Come and meet the kings — Henry VIII, Charles I, Prince Charles II and James II welcome you to their royal palace and fortress HM Tower of London as they have done for over 350 years.
The oldest exhibition on site had its first recorded visitor in 1652 and is now re-presented for the 21st century.
Highlights
Meet the young Henry VIII in his splendid silvered and engraved armour, with matching armour for his horse. Look out for the romantic “H&K” motif – a love note to his first wife Katherine of Aragon.
Henry’s foot combat armour reflects how he grew in the role. Still impressive, but several sizes larger. Try not to stare at his cod-piece – it was the fashion of the day in both armour and ordinary wear.
Charles I’s golden armour is designed to impress.
Don’t forget the four-legged stars of the show. These specially commissioned wooden horses have proudly carried their armoured riders for over three centuries battling against woodworm and fungus and are now a display in their own right.
Little and large — our ‘giant’ armour (it holds the Guinness World Record to prove it) and one of the smallest have intrigued Tower visitors over the centuries.
