tracy Borman unearths the story of Roger Casement, who was executed for treason for supporting Irish independence during the First World War.
The new tower director starts work on the same day that Donald Trump visits London, while curator Eleri Lynn goes in search of a recently rediscovered royal treasure - the last surviving dress made for Elizabeth I, which has turned up in a small village church in Herefordshire. Plus, a look at the golden armour of Charles I and the ultimate fate of Henry VIII's imperial crown.
The stories behind some of the most dramatic escape attempts from the tower, including Henry Howard, who tried to avoid execution by making his way through the sewage system. In the present day, curator Sally Dixon-Smith deciphers some graffiti by a Tudor mystic who mysteriously disappeared, while Yeoman warder Chris Clawson reveals why the tower is still a spooky place to work in after dark.
Chief Curator Tracy Borman explores the tragic tale of Lady Jane Grey, the teenage queen of nine days, who was imprisoned in the Tower and executed by Queen Mary.
Tracy Borman goes in search of the lost royal palace of Henry VIII. The lovesick king spent a fortune on it for Anne Boleyn, only to destroy all memories of her after her execution.
Tracy Borman researches the Tower's most famous Constable, the Duke of Wellington, and how he reinvented the wardens. Sadly during his time the Tower also saw its worst fire ever.
Building works right outside Henry VIII's chapel have revealed a remarkable discovery - the first complete skeletons ever discovered by archaeologists here.
Visitors pour through the gates unaware that they are to be joined by Charles and Camilla, who are there to celebrate the Yeoman Warders' anniversary.
New Yeoman Warder Barry learns the ropes and gets to grips with his first Tower tour. Everything changes when Coronavirus leads to lockdown for the Tower.
The crowds re-enter for the first time since the covid-related lockdown. Chief Yeoman Warder Pete welcomes guests as they return after the Tower's longest closure for 75 years.
New Yeoman Warder Barry is grilled on Henry VIII's wives by a young visitor. Chief Curator Tracy researches a notorious Tudor conwoman, who came to a sticky end.
The return of the documentary that goes behind the scenes at one of the nation's most historic and best-loved attractions. The tower's oldest raven goes missing and ravenmaster Chris Skaife must come to terms with the fact it might have gone for ever, while in April a special gun salute is organised to mark the death of Prince Philip.
Two baby ravens have joined the Tower's resident colony. One of them, Edgar, is called after the horror writer Edgar Allan Poe, but his sister still needs a name. It will be chosen by public vote and Ravenmaster Chris is on tenterhooks waiting to find out the result. Cameras also focus on Tower Governor Brigadier Andrew Jackson and Chief Yeoman Warder Pete McGowran. They are rehearsing a new ceremony celebrating the Tower re-opening its gates to visitors after the covid lockdown.
It is June and staff at the Tower are bringing out the big guns to celebrate the anniversary of the Queen's coronation in 1953. A massive 62-gun salute is planned on the Wharf, but with his boss, the Chief Yeoman Warder, away, new Yeoman Gaoler Rob Fuller is in charge for the first time. Three 4,000lb guns and thousands of visitors to contend with mean the pressure's on Rob to get it right.
Today, the Tower of London is kept pristinely clean, but it has a dirty past. For centuries, all its rubbish was chucked into the River Thames, but, as chief curator Tracy Borman discovers, yesterday's trash is today's treasure. She joins a team of archaeologists on the foreshore for a once-in-a-decade survey, and makes some remarkable finds, from thousand-year-old pottery to ancient armour.
Love is in the air as Yeoman Warder Matt Pryme prepares to marry his sweetheart Jo at the Tower of London. The whole community is getting ready for the big day. While Matt prepares the chapel, Canon Roger Hall chooses his most celebratory vestments.
Historic Royal Palaces interpretation officer Emma Bell has a bold plan to transform the fortress into a spectacular winter wonderland, inspired by the Tower's famous menagerie. Chief curator Tracy Borman uncovers how a grumpy Henry VIII rejected his wife Catherine of Aragon's Christmas gifts, Beefeater Darren Hardy takes the Yeoman Warders carol-singing around their homes in the Casemates cottages, and the Tower community comes together for a special service in the Chapel Royal
The documentary about life at the castle behind the scenes is back. Before officially proclaiming King Charles III, the Yeoman Warders, the royal bodyguard, gather to remember one of the saddest occasions in the Tower’s history: the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Tower is continuing work on its most ambitious installation ever, the transformation of the moat into a huge floral display to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
Ravenmaster Chris Skaife is keeping a close eye on the Tower's ravens, who are taking advantage of their popularity to steal visitors' lunches.
Deputy governor Debbie Whittingham and yeoman gaoler Rob Fuller have spotted an impressive visitor berthed across the river from the Tower – it’s a Japanese warship, which is on a world tour and is stopping off in the capital. Meanwhile, Historic Royal Palaces chief curator Tracy Borman investigates the bridges that connect the Tower to the south side of the Thames, including London Bridge and Tower Bridge.
Cameras focus on the events of June 2022, the start of the Platinum Jubilee weekend and the celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's 70 years on the throne. In the Tower's gift shop, sales assistant and royal superfan Allen Jones has been doing a roaring trade in Jubilee memorabilia. Meanwhile, senior official General the Lord Nicholas Houghton is preparing to retire. He reflects on his time living in such an extraordinary building.
On Thursday 8 September, news arrives that would change the nation's history. The death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is announced after 70 years on the throne. It's a time of deep sadness for the Tower staff and for the yeoman warders, some of whom have met the Queen in their role as royal bodyguards. As a royal palace, with special links to the Royal Household, the Tower enters a two-week official period of mourning.
The Tower has recently mourned the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and proclaimed King Charles III. Having seen 42 monarchs come and go, the fortress needs to make some important changes to mark the new King's reign - the Yeoman Warder's uniforms need to be updated and the Queen's House, where the Constable lives, must now be changed to the King's house.
It’s 2023 and we’re back behind Tower walls for another year at the nation’s best-loved historic attraction. For the first time in 70 years a new monarch is about to be crowned and it’s all hands to the pump as the fortress prepares to mark this historic event.
It's spring, and the Tower is now just weeks away from one the most important events in its 1000-year history – the crowning of a new monarch. Staff have been working hard to prepare for the new era, but one thing is yet to change – the Beefeaters' iconic uniforms. These world-famous uniforms still bear the royal monogram of the late Queen Elizabeth II, known as a cypher, and they must be updated to represent King Charles III.
It's May 2023 and the Tower is preparing for the crowning of a new monarch. Among those featured is AJ, the first female Yeoman Warder to take part in a royal coronation. Plus, curator Charles Farris examines one of the most famous events in Tudor history - the coronation of Queen Anne Boleyn
It's May 2023, the week after the coronation of King Charles III. Celebrations at the Tower are still in full swing, and highlight of the week is a spectacular concert, held at the Chapel of Saint Peter ad Vincula, where Handel's coronation anthems will be performed
It's July 2023 and, after 14 years of loyal service, Pete McGowran has announced his retirement. He reflects on treasured memories, including when he gave Queen Elizabeth II a private tour of the Chapel. Over on the Tower's defensive wall, a crumbling turret on top of the Cradle Tower is in urgent need of repair
It's mid-summer at the Tower of London, and the Beefeaters are preparing to say goodbye to their Chief Yeoman Warder, Pete McGowran. There is still plenty for Pete to do in his last few days at the fortress, including paying a visit to Ravenmaster Chris Skaife to learn the name of the recently arrived baby raven
Highlights of past episodes. The 20th century saw the most executions in the Tower's history, all German spies captured in the two world wars. Suffragette Leonora Cohen took aim at the Crown Jewels. The Tower acts as a site of remembrance.
Compilation focusing on the men and women who guard the Tower, known as the Beefeaters, revealing how they live and work inside the UK's most famous fortress, and what goes on behind the scenes away from the tours and tourists.
Special compilation exploring the Tower of London's reputation as the most terrifying prison in the country, looking back at stories of some of its most famed inmates and their daring escapes.
special compilation edition exploring the Tower of London's dark and infamous past as a place of terror and execution, and revealing how it got its grisly reputation.
