What does the Ceremony of the Keys consist of?
The ancient custom of the Ceremony of The Keys, which involves the formal locking of the gates of the Tower of London, has been carried out continuously every night, without fail, for more than 600 years since 1340.
What is the changing of the keys?
The Ceremony of the Keys is an ancient ritual, held every evening at the Tower of London, when the main gates are locked for the night. It is said to be the oldest extant military ceremony in the world, and is the best-known ceremonial tradition of the Tower.
Can you watch the Ceremony of the Keys?
The ceremony has never been cancelled and only delayed once when during WWII a bomb knocked a couple of warders off their feet. Between 40-50 visitors are admitted, under escort, to watch the Ceremony of the Keys each night at 21:30 precisely.
Where do yeoman warders live?
the Tower of London
As tradition going back 700 years, all Yeoman Warders and their families live within the Tower walls. Right now about 150 people, including a doctor and a chaplain, claim the Tower of London as their home address.
Can anyone live in the Tower of London?
‘The only people that can live in the tower are the people who work here and their families. ‘There’s around 40 families that live here now – the whole outer wall of the tower is housing for the workers and because the house is so tall, it almost feels like I have my own apartment because I have the entire top floor.
How many guards guard the Tower of London?
Yeoman Warders have been guarding the Tower of London since Tudor times. Nicknamed ‘Beefeaters’, the Yeoman Body of 32 men and women are all drawn from the Armed Forces.
What happens at the ceremony of the keys?
The Ceremony of the Keys is the ritual during which the gates to the Tower of London are locked each night. During the ceremony, the Tower Guard march with the Chief Yeoman Warder, keeping him safe as he protects what was historically the most important palace in London.
When does the Tower of London Keys ceremony end?
The ceremony concludes at 22:05 after which all visitors are escorted to the exit. There are no toilet or refreshment facilities available. Tickets are non-transferable and we are not able to change names on bookings under any circumstances.
Who is carrying the keys to the Tower of London?
This the time-honoured challenge that has been barked out by a soldier guarding the Tower, nearly every night for seven centuries. The Chief Yeoman Warder, carrying the keys, is escorted by solders during the ceremony. The formal locking and unlocking of the Tower gates started in the mid 1300s, on the orders of a furious Edward III.